ACME Members continue to tour around the local area getting in valuable winter miles, doing a bit of Castle spotting on route. After a number of dry weekends during January, February turned out to be a wet month. Lets hope March gives members a chance to continue Sunday group rides from Welcome Inn – Tonypandy.

Rob with Castell Coch in the background

Kerry passes by Caerphilly Castle

Members have been recently been taking advantage of the good weather and managing regular early season Sunday club rides, leaving the Welcome Inn, Tonypandy at 9.30am.  Mileages have been around 30 miles to start off with and hoping to progress to longer rides as the season progresses.

Dean as also been seen out training as he prepares for a spring time training camp to Majorca. An island that attracts thousands of cyclist from around the world, with its quiet roads and amazing climbs and scenery. This will prepare Dean for a season of road racing through 2022.

New Members are always welcome, contact details can be found in the Joining Section of the Website.https://acme-wheelers.co.uk/join/

Barn Hill in Tonyrefail was the location of the 2021 Hill Climb Championship, a tough half mile climb with a gradient of 10% in places. After an absence to the calender in 2020 due to the virus it was good to see the event taking place again.

With only two riders prepared face the time keepers clock, Kerry Lewis took to the start line first. Kerry gambled on a quick start and hoped his fitness would carry him over the top of the hill to the finish. Dean Cummings the club Road Racing talent decided on a more conservative start and set a steadier pace.
Kerry pace was still holding on at the half way point, but on the final part of the climb started to slow dramatically. Dean was able maintain his pace throughout, even on the hard 10% section and powered over the top of the hill. Dean could see Kerry was slowing and increased is pace again on the flat section to the finish. Kerry also managed to find some recovery and increased is pace over the final 150 yards unaware Dean was closing fast behind as he they almost reached the timekeeper together.

Times
Dean  – 3mins
Kerry  – 3mins 58sec

Dean’s better form was just to good for Kerry to equal and Dean was a worthy winner to claim the Hillclimb Championship for 2021, an event he last won in 2016 . Roger and Margaret Evans presented Dean with the R+M Trophy for his achievement following his ride.

Big Thanks to event organiser Jeff Matthews, timekeepers Roger & Margaret  and Robert Davies who travelled from Neath to help out with the safety warning signs. Also good to see other members who came along to support the event.

More Photo :-https://acme-wheelers.co.uk/gallery-2/gallery-2020/nggallery/2020/hill-climb-championship-2021

Gary Flower put in a great performance at the Welsh 12 hour Championship, clocking up 248.70 miles . Gary an experienced competitor at long distance triathlon events was taking part in his first 12hr, making the result more impressive.

The event was based around Raglan area  then  circuits around Usk, Abergavenny, Monmouth and up to  Hereford on tough undulating roads, luckily good weather condition for the challenge made the event more bearable.

Gary had been training for months for the Tenby Ironman, but just weeks prior to the event taking place it was cancelled due to the Virus concerns. So the 12hr was an ideal challenge with his recent training  preparations. All was necessary was to fine tune and some longer training rides prior to the event.

Gary’s result  achieved a Silver Club Racing Standard for his ride, maybe a Gold will be within reach if Gary attempts this tough event again in future.

Member wish Gary a quick recovery as just days after the 12h he broke his ankle doing some maintenance work at home.

Dean Cummings put in a good performance in the recent Worcester Evening Road Race Series, based around the Malvern Hills.

The 32 mile Hilly event was staged in dry and bright conditions, but a stiff wind made parts of the circuit tough with side winds on the two laps. The large Peloton was categorized into three groups with Dean in the middle group.

From the start a high pace was set and Dean’s group chased hard and after a number of miles the first group on the road was in sight. Contact was soon made and the pace increased again knowing the third group containing some well known quality riders were keen to bridge the gap behind. Unfortunately in the later stages of the final lap the three groups were all merged and the pace increased again in the frantic final hilly miles to the finish. Dean rode a good race finishing just behind the leading group on the fast run in to the Chequered Flag.