FULLARTON Wheelers kicked off their week with the regular Monday night time ride from the Gailes.

This week 12 riders headed out with lights on and started with a warm up loop of the crit circuit before heading out towards Drybridge and then turning right down to Dundonald. From here they continued south to Tarbolton. On the climb out of the town Gary Arneill sprung a surprise attack on the group leaving the rest trailing in his wake. Recovering from this blast, the riders re-grouped and headed back north through Loans and on to their starting point.

An enjoyable ride of between 25 and 30 miles for most.

The club’s youth group once again took over the Barn for their Wednesday evening racing night. As the winter season is coming to an end they were set a tough course, a five mile section of the road to Cap de Formentor in Mallorca.

Undaunted, the youngsters took on the climbs with their usual enthusiasm - all of them completing the challenge in very respectable times.

Sixteen riders attended this week's Sunday Run. With grey skies but little wind the group chose a route heading South.

Leaving Irvine Cross they headed for Loans, Prestwick and on into Ayr. Heading inland the bunch tackled the Corton Bridge climb before taking on the fast, flowing descent into Coylton. Next up was the B744 to Annbank where unfortunately one of the riders suffered a severe mechanical failure when his rear derailleur shattered into several pieces. Luckily the club's very own retro mechanic was on hand and soon had the broken derailleur off and the chain shortened, thus creating a usable single speed.

After a fast run through Tarbolton and out towards Bogend Toll roughly half the riders headed home, the other half put a spurt on and made a beeline for the Cook School Cafe on the outskirts of Kilmarnock for some refuelling.

Around 50 miles for most, 60 for some, 70 for two and 100 miles for one who had started and finished the ride in Largs.

It was an enjoyable day out, despite some rain with a special mention to a new rider who, with some encouragement, stuck in well on her first outing with the club.