Club riders are now preparing for the spring and summer events.
Rides get slightly longer, and with the advent of better weather, either the mudguards are taken off or, for those lucky enough, the best bike is dusted off and made ready.
For Bronte Wheelers, this also means getting ready for the racing season. Some have already started – too keen, in my opinion!
My season starts usually in April, when the first of our club evening ten-mile time trials start.
These events run through to August every Wednesday evening, and are ideal for all levels of rider who have a desire to compete. We have riders from 16 years through to 70-plus.
Since riders are racing against the clock, setting off at one minute intervals. Not only are you competing against others but also trying to better your own best time.
Because you are riding on your own without other riders to take shelter from the wind, these races are known as the race of truth.
The Tour de France usually has a couple of stages that are time trials.
These were the first events I did when I started riding again after a long break – work and family preventing me from riding.
I turned up on the only bike I had at the time, a mountain bike with slick tyres, and competed in the last two events of the season. The next year I had a road bike, but my times didn’t improve that much.
The first target for those new to time trialling is usually to beat the 30 minutes mark by maintaining an average speed of 20mph.
You can turn up on the night, sign on, pay the entry fee of £3, pin your number on and race.
The first event is on April 16, meeting near Kildwick Church on the old part of Skipton Road. Contact me on 01535 631373 for further information.
For those aged five to 16, the kids’ club is starting again at Marley Sports Centre in Keighley. This is off-road around the grounds of the centre, and includes bike handling skills.
Coaches Peter Charleton and Andrew Wood lead the sessions, along with British Cycling’s Chris Young. They do lots of activities, including slow races, peg races, slalom, how to get on and off the bike, braking and riding over different terrain.
The first sessions are on March 31, April 14 and April 28 from 6.30pm, and cost £1. Contact Chris on 07940 738362 or Peter on 01535 643184 for further information.
The Sunday mountain bike runs are running on March 16, 23 and 30 for intermediate riders aged between 14 and 23, and usually involve a two or three-hour ride from the Fisherman’s Inn at Bingley from 10am. Contact Chris Young on the above number.
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