THE penultimate event of the Ayr Roads/Harry Fairbairn Cycle Club summer league took place last Tuesday night, with members battling it out on the 8.6 km Symington circuit time trial.

This is a challenging course with many corners, climbs and descents. The strong wind on the night was an additional hazard for the five riders who braved the elements. The event was won by league leader Scott Knox in a time of 15:02, Bobby McGhee was second in 15:28 and third place went to Tony Garnett 16:04. Aileen Fisher recorded a time of 17:10 and the unlucky John Gemmell, having taken a wrong turn, came home with a time of 17:31.

The weekend saw Ayr Roads riders competing in events on the Firth of Clyde islands. On Arran John Gemmell, Archie Arthur, Bobby and Stewart McCallum participated in the around the island sportive. They all won their respective age categories with times of 3:24:23, 3:27:54, 2:59:50, 3:07:50.

Meanwhile on Bute the annual festival of cycle attracted a quality field with riders travelling from all over Britain. The first event was the gruelling Serpentine Hill Climb with its infamous 15 hairpin bends. Aileen Fisher completed the course in a time of 3:23 a personal best on the climb.

Winner was Lewis Oliphant in a time of 1:55. Bobby McGhee joined Aileen for the afternoon cyclocross. This was Bobby's first attempt at this discipline and he rode a good race finishing in 31st place in a large V50 category. Aileen finished third in the V40 female category. On Sunday the racing continued with two members taking part in the 10 mile time trial. The course suffered a last minute route change when roadworks were uncompleted on the North Island route. Instead riders headed inland and south towards Kingarth. In blistery wet conditions Thomas Gooding-Hill recorded a time of 26min 16sec and Aileen Fisher 29min 03sec. The race was won by Harry Tanfield of Cleveland Wheelers in a time of 21min 04sec. Harry also went on to win the APR event in the afternoon.

Calum MacDonald headed to Strathclyde Park to compete in the 'Spring into Duathlon', an event postponed from March due to the snow. Calum won this event overall and recorded the fastest bike split.

Also on Sunday John Gemmell headed to Glentress for the final round of the Scottish mountain bike series. John just missed out on the podium, coming fourth, but should’ve gained enough points to place second overall.

Five set off on the Sunday club run to Girvan and back, a total of 50 miles, with the usual café stop.

Ayr Roads Cycling Club were represented at the University of the West of Scotland Freshers Fayre last week. Bikes were set up on turbo trainers for keen students to try out while club members advised of the many different club activities on offer from time trialling to cyclocross and social rides with coffee stops. Anyone interested in learning more about club activities can access our website ayrroadscc.co.uk or try a Sunday social run leaving Beresford Terrace at 9.30am every Sunday.