With the early season Reliability Rides and Sportives in full swing throughout the region, CCS staged their own version last weekend. A record entry of 106 riders took part from over 20 East Anglian clubs and was helped for once, by dry conditions, although early starters still had to contend with very low temperatures.
85 riders rode the longer circuit, out as far as the outskirts of Stowmarket, and the first group back, from the Interbike Club in Colchester, took just 2hrs 5mins to complete the ride. Included within this group was Dominic Schils who regularly uses this ride to help with his early season training and now races for the Belgian Van Eyck team throughout Europe during the season.
The alternative shorter circuit out to Bildeston, attracted just 21 riders with a lone CCS rider getting round in 1hr 30mins to be first home.
The only mishap of the day, if you exclude the inevitable punctures, was a rider who came off on some spilt diesel. This did not detract from organiser Brian Webber and his team’s superb running of the event and judging by a lot of rider’s comments, one of the best on the calendar.