A PACKED week of activities for Fullarton Wheeler started with what will now be, the regular Monday evening Club Run. This week there were sufficient numbers for the ride to be split into two groups.

The ride headed away from the Gailes at 7pm and headed inland to Drybridge before turning south on the familiar roads down through Dundonald and on to Tarbolton.

From there they road across to Monkton and then rode back to Irvine via Loans.

Wednesday evening saw the Club’s youth section have their last winter session in the barn.

A lot of new young riders have joined the club and it’s been great to see their development as they have learned to develop their skills on the turbo trainers and rollers. There will be a two week break now before they start a series of outside rides, supervised by parents, throughout the summer.

This weekend saw Fullarton riders taking part in racing and enjoying social rides.

In the racing the club had a good turnout spread over three events - The Lake of Menteith APR promoted by Glasgow Nightingale CC on Saturday, the Fenwick APR promoted by Walkers Cycling on Sunday and The Crit on the Campus promoted by Stirling Bike Club, also held on Sunday.

A total of seven members took part in Saturday's race. This was two laps of a tough, undulating circuit around the Balfron area covering a total of 48 miles. Darren Kean rode well and secured a top 20 position, averaging 26mph for the course.

Mikey Allen was the only other Fullarton rider to place, finishing respectably within the top 40. Unfortunately John Todd was lost early on to a crash, Chris Blakely succumbed to a puncture, Steve Donaldson and Stephen Gillon also retired from the race early and Sean Barron finished but was later disqualified.

On to Sunday and three Wheelers took to the starting grid for The Fenwick APR; Sean Barron, Stephen Gillon and Alistair MacFarlane.

Again two laps of a hilly circuit with some challenging road surfaces and technical corners. Sean finished in eighth place and was the best-placed Ayrshire rider.

Also on Sunday there was criterium racing at Stirling University Campus.

These are fast, furious and held over multiple laps of a short circuit with tricky bends, short descents and climbs and fast, flowing straights. The club was represented by two of its female riders, Martha Hillard in the under-16s girls race and Aileen Clyde in the senior ladies race.

After being impeded by a rider having a technical problem early in the race Martha showed her usual grit and road on to finish eighth and Aileen finished 18th in a very competitive field of more than 30 riders in her race.

The Club’s membership also enjoyed two social rides on Sunday. With the sun shining for twenty Members who headed up to Inveraray for the first ‘Away Day’ of the year. The cycle was a 75-mile loop, which took the group through the arches of the Argyll Hotel for nine miles of climbing and a fast descent before meandering down the side of Loch Awe and then onto Loch Gilphead before returning, along Loch Fyne to Inveraray for fish suppers.

The few remaining riders back in home territory still mustered enough numbers for a traditional Sunday Run.

Five riders set off from Irvine Cross, after passing through Loans the group turned up the Troon flumes for the first of many stiff little climbs on a day that took them to the edge of Dundonald before skirting round to take in the Mur de old Rome.

Further climbing after Earlston had the group losing one rider which left the final four passing Hayes garden centre with the Barnweil climb beckoning. Regrouping at the top allowed time for recovery followed by further climbs around Craigie village before heading towards Tarbolton for the Helling Rammagetonberg. The group now staying together well continued on back lanes before turning homeward before Mossblown to climb up in sunshine past the caravan park and on to the Adamton House road.

A thoroughly enjoyable and at times testing ride in glorious sunshine. Fifty miles for most with over 3000ft of climbing.