Latest Ayrshire cycling: December 17

Dec 18 2009 by Lizzie Struthers, Kilmarnock Standard

GLENGORM Castle on Mull was the venue for the final two rounds of the Scottish cyclocross league at the weekend.

Three members of Walkers Cycling Club made the long trip to Tobermory for the event, and were able to draw inspiration from bright blue skies and some dramatic scenery.

The first race involved about 60 competitors on a testing course, with temperatures near freezing.

But it was mud rather than ice that upstaged Gareth Barnes who exited one particular hazard minus a shoe. A quick fish around the murky mud-soup saw Gareth back on track, but chasing the race for the remaining hour of the contest.

Alexis Barnes however was settling in nicely to her second-ever cross race and picked up a third place.

Scott Russell fought out a battle further down the field to finish mid-pack.

Day two saw the temperature never above freezing and all the competitors reaching for their warmest clothing. This certainly helped in the ‘Santa cross world championship’ which was held alongside the open race. All Santas had to compete in full red and white suit, including beard, and the individual with the most laps completed in the hour would be crowned champion.

Alexis Barnes took the title in the Mrs Santa Cross category while hard-luck hubby Gareth fell just short with a second place in the male event.

THE cold weather did not prevent the other sections of Walkers CC getting out and about over the weekend.

A large contingent stayed at Minnigaff Youth Hostel for the club's self-styled Puffer Boot Camp, which is a two-day training session in readiness for an upcoming MTB endurance event at Strathpeffer.

The highlight of the weekend is riding the harder routes at trail centres like the award-winning Kirroughtree, which attracts bikers from all over Britain.

The club's roadies were out on Saturday, for a trip to Craigie via Fenwick, Moscow and Galston, and on Sunday morning, for a cautious 50-miler on icy roads from Kilmaurs to fog-bound West Kilbride.

Fog also blighted the Saturday trekking ride, which this week set off from Springboig for a tour of the back roads off the A80 at Cumbernauld. The rotten weather and constant long-winding diversions because of the roadworks at Castlecary Arches rendered the day's cycling perhaps one of the most miserable outings of the year.

WALKERS Cycling Club chairman Steve Lockhart recently took a ‘busman’s holiday’ type club ride with the Galloway Hillbillies based at Kirroughtree's 7Stanes trail centre.

The Irvine enduro-rider joined eight others to brave a winter's evening and sample some of the fantastic riding on offer.

Club members consisted of a fairly equal ability group, with strong emphasis on keeping moving, stopping only to regroup at junctions or hill summits.

With a massive area of potential biking terrain, direction choices were dictated by cold, wet and foggy weather and took the riders over a physically and technically demanding selection of man-made mountain bike track, treacherous natural singletrack and interlinking walking paths welding the sections into longer loops.

Said Stevie, a bike mechanic: "Even with the obvious differences in location, people and riding style, it was refreshing to know that although the riders' names were different, the characters were the same as those on a typical Wednesday Walkers MTB ride."

Newcomers are always welcome to join the Hillbillies, who meet for 7pm on a Tuesday, at the bike shop, Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Newton Stewart.

FULLARTON Wheelers are running their popular Christmas Cracker two-up team trial event on Sunday.

The Irvine course is 12 miles long, mainly along the A78 from the start point at Drybridge. Willie Stephen from Girdle Toll is the contact and the event gets underway at 10am.

AYR Roads Cycling Club are delighted to announce the continued sponsorship of Harry Fairbairn BMW through 2010.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the partnership, an event that was commemorated at the Davie Bell Road Race in June. The club is also pleased to have secured further financial support from John Gemmell Coachworks.

Chairman Blair Wyllie will be promoting Ayr Roads commitment to youth cycling when he completes Cycling Scotland's four-day cycle trainer course in February. Blair will be qualified to deliver training to both children and adults from the club's BAD subsidiary, a mountain bike sub-section which operates out of the village of Barr and has a full range of quality off road bikes supplied by Carrick Cycles of Ayr.

Club members are still within the thick of the action despite the cold climate. Ayr Roads' female contingent covered an impressive 80kms on the Isle of Man on Saturday. Joanne Clark led the way over the climb to Maughold as she prepares for the coming sportive campaign.

Meanwhile club time trial champion Craig Gilmour put in a super performance to finish ninth in the ABCC Winter Duathlon at Angus, the first time he has competed in this discipline. Craig will be back in action with partner Neil Campbell at the Irvine TT event this weekend.

AYRSHIRE CTC have issued a booklet showing 24 bike rides in and around the county.

Each is graded by distance, anywhere from seven to 40 miles. This is the basic guide which will allow you to explore Ayrshire's byways without doing the research work. The booklet is free with a nominal charge for postage. Details from the secretary on 01290 550276.