Thaw leads to floods on VCB club run

With the thaw came the chance for Velo Club Baracchi’s riders to get out on the back roads again, though they had to ford the flooded roads in places.

This river used to be beneath the bridge!

The 8.30am riders made their way to the Bungay café and found that two groups of the 9am riders had arrived already, so seven riders rode back together.

Plans for those who set off from Oulton Broad to meet up earlier with others from the Southwold direction came to nought when those from the south met floods at Stoven and the Lowestoft riders found the road south impassable at Sotterley and Brampton.

Through the water

Fording the flood

We decided not to go this way!

This way seemed to be the best

The riders completed distances between 40 and 50 miles and it was great not to have to worry about icy corners any more.

Riders who have been taking part in the “Sufferfest” turbo-training evenings organised by Gt Yarmouth CC at Cliff Park Junior School seem to have been enjoying the experience, including Chris Womack of VCB.

Those who weren’t at the last event may be unable to follow quite how the riders managed to complete the 298km route of the Milan to San Remo cycle race in the one session but the audio-visual experience coupled with some hard riding seems to have been great fun.

Some local riders have inevitably promised themselves an appointment with the Norfolk Cycle Show at the Forum in Norwich this Sunday.

Others will be out on the roads taking part in the 100km reliability trial organised for Velo Club Baracchi by John Thompson.

The reliability rides start from Oulton Community Centre at 8.30am for a 4.5-hour ride, 9am for 4 hours and 9.30am for 3.5 hours.