THE Fullarton Wheelers’ weekend started out with the usual fast paced Largs run.

On a cold crisp morning, the blue skies tempted 23 riders to venture from the club’s training facility in Kilwinning for the dash along the north shore and back.

The dry roads and good conditions meant that most riders managed high average speeds and enjoyed a good work out.

Sunday saw club members participating in three separate organised events, the usual Club run, a Youth Cluster Track Training Session and the Doonbank Cyclocross Trofee.

Fourteen riders gathered at Irvine Cross for this week's Sunday run. Good numbers considering it was overcast, bitterly cold and in a change to the forecast; wet.

The group left Irvine via the Stewarton road before cutting across to Kilmaurs. From there they climbed towards the old A77 and took the Galston road through Waterside and Moscow.

After tackling the tough climb out of Galston the bunch were soon descending towards Sorn and the cafe stop at The Riverbank Kitchen. Hot drinks, breakfasts and soup were the order of the day.

Refuelled they headed uphill for Mauchline before going westwards to Tarbolton. There the team split some heading towards Irvine and Kilmarnock with others to Monkton and Prestwick. Around 50 solid winter miles, with around 2000 feet of climbing, for most.

Four recruits from the Fullarton Wheelers youth section, started the first of five bi-monthly coaching sessions at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The Scottish Cycling Youth Cluster sessions are a series of coaching workshops designed to develop new track riders through a progressive pathway from riding to racing. Kyle Maitland, Bailey Arneil, Karsyn Baird and Andrew Milne, proudly wore the FWCC colours whilst learning the essential skills required to compete on the track.

Once they got used to the fact that the bikes have no freewheel or brakes, they were off with speeds building quickly and coaches doing a great job of reassuring and encouraging. Race faces and big grins were the order of the day as the four clubmates pushed themselves to new heights both in skill levels and on the steep banking of the track.

Andrew suffered his first crash, but picked himself up and despite some ‘trophy’ bruising, got up and was soon speeding round the track again. The sessions ended with an extended run on the track and great anticipation of the next session in two weeks' time.

Back outdoors, FWCC was well represented at the Doonbank Trofee cyclocross racing in Rozelle Park Ayr.

In cold, muddy and damp conditions, Fiona Davidson, Catherine Logan, Gordon McLardon, Dave Walker and oint Club member, Russell Mowat, tackled the typically demanding and strenuous undulating course.

All the Fullarton contingent performed well in their respective categories, with Dave Walker making a particularly strong debut at the ‘A’ race level.