RELIABILITY TRIAL
The club Reliability Trials are normally held in November (although in 2016 they were held in January, and in 2017 a February date has been selected) and riders have to select from a choice of two distances, being approximately 35 and 50 miles. Having selected the distance each rider then has to select their expected duration of the ride (paced at between around 12 to 16 mph) and then have to complete the course within that timeframe. It is not a race.
The departure point is Washington and includes minor roads and a few gradients before returning to Washington at about lunchtime. Tea and cake are provided at the finish. There is no entry fee for Club riders for this event. Entrants are provided with a written route sheet and a map.
Riders are dispatched in groups at intervals according to their chosen distance and time constraints. There is a control point on route to ensure that the riders are not taking a “short cut”. To qualify as being a successful in this event, riders must finish no earlier than 10 minutes before their own nominated finish time. To finish outside the nominated finish time will mean that the rider is a non qualifier.
The departure point is Washington and includes minor roads and a few gradients before returning to Washington at about lunchtime. Tea and cake are provided at the finish. There is no entry fee for Club riders for this event. Entrants are provided with a written route sheet and a map.
Riders are dispatched in groups at intervals according to their chosen distance and time constraints. There is a control point on route to ensure that the riders are not taking a “short cut”. To qualify as being a successful in this event, riders must finish no earlier than 10 minutes before their own nominated finish time. To finish outside the nominated finish time will mean that the rider is a non qualifier.
2017 EDITION - SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY
Despite the threatening nature of the weather 22 riders turned up to participate and formed into various groups based on chosen length of course and also chosen speed. In the end the weather held off albeit with strong headwinds on the return part of the course (15 mph, gusting to 30 mph).
Two groups took to the 53 mile course with 4 opting for the 14 mph pace and 7 opting for the 16 mph pace. All riders finished comfortably with time to spare (either waiting around the corner near the end or, in one case, adding in the northern section of G10/98 as a filler).
The 37 mile event saw three groups for the full range of speed options. 4 opted for 12.5 mph with 3 succeeding. 5 opted for 14 mph and all qualified. Father and son pairing Andy and Tom Jarman selected 16 mph but proved 'unreliable' as they went off course!
The tea/coffee/cakes at the end were extremely welcome and much appreciated (as were the refreshments at the control station in Warninglid).
Two groups took to the 53 mile course with 4 opting for the 14 mph pace and 7 opting for the 16 mph pace. All riders finished comfortably with time to spare (either waiting around the corner near the end or, in one case, adding in the northern section of G10/98 as a filler).
The 37 mile event saw three groups for the full range of speed options. 4 opted for 12.5 mph with 3 succeeding. 5 opted for 14 mph and all qualified. Father and son pairing Andy and Tom Jarman selected 16 mph but proved 'unreliable' as they went off course!
The tea/coffee/cakes at the end were extremely welcome and much appreciated (as were the refreshments at the control station in Warninglid).
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37 Mile Event
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53 Mile Event
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(click on map to expand)
2016 EDITION
Unfortunately the weather was cold and icy with the temperature hovering at around 2 degrees all morning. This rather dampened enthusiasm and limited the number of participants to just 18 riders. Of these only six were successful in completing their rides within the time. Some riders experienced mechanical difficulties but the majority of entrants spent too long in the café en route! and were therefore outside the time limit.
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37 Mile Event
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48.9 Mile Event
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