10 Mile Time Trial at Inverness Spring Festival on 2 April 2006

Race Report from Bill Dallas

On Sunday 2 April the Spring Festival, Organised by Moray Firth CC, should have taken place and tempted by the thought of a 10 Mile TT followed by an APR in the afternoon I put in my entry, as it transpired however a lack of entries meant the organisers were forced to cancel the APR and roadworks resulted in the TT being moved from Culloden to Daviot.

Undeterred and with a burning desire to show off my new gear to the Highlanders (which drew many positive comments)I decided to go across early on Sunday morning regardless, I must admit however that when the alarm went off I did kind of wish I was going to Garlogie with the rest of the club racers.

The Daviot course is quite a challenge, it starts with a one mile climb so no worries about warming the legs up, probably the slowest 10 TT start I have done to date, I was advised to start off using the small chainring, an item that is normally just there so my front changer doesn't look like pointless accessory, but I needed it yesterday. After the climb I was told the course undulates, it's true it does but I think it benefits from the fact that you have already climbed the mother of all mountains so nothing else looks so bad anymore. There followed 7 miles with lungs like beach balls. The best bit though is the finish, almost two miles of descent to the line, I hit 46 MPH...Great fun.

I managed to finish A respectable fifth in a seasons best so far of 24:51 and somehow also took the second in the handicap. Winner was Peter Ettles of Forres in an excellent 23:10 followed by Vince Maclennan of Clachnacuddin in 23:59 and Mike Van Der Vlies in 24:25.

First Lady was Mari Tod, Club Unknown, in 26:30

Could next weeks Cycling Weekly have a record number of YCC riders mentioned, check out the results page to find out!!

Bill Dallas