AYR Roads Cycling Club members are not all involved in the competitive side of their sport. Many enjoy the touring scene, by participating in non-competitive events such as cyclo sportives and general touring activities. Last year was not only a successful one for the club's racing fraternity but a highly successful one for the cycle tourists, at home and in Europe.

Two of the most enthusiastic club members on the touring front are the husband and wife team of Alan and Kathryn Thomson, whose have been involved in numerous tours and sportives at home and abroad.

They have just returned from a memorable holiday to Vietnam. On this occasion, their trip took them to North Vietnam which entailed a fourteen hour train journey from the south to Hanoi in the north – an experience in itself! From there they crossed over to Vietnam's seaboard where they cycled down the east central coast route, taking in the the splendour of the South China Sea and the Gulf of Tonkin before spending the last few days of their holiday on a beautiful island. They were joined by another four cyclists, including an 'ironman triathlete' from Australia. Their journey took them by quiet and relatively traffic free roadways, and small villages, where they enjoyed the local food and the friendliness of the villagers. From all accounts, Vietnam is well worth a bike tour.

The club's local touring scene is made up of two main weekly club runs and solo efforts by individual members. Last week, the club's elderly statesmen clocked up over60 miles on their mid week run taking in the Turnberry Hills circuit.

On Sunday with calmer weather following the aftermath of Storm Gertrude the club's main outing took to East Ayrshire byways. This was an epic ride with two groups of riders totalling twenty in all. The route took them by Straiton, Dalmellington to New Cumnock, where a short cut onto snow covered roads forced them back onto the Daleagles road, New Cumnock and homewards. Over sixty miles covered with one new member on his first run over the moon.

Under the guidance of the club captain the club Sunday run has been altered to suit various abilities. This has proved very popular with newcomers.

On Saturday, Brian Yates and Fraser Tait were the club and Ayrshire representatives in the South Lanarkshire Cyclo Cross Series.

In round two, Brian was amongst the best in the Scottish Cyclo Cross scene and just missed a podium place by taking fourth in the senior's race. Fraser finished strongly and took seventh place in the veteran's event.

Meanwhile the 2016 Ayr Burners Challenge Series kicks off this week with the first instalment of the 'Half-Hour record' on Thursday evening.

Using the 400 metre dirt track at Prestwick Oval, riders will be given 30 minutes to complete as many laps as possible, with a second attempt scheduled for Thursday the 11th of February. This years Challenge Series includes an Ayrshire Alps section where competitors have 4 weeks in which to climb all 16 of the famous cycling hills in the area, and a 'Team Everesting' event where teams of riders will attempt to ascend the Nic o' the Balloch 36 times to gain the 9000 metres required to equal Mount Everest.

Two youths from The Burners made the journey to Linlithgow for the West Lothian Clarion kids CycloCross race. The recent weather conditions made for a technical course with slippy off cambers proving tricky, but Harry McGarvie showed excellent technical ability and took the top honours in the under 16's category. This weekend sees Round Three of the SuperQuaich series visit the Kingdom of Fife where Ayr Burners will field five riders across the A and B race.