The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Kieran Buffham claimed an impressive victory at the latest Spalding Cycling Club ten-mile time trial meet as he knocked regular winner Josh Wallis off the top of the podium for the first time this season.
Once again, the weather was against those taking part as the wind and rain ensured that just five members opted to contest the event last Tuesday night.
It had been touch and go as to whether the racing would be on, with organisers George Bellars and Sarah Bentley checking out the course twice to see how wet it was.
Rider safety is always the priority at Spalding CC – and with more than ten bends to negotiate, too much standing water would have been an accident in the waiting.
However, by 6pm the roads had dried but the horrendous wind had not gone away, along with the black clouds that threatened more rain.
With that in mind, a couple of the riders made the decision to jettison their time trial bikes with disc wheels or deep rims and use road bikes instead.
The results showed the advantage that is gained from the Aero position on a time trial bike, as Josh Wallis, on his road bike, found himself in second spot for the first time all campaign. He was pipped by Buffham, as they finished in 24.22mins and 23.22mins respectively.
Close on Wallis’ heels was his father Frazer in a time of 24.22mins for third place.
Guest rider James Davy, who had bravely ridden in from Donington into a full on head wind, also rode his time trial bike and managed a time of 29.13mins.
That was 1.53mins faster than Andrew Gurney on his road bike, who disappointingly took 31.06mins – around five minutes slower than he would normally achieve.
The worst part of the course was the run down Iron Bar Drove, where despite turning out 300 watts in power, he could only just hold 15mph (Josh Wallis struggled to be at only 18 mph, too).
The sting in the tail came when, just as they were heading back to base at The Fisherman’s Arms, the heavens opened and they all got soaked again.
- The midweek social riders enjoyed sunny but breezy rides last week.
Monday saw a 50-mile loop to Castor Coffee shop and Thursday was a 45-mile loop to Razzles Garden Centre in Little Bytham.
Compared to the previous Saturday, where it poured it down for all but the start of the ride, the Saturday club ride also had a dry run of 45 miles to the Granary Tea Room at Helpston and back.
