You may feel it’s too windy to go cycling and no one should persuade you otherwise. And when it’s a decision made by an event organiser the pressure to get that call right increases and will likely veer towards caution – however much that upsets the participants! The recent LEL being one such example. But it was a different scene at Victoria early last Sunday morning. Kernow Cycling Racing had organised a “recce” 10 mile time trial for us to check the course the RTTC National 10 Mile championship we’ll be using in a fortnight. The organiser, Phil Bowden, made the difficult decision to call the ride off as there was little shelter from the wind on the open moorland sections and many had deep section wheels. He suggested we should drive the route instead then head to the more sheltered S6 course at Ladock and ride that instead. The perfect call and the start of a perfect day!
Yes, I’m entered for the National 10, though very aware that older time trialists can remain competitive well into their eighties – so a podium in the 70 to 74 category will be hard fought.
Shortly after arriving in Probus lay-by we set off for Ladock in one long line that soon got strung out as groups started working together and it wasn’t long before I found myself with another senior entrant,
Roger, in a “two up” effort. And I was relieved to find I still had some speed in my legs after my recent joint surgeries 🤪.
It was nice chatting with everyone after and plans were being made for coffee rides but I’d received a message from Trevor saying a Wheeler’s group was heading to the “Green Room” in St Agnes and Andy agreed to join me for the ride over. So we headed off on a ride of two distinct halves, the first, a gentle spin on the cycle paths from Newham to Chiverton and the second, a blast at warp speed from there to St Agnes as I clung tenuously to Andy’s rear wheel.
At the Green Room we ordered breakfast and waited for some Falmouth Wheeler company. Not long after we’d finished eating they arrived, Trevor, Phil B, Steve, Paul and our newest member Mark. The sum total of wheelers at HQ this morning! A second coffee was called for and we chatted whilst they waited for food. Andy was still feeling strong so it was with considerable relief that he said he’d head back on his own if I was joining the group 🤪🙏.
Trevor had safely guided the group to St Agnes and on the return Steve showed us the recent cycling infrastructure created to link St Agnes to the Chiverton bridge. It certainly wasn’t the most direct route but interesting nonetheless the less with some proper gravel tracks but fine on a road bike. Via Chiverton and Dangerous Crossing we headed to Perranwell for refreshments. 
These have to be earned so we took the Hicks Mill route where Steve, now so close to home, felt he should lend Paul his E-bike! I don’t think Steve was quite ready for Paul’s old school gearing. Pints at The Royal Oak were richly deserved. 😃🍺🍺☀️. A sunny if breezy day’s cycling. 😃🚴🏼♂️☀
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Robin Snelson