Velo’s Vanessa Vander travelled north to Inverness to take part in the Etape Loch Ness. Taking in 66 miles, it is Scotland’s longest and largest sportive held on traffic free roads, along both banks of the famous Loch.

Despite not seeing Nessy along the way, Vanessa completed the distance in a little over 5 hours, making it her longest ride to date, and completing the ‘London Classics’ Series which also includes the London Marathon and Swim Serpentine events.

Well done Vanessa!

On Saturday April 18, Sally, Mike, and Steve rode, The Kent Epic by Glorious Gravel.

The Kent countryside served up a “glorious” but grueling challenge with undulating terrain, the trio finished with a solid moving time of 4 hours and 20-ish minutes. A testament to their pace considering the vertical gain and the mechanical chaos that ensued.

“Very hilly” might be an understatement. The route was a relentless succession of steep gradients and loose surfaces, demanding high power outputs and technical finesse. The Kentish North Downs provided the perfect backdrop, even if the riders spent more time looking at their stems than the scenery during the sharper inclines.

Mechanical Drama & “The Ghost”

It wouldn’t be a true gravel epic without a bit of hardware anxiety. The team faced a trifecta of mechanical hurdles:

Mike’s Freehub: Mike spent most of the ride accompanied by the ominous sounds of a freehub “giving up the ghost.” In a display of mechanical luck (or sheer stubbornness), the hub held on just long enough to cross the finish line.

Steve’s Puncture Streak: Steve had a busy morning with the tyre levers, suffering two punctures that required quick roadside surgery to keep the ride alive.

Sally’s Near Miss: A hole appeared in Sally’s rear tire mid-ride. Fortunately, the “tubeless gods” were smiling and te sealant did its job, plugging the gap and saving her from joining Steve in the puncture club.

Despite the mechanical gremlins and the punishing elevation, the Medway Velo crew showed great resilience. They managed a swift 13 mph average speed over 57 miles of dirt and rock, a cracking result for a very tough day in the saddle.

Well played, Sally, Mike, and Steve!

Three velos and a number of family and supporters travelled to Northern France for the annual trip to the Paris Roubaix challenge, where intrepid cyclists take on the fearsome cobbles, one day of the professionals.

The club is pleased to say all of our riders made it round the Roubaix Pave. Rob Kennison leading the way with a time of 6 hours 3 minutes for the full route, Steve Smith completing the route alongside his brother Andrew and Phil Booth completing the event for the tenth time.

Well done all and thanks to all who supported them.

Two velos made the short journey to the Isle of Grain to take part in the VTTA 10, which doubled up as the clubs road bike championships.

Facing the usual blustery conditions on the Grain course, although benefitting from an improved road surface in some parts, Keiran Lawlor took the clubs title with a time of 25:36, with Nigel Wharton putting on a strong position to come home in 28:34.

The overall winner of the open event was Jonathan Beasley, whilst Louise Robinson won the female event.

Well done both, and thank you to velo David Mackey who organised the event on behalf of the VTTA, and his family, including club Vice President Ernie Mackey, for making sure the event would go ahead.

The weekend saw two velos opened their competitive season.

First up was Sally Smith, who took part in the Sherwood pines gravel race. Competing in a big field of 57 women, Smith admitted some early season nerves, but described the 33 mile course as “nice…with a few tricky bits including sand and berms and some tough drags”.

Smith finished 21st completing the event in 2 hours 19 minutes.

Sunday saw Jon Graciano compete in La Classicissima circuit race at the Gravesend Cyclopark. Competing in the ABCD event the bunch completed the 25 miles in 1 hour 4 minutes, and Jon safely finished in the bunch.

Well done both and thanks to the organisers for putting the events on.

Three velos, and their supporters, made the short journey to Hollingbourne hill for the 50th Wigmore CC hill climb.

Mike Stanley was the fastest velo, winning the clubs hill climb championship, with a time of 4:20.5, whilst Connor Clare was not far behind in 4:33.7. Steve Smith, returning to the hill climb after a few years absence recorded in 5:26.3, and remarked that the ‘velo corner’ was worth 100 watts as he avoided being caught by his minute man!

Overall winner was Matthew Brown of the University of Nottingham.

Well done all and thanks to Keith Walker and his team from Wigmore for putting the event on.

Medway Velo’s own open 10 mile time trial saw 4 velo’s racing in memory of their club mate Neil Ord, a true ‘club man’ and gentleman, who would ride or assist at the clubs events, as well as being a BC race marshal.

Under warm blue skies, but with the strong wind associated with the Isle of Grain, Matt Nunn recorded the fastest velo time of 25:48, good enough for third place overall.

Fraser Blandford opted for his road bike and was fastest road bike overall in 27:45 with Bill Stacey making his time trial debut in a time of 30:57.

Sally Smith was second woman overall, taking her road bike around the course in 28:05.

Velo refined Rule 5 claimed the top position for both men and women, Mark Hill recording 23:18 and Kat Dinley 27:57.

Well done all, and thank you to all who rode, and to Steve Smith for organising and David Mackey for timekeeping.

Six velos travelled to Betteshanger to compete in the KCA 10 mile time trial, which was the clubs 10 champs for the year.

Sally Smith was crowned the women’s champion after recording 28:00 on her road bike. After the event she remarked that her power was down a little compared to some of her recent races, although she had taken the week before the race off the bike as she enjoyed a family holiday in Lanzarote.

Debbie Percival was second velo as she continued her recovery from an accident, coming home in 28:27.

In the men’s event Jon Graciano claimed the velo crown, with a strong time of 23:03. Mike Stanley was second velo in 24:26. Rob Kennison claimed third with 25:41 and Simon Tucker opted for his road bike and recorded a strong time of 28:40.

Sadly Steve Smith, making a return to time trials suffered a front wheel puncture with one and a half laps to go.

Well done to all the velos who took part, and many thanks to Mark Hill, the KCA and all the volunteers who put on an excellent event.

Club President Rodney Kennison remembers his first road race in 1954.

I was out for a ride when I met Don Sutherland, secretary of the Rochester Olympic Cycling Club, he asked me if I would like to ride a mass start that he was organising. In those days these events were called mass starts, no mention of road races. I only had one bike a Holdsworth track bike with 46×18 fixed wheel and one brake. I was a member of Medway Wheelers in those days, most members rode fixed wheel bikes, especially for time trials.

In my bits and pieces I found a Constrictor rear mech , the gear hanger had a hole in it which fitted over the wheel axle and was secured by the wheel nut, there was just room for a 3 speed block 14,15,16 teeth, I also fitted a rear brake.

The mass start event for juniors started at the top[ of City Way up the A229 to the top of Bluebell Hill, straight on to Sandling before taking the right turn along Forstal Road to Aylesford, then it was back up Bluebell Hill to the top of City way and down towards Chatham, left at Partten’s Lane and back on to City Way. On the third lap at Bridgewood near Buckmore Park I broke away alone, I had to pedal like crazy on the tiny 46 x 14 top gear. On the final climb from Aylesford to the finish at the top of Bluebell Hill the 46×18 gear was perfect.

I was elated to finish first in my debut race. Back then cash prizes were not permitted, so I was even more happy to receive a small brown envelope containing a generous amount of cash for my efforts!

Velo’s Matt Nunn travelled to the Vendee region of France to compete in Les Sables D’Olonne ironman triathlon.

Covering a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and then a marathon run, Matt came home in 11 hours 32 minutes and 48 seconds, placing him well inside the top half of finishers.

Well done Matt, a truly epic effort.