There has been a resurgence in racing activities this season in both club and open events. June seems to have been particularly busy and provided some good results in various aspects of the sport.
The Bynea 50 mile Time Trial on the 8th June was transferred to the Vale of Neath course this year because of road works and provided an opportunity to achieve good times. Riding in his first medium distance event, Steve Williams was well within the Club Bronze Standard time with his 2-18-41. Dai Long, also in his first event at this distance, surprised himself with a well paced ride of 2-07-36 which gained him a Silver Standard. Dan Taylor was our fastest finisher in 2-00-15, wishing he could have gone 16 seconds faster to beat the gold standard !
Neale Lewis backed up his recent 25 mile times with a 22-03 in the Merthyr 10 on 14th June and the following day Dan rode his first 100 mile TT in the West Wales event held on a notoriously tough course between Brecon and Carmarthen where he recorded 4-27-59, well inside our 4-45-00 silver standard, despite being held up by traffic lights and several tractors.
The Club 5 mile TT was cancelled on Thursday 19th because so many members were riding the Port Talbot 4-up Team Time Trial that evening. The atmosphere was good with plenty of Acme colours in evidence due to the three teams we produced. The fastest of these,as expected, comprised Kevin Bartlemore, Dan Taylor, Steve Bennett and Neale Lewis with their 53-41 for overall 18th place. Kerry Lewis, Tony Rees, Mark Nicholls and Jeff Rees provided a veterans team which produced a 1-04-15 ride and was challenged closely by a combined team consisting of Simon Kinsey, Rory Jenkins and Tom Stoddart, all in their first racing season. In the absence of a fourth Acme rider they were joined by Michael Lawry [Bicycle Doctor] and went just seventeen seconds slower to finish in 1-04-32.
Jeff Rees, keen to compete in cyclo-cross again this winter, rode the 4-up on his cyclo-cross bike and subjected himself to another painful experience yesterday when he rode into a stiff wind on the first leg of the Bynea 10 mile TT, recording 26-48. Dan Taylor also rode and completed the distance in 23-02. Today he was joined in the Bynea 25 by Fiona Davies and Neale Lewis. We do not have a time for Fiona yet but Dan took three minutes off his personal best with 54-24 and Neale went even faster with 53-13.
Mark Nicholls used his new Planet X bike to good effect in the 4-up and has now placed his old bike on display to the public. Thanks to Ross Morgan for the photograph.
A number of our members took part in the Dragon Ride last month. Simon Kinsey completed the 140 miles of the Gran Fondo in 11 hours 19 mins 04 secs despite suffering from mechanical problems at half distance. The shorter but still long Medio Fondo saw Andrew Sheldon and Kevin Millard complete the 100 miles in 7-19-12 while Paul Harries and Phil Andrews finished together in 6-15-44 and 6-15-43 respectively and Ross Morgan in an excellent 5-54-10.
Photos from the latest hill climb event are now in the Gallery.
