Brereton Wheelers CC

News added 05/07/2010

Currently enjoying fantastic form, Brereton Wheeler Neil Walker delivered another personal best in the club’s latest evening time trial. The 20km event around Handsacre, Seedy Mill and the outskirts of Kings Bromley produced good rides all round as summer rolls on.

Walker’s time of 30 minutes 27 seconds put him close to a 25 mph ride and grabbed him some useful points towards the club’s league championship.

Proving the value of the night Steve’s Williams and Moss were themselves just seconds away from improving on their bests, with 31-54 and 32-08 performances respectively.

In line with the riders, after what has seemed like two years of club races being incessantly doused with rain, this year has been a welcome change for officials as well.

As the seconds ticked by Geoff O’Farrell clocked in with a 32-44 while Ian Beard etched out a 34-46. It was down to Brian Hession and Richard Lewis to wrap things up. Hession had no problem with his neat 39-40 but for Lewis it was a slightly different tale. Feeling some discomfort as he completed the first of his two laps of the course he called it a day, stopping the clock at a respectable 19 minutes 16 seconds.

The club’s collective eyes have now turned to Saturday’s 150 miles charity ride. Months of planning have gone into the venture with the logistics being carefully evaluated. Riders have been cramming their legs full of long distance rides in a bid to ensure that they’re not found wanting when crossing some of England’s highest roads.

Reflecting the historical journey made by the club’s hardcore of the 1960’s, this year’s ride will leave Market Street, Rugeley at 7:00am. The first scheduled stop will be at the top of the Cat and Fiddle climb where riders will re-group after the 8 miles uphill slog, before moving on.

Some respite is anticipated between Buxton and Glossop before the long and fearsome climb of Snake Pass through the heart of the Peak District National Park. The second scheduled break will be taken at the top of this climb, giving the team ample opportunity to absorb the picturesque scenery before dropping down towards Bakewell.

The last third of the route will take the pack onto the A6 through Matlock before turning right at Cromford and up the Via Gellia for another welcome stop. On a normal run this climb wouldn’t be too daunting but after several hours in the saddle over 100 plus very hilly miles it’ll be a completely different prospect.

The leg home through Ashbourne is over familiar roads but the smallest of hills will find riders searching for their lowest gears. Speaking of his experiences from the original ‘Reg Mobberley ride’ of the 1960’s, club vice-president Taff Yardley recalled how those final miles were of an extremely gruelling nature, with legs seemingly paralysed by fatigue.

Saturday’s event represents a mammoth challenge for those taking part with a huge sense of achievement waiting at the Market Street finish. Current conservative estimates suggest that over £1000 is due to be raised for the benefitting charities, Katherine House and Sport Relief.