Velo’s Jon Graciano successfully took on the 125 mile Pilgrims Hospice Challenge sportive over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Taking on a route covering the varied terrain of East Kent Jon took on the hills in the Downs behind Dover and Canterbury, as well as the flatter roads towards Romney Marsh.

Well done Jon!

Ten velos travelled to the Isle of Grain to take part in the West Kent RC time trial, shortened to 8 miles as a consequence of roadworks near the start. Despite the non standard race distance the event formed the inaugural club road bike time trial championships, with seven of the velos opting for their road bikes, and facing a windy course and it always being a bit black over Bill’s mothers.

Debbie Percival was one of the riders who chose to ride her time trial bike, and opened her account in velo colours by winning the female race with a time of 22:32. Fraser Blandford, returning to competition, also opted for his time trial bike in the open category.

Sally Smith lead a velo one two in the female road bike event, Smith coming home in 23:14, which was also the second best time recorded by a female. Rachel Hartridge was hot on her heels with a time of 23:26, suggesting a season of good competition between the two lies ahead.

Smiths time was good enough to take home the velo’s road bike trophy for 2024.

In the men’s road bike category, Rob Kennison also claimed a podium spot overall with his time of 19:59, which also saw him claim the velo road bike title.

Matt Nunn and Dave Croud were also well placed in the men’s road bike event, Croud recording 20:23, and Nunn finishing in 21:18, whilst Mackey recorded 21:35. David Mackey, Mike Stanley and Nigel Wharton completed the velo riders in the event.

Overall the event was won by Nicholas Trbovic who came home in exactly 17 minutes.

Well done to all those who rode, and thank you to the West Kent and the marshals and timekeepers for putting on the event.

Velo’s Phil Booth and Elz Lloyd set out to ride the infamous pave of the hell of the north, taking on the Paris Roubaix sportive.

Warm early April sunshine greeted the riders, although they had a stiff headwind to face on the way out to the start of the cobbles, although this also meant a tailwind on the return to Roubaix.

Despite starting well, on the Bourghelles- Wannehain section of cobbles, Phil, opting for his cyclo cross bike, managed to put his chain through the cage of his rear mech, and his drive train refused to move anymore. After spending an hour fixing the problem on the roadside Phil and Elz were underway again, however not wishing to cause any more damage that may leave Phil by the roadside, they opted for a more direct return to the famous Roubaix velodrome.

Not one to let adversity coming in the way of completing the event, Phil returned to the area later in the week, this time with his shimano equipped road bike, completing the final 25km of the race once again, including a lap of the track.

Well done both on braving the fearsome cobbles.

Two velos were in sportive action over the weekend.

Sean Farley travelled to Belgium to ride the Ronde Van Vlaanderen sportive. Having opted for the shorter version last year, this time Sean tackled the 129km version, taking in more of the famous climbs of the spring classic.

In the south of the UK Sally Smith took part in the Glorious Gravel sportive on Salisbury plain. Riding alongside her friend Katy, Sally covered 60 miles of gravel and off road tracks in just over 5 hours.

Well done both.

The first weekend of open time trials in Kent saw 4 velos travel to the Isle of Grain to race the VTTA time trial organised by club member Dave Mackey.

Due to roadworks the event was shortened to a little over 8 miles, however the weather still made the race tough with the riders facing hail as well as rain and sun.

All four velos opted for road bikes with Rob Kennison coming home in 21:20 with Mike Stanley next in 23:03. Sally Smith, who was forced to ride in one gear after snapping a cable at the start finished in 24:09, whilst Connor Clare competing in his first time trial recorded 24:39.

Sunday morning saw Keith Johnson compete in the Hillingdon Triathletes Season opener duathlon. In windy but dry conditions Keith covered the 3km run, 15km ride an second 1.5km run in 51 minutes 43 seconds, provisionally placing him in the top 20.

Well done all and thank you to Dave Mackey and his band of VTTA helpers for putting on the time trial, and Hillingdon triathletes for the duathlon.

Velo’s Jon Graciano showed he is starting to hit some form by taking 2nd place in his age category at the BMCR Circuit race at the Redbridge cycling circuit in East London.

With the early morning rain starting to ease off Jon remarked that he felt stronger than the previous week at Lee Valley and the 25 mile race was run off in just over an hour. Due to the conditions there were a number of punctures amongst the field, and Jon also got a cut in his tyre, however as he was running tubeless the sealant did its job, and Jon came home in fifth place overall, claiming 2nd within his age group, and picking up some well deserved prize money.

Well done Jon, and thank you to the BMCR race organisers and volunteers.

Velo’s Jon Graciano opened his 2024 season at the Full Gas Masters Race at the Lee Valley Velopark in London.

Describing the race as a ‘baptism of fire’ Jon held the pace well in the second half of the race, finishing a credible 19th place, and also remarked “roll on the next race”.

Well done Jon and good luck for the 2024 season, and thank you to Full Gas for putting the event on.

Medway Velo is saddened to hear of the passing of former member Dick Wallis.

A strong time triallist for the club for many years, Dick achieved many club records across solo, tandem and team categories, including the 24 hour distance record of 436 miles which still stands.

Dick’s son Antony, also a former velo, has become a successful racing cyclist, and the club offers it sympathy and thoughts to him, and the family.

2023 saw the welcome return of the annual club party and prize presentation event, where cups are distributed and a good time had by all.

Trek-Lidl pro Elynor Backstedt was the special guest, and was interviewed by host, Andy Hawes as well as distributing the various prizes to the winners.

Winners of awards were as follows:

10 mile men: Matt Nunn

10 mile women, and club events (women): Sally Smith

15 mile: Aiga Kolosova

50 mile: Mike Stanley

Hill climb: Tom Patrick

Club Events (men): Jon Graciano

Team time trial: Mike Stanley and Jon Graciano

Road racing cups: Katie Painter

Sportive rider award: Bill Stacey

Club Person of the year: Rachel Hartridge

Over £400 was raised for Cancer Research in the raffle and the club is grateful for donations from the following businesses; AC Performance Bike Fit, Freedom Fitness, Chopra and Associates, Hannah Smyth Lashes, Rodmersham Coffee Shop, Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway, and Jade Barton Personal Trainer.

The club wishes to express their thanks to Charlie Bruce who organised the event, Andy Hawes for hosting, and Rachel Hartridge and Sally Smith for organising the raffle, and thanks to all who attended.

The annual KCA reliability ride, a test of rider and machine against the weather conditions, saw seven velos out to win points for the club, defending their third place from the previous year, in a ride in which cycling clubs compete against each other based on the number of riders in their respective club(s).

Phil Booth, returning from a bout of not having had enough time to ride his bike, opted for the shorter 50km distance. Whilst two groups set out to tackle to full length 100 mile route, one containing Rachel Hartridge, Simon Tucker, and Dave Croud started in Hunton, whilst Sally Smith, Mike Stanley, and Rob Kennison started at Potters Corner on the A20.

All of the riders contended with spells, of rain, heavy rain, and downpours, alongside breaks in the weather that saw rainbow’s across the Weald of Kent, and all seven finished within the time limits set out by the organisers.

Well done to all those who rode, and thank you to the KCA for putting on the event.