THE Tour de Trossachs 28-mile mountain time trial is a favourite end-of-season event for Scotland’s time trialists. Promoted by the Ivy Cycling Club, this classic event is run over a beautiful but demanding course that takes in a full circuit of The Trossachs.

From Aberfoyle, competitors immediately face the daunting Dukes Pass climb before a tricky descent before skirting Loch Achray and Loch Venachar.

The course then passes through Callander before tackling the Braes o'Greenock and turning at Thornhill. The homeward leg then takes riders past the Lake of Menteith. Ayr Roads have competed in the event since the 1940’s. This year the club fielded seven riders, the largest contingent from the Ayrshire Clubs and one of the best representation from Ayrshire for years.

Conditions were horrendous with driving rain and a strong wind facing the riders throughout the event, yet all the Roads riders managed to complete the course. In doing so, they were the third fastest team overall. A great result for a provisional club up against the big city clubs.

Fastest of the Roads seven was Ed Clifton who finished in a time of 1 hour 18 minutes 44 seconds. Ed finished in 22nd position out of a field of 111 finishers. Not far behind was Michael Curran in 1:19:32

Other Ayr Roads times were: Alex McAllister 1:23:25; Tom Gooding-Hill 1:25:00; Scott Knox 1:25:01; Bobby McGhee 1:31:34; John Gemmell 1:31:55

Alex came second in his category and was beaten by Ian Elliot of Hawick CC. Alex and Ian are both competing against each other in Cycling Time Trials Scotland Classic League. The results of the Trossachs race will determine the overall ranking. John Gemmell of the Roads club was lying third in the same competition.

The overall winner was Wilson Renwick of the RT 23 Team in a time of 1:07:47.

Not too far away. club members were also in action in Round Two of the Scottish Cyclo Cross series. In the women’s race at Callendar, Aileen Fisher was thwarted from improving on her third place achieved in Round One, when she took a nasty fall in a very technical course. Despite cuts and bruises Aileen remounted and finished in ninth place out of 51 riders in her category.

Fraser Tait also finished in the top quarter of the field. In the senior’s event Rory Webster finished in the top half of a field of eighty riders. Robert Kelly sustained a mechanical and was forced to pull out of the race. Robert’s son Ollie in the under fourteen category finished 11th out of a field of 45.

In Glasgow University Criterium Races staged at Bellahouston Park on Saturday, Rory Webster finished fifth overall and took the first student's prize. The week before Rory finished in the same position in Glenmarnock Wheelers Cycling Club staged over the Strathaven Circuit: a fitting end to Rory's season that was beset with studies and injury.

Despite the dreadful weather on Sunday, some members of the Roads club ventured out and recorded more than 40 miles around Straiton and the Girvan Valley.