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All ready at raring to go at midnight and the first 100kms was very quick.  From Manningtree to Barton Mills (75km) via Sudbury & Long Melford in the dark, I started behind most but was soon able to pass many of the 100+ entrants as I was feeling strong and had the benefit of a cross-tailwind.  At Barton Mills by 03:00 and then up the A1065 to Burnham Deepdale (154km) via Swaffham.  By 04:00 I started to get much slower as I struggled into the headwind on less favourable roads.  Soon the sky was getting light but there was no sunrise to see and then it began to rain.  It was the sort of

Another impressive time from Gareth.

Category 6 ride led by Bob Brown & Danny Hood

With scheduled leader Lee unwell, the co-leaders were Bob and Cube Danny. Bob led out to the café stop and Cube was in charge on the run home.

Organising Club: Lea Valley CC

Course: E2/10

Wheelers' Times

MervP 27:23

After my "success" two days earlier I wanted to see if I could further improve myself.  I'd not done this course before and had heard several conflicting reports about it.  The weather was very changeable as all through the afternoon there was intermittent sun, rain & high winds.  On my way to the start I met up with Merv who explained bits of the course to me.  He stated that the downhill part was very fast but that there were no side winds to cause grief and that he only encountered difficulties within the last two miles.  And so it came to pass.  After reaching 44.6mph down the slope

Still chasing a sub 24min time and things were looking hopeful for me.  The wind was east to west so I would be blown back up the hill, it was a relatively warm afternoon and the sun was shining.  No chance of rain.  I made the mistake of overhearing one of the earlier riders chatting to his mates and saying that the return was the more difficult bit.  Moral of the story - ignore what others say.

Nine riders reach the gold-standard 400 miles in April.

Organising Club: VTTA

Course: F11/10

Wheelers' Times

PeterW 23:49MervP 27:50

Category 6 ride led by Bob Brown

Lots of people must have been otherwise engaged on Bank Holiday duties (or they didn’t fancy the ride) as only 7 assembled for the run to Church Farm, Ardeley. Sunny, and warm enough for shorts, but still with a strong wind.

Category 3 ride led by Barry Page

Nine riders left on a 60m ride to Blackmore via Epping, Passingford Bridge and Kelvedon Hatch. The sunny cool and not too windy conditions made for a good pace, and after tea and cakes we left to return by the Norton Heath, Fyfield and Sheering route. No punctures or mechanicals made a good days cycling.

Organising Club: Cambridge CC

Course: F2d/10

Wheelers' Times

PeterW 23:59MervP 28:22

Monthly awards for mileages recorded on Strava

Alex and Graham rode this 87 mile sportive out of Oxford.

Off to the A31 between Farnham & Alton.  Have done this before and I know from experience that it's not the easiest course for me.  It has its ups-and-downs and if it's windy.....!  The weather forecast suggested that I'd have most problems eastbound, so I was unpleasantly surprised to start westwards - and struggle.  Eventually got into a rhythm after a car pulled across me, much to my concern.  It may not have been my fastest time but I was really pleased to have finished in 1:03:56.  Mentally I got more out of this one than many of my faster times on faster courses.  Being that quali

Two Wheelers rode the 82 mile Evans Windsor Sportive.

Organising Club: Northampton & District CA

Course: N1/10

Wheelers' Times

MervP 33:25

Organising Club: Farnborough & Camberley CC

Course: H25/8

Wheelers' Times

PeterW 1:03:56

Started from The 'Uts at 08:00 in thick fog and made our way in an easterly direction to Greenstead Green.  This was not without its thrills & spills, the latter being a particularly good reminder of how hard the roads are when you hit them!  To add insult to injury I punctured about three miles later on supposedly puncture-proof tyres.  However this did give me an extra bit of time to sort the blood from the bruises and whatever other damage I'd done to myself and the bike.  Idiot! 

Typically arrived later than planned, and pre-ride nerves insisted on finding a local garage.  So with minimal warm up and without driving the course I approached the start of my first 30 miler.
I had decided to ride without liquids after failing to master the use of a saddle mounted bottle cage.  Still, this didn't seem too much of a problem in the cool early morning but after going out too strong and after the sun had burned off the morning cool to make for the hottest day of the year so far, I did regret that decision.

Paul begins his outdoor season at the Hogg Hill circuit.