On and off the road with Axe Valley Pedallers

The first went well for Clive Heard with a good time of 27'37" and Bill Marshall produced a fine performance with 31'46" in his first time back in the racing saddle since 1997!

In this week's event, which took place on a slightly revised course and with a strong headwind, times achieved were Gary Blackett 28'25" Colin Bennett 31'29" Clive Heard 29'43" Haydn Grimwood 28'48" and Jimmy Richards 24'50", just seconds off a podium time, and a particularly strong ride from Colin in his first race for a few years.

In the MTB cross country event in Grammarcombe Woods on a tough course, Clive Heard, in his first off-road race this year, and now classified as a Grand Veteran (promotion at last), finished in one piece and commented that bikes had changed over the years with now full suspension, wider bars, less chainrings and larger wheels.

He has also led a couple of early morning Sunday rides for the early risers out into the depths of Devon and Dorset, around 45 miles and back into Colyton for a welcome coffee at Finn Studio, in addition to starting off an evening MTB ride around the off-road tracks around Colyton, Beer and Offwell - busy man!

The Saturday morning coffee club ride assembles regularly at 10am for coffee at the Filling Station, Colyford before heading out for a 25-mile spin around the many local routes, and the leisure riders assemble in Seaton at 10am three times a week for mostly local rides of between 20 and 50 miles.

As these rides always through some of the best scenery in East Devon are very popular, we normally split into two or three groups according to distance preferred and, of course, taking the weather into account. Our two visitors to Majorca are still out there enjoying the challenge of exploring new routes and undoubtedly the sun and sangria.

A well-earned break (Image: AVP)