It could be argued that cycling will be one sport to actually benefit from Covid19 with bike sales going through the roof and the nation’s infrastructure being promised a massive upgrade. Add in the area hosting Pearl Izumi and Tour of Britain stages and it is easy to see why its popularity is growing.

This doesn’t mean it has been plain sailing for our local cycle clubs though. Even when we were being encouraged to “get on our bikes” competitive cycling was still very much off the agenda.

Thankfully, the recent relaxing of restrictions meant Barrow Central Wheelers could resume planning for the return of the ever popular 10 mile Time Trial along the coast road.

After tireless work from committee members and volunteers to make sure the event was “Covid secure” a reduced field of twenty five riders assembled in windy and damp conditions to not only compete but to make sure the new procedures put in place worked. Even then a last minute scare temporarily put the event at risk as a tractor had recently distributed mud on a section of the course but thanks to secretary James Hodgson and his broom it was deemed safe to continue with riders being made aware of the dangers when signing in.

So it came to pass that at 18.31 Fraser Minnican of Lakes RC had the honour of starting the season as he was first out of the gate. With a strong cross wind adding further difficulty for the riders, Fraser’s time of 23.50mins set a stiff target for those following on, eventually finishing in fifth place, the time being a personal best for Fraser.

The Wheeler’s own Oliver McKenna set the fastest time of the evening with a fantastic 22.16min, knocking a huge fifty one seconds off his personal best in the process. Lakes RC’s Kevin Chadwick was second in 22.57mins with Henry Moss (BCW) completing the podium with a time of 23.32mins.

Christina Wiejak was fastest lady home for Team Jaden-Cyclespace Viva le Velo in a time of 24.10mins, not only celebrating her birthday in style but smashing forty seconds off her own course record in the process.

A very impressive ten riders set PB’s on the evening, proving that lockdown may well have given rise to more training opportunities. Congratulations to Oliver McKenna, Christina Wiejak, Fraser Minnican, Peter Armistead, Richard Morgan, Scott Fisher, Paul Quinn, Jon Brown, Kristina Jackson and Victoria McMurtha.

Full results are available here

The work by all involved to get this event underway cannot be underestimated and the committee, support teams, marshals, time keepers and of course riders are all to be commended on helping to make sure the event ran smoothly.

The next event will be held Wednesday 22nd July with the limit on entrants being relaxed after a successful trial and all future events can be found at here

Anyone interested in becoming involved in Barrow Central Wheelers can visit them on Facebook or at the website. Alternatively they can be contacted by email [email protected]