Reliability Trial

Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Reliability Trial Weather conditions were seriously poor for the Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles - reliability trials on Sunday morning, with the riders having to contend with heavy rain, sleet and snow showers and gusty gale force winds throughout the event. The event was more like a Polar expedition than a cycle tour. Nevertheless there was still an entry of 150 for the two events.
The "A” group was 80 strong and they completed a 72 miles ride which took in Antrim, Greystone, Templepatrick, The Longshot to Ballyrobert, then Mossley, Greenisland, Woodburn, Kilroot, Whitehead (where a strong tailwind had the group riding at 45 mph in places) Glynn, Larne and the pit stop at Ballygally.Then it was on around the coast road (where the wind coming off the sea had the speed reduced to walking pace for some riders) and home via Glenarm, Carnlough and Glencloy before the run in through the Braid to Broughshane and back to base, where hot showers and post event refreshments were an even more welcome sight than usual.
 
The touring section’s 53 miles route  took them out the Larne Road towards Glenwherry and then right on to Ballynashee road and on to Ballyeaston and the Lower Ballyboley road to Kilwaughter and on to the pit stop at Ballygally and then back the same route as the "A” run.
Many riders failed to finish the event, such was the severity of the challenge, and others, who did finish, commented that it had been their most difficult experience ever on a bike.
 
Hugh McCullough, the BRC race secretary, organised the event and he accompanied the "A” ride as support vehicle. Hugh thanks all those who helped on Sunday including: Rex Bonar, Alan Mark,  Jim Burns, Maurice McAllister, Adrian Swan, Patsy McGurk, Joan McCullough, Sadie Connor, Mary Mark and Carol Mark and everyone else who assisted in any way. Anyone who took part and forgot to pay their entry fee may still do so and next Monday night’s club meeting. (Yes there are always those arrive late and haven’t time to sign in)