After a brief summer of rain and a relatively dry autumn, that gave us a hint of summer, rain fell in a biblical deluge in the lead up days to round 4 of the National Cyclocross Series - also known as 'Meedies Madness'.
The organisers were facing a very wet course. The amount of rain forced some changes to the course to protect the parkland at Lochore Meadows.
However Friday night saw a hard frost and the rain was relieved by sunshine on the day giving the organisers Kinross Cycling Club some great conditions for the racing.
Local bike shops were well represented with Sandy Wallace Cycles sponsoring the races for the under 14’s, Synergy Cycles sent along Donnie MacCleod to act as the substitute commentator and Leslie Bikes were there in force with a grand gazebo and lots of riders.
Mud was the order of the day. Something all CX racers enjoy and the flat grassy course with respite in woodland sections and along tarmac paths did not disappoint the riders.
The density of the mud resulted in a busy pit lane in the adult races and several broken re-mechs. The course lent itself well to the occasional single speed rider who faired well without the mud clogging problems.
There was a start list of 382 riders with a terrific turnout of 84 under 12s. Two courses were offered up having been shortened slightly by the weather. The youngsters riding course of a little under 0.5km gave the crowd regular sight of the battling tots as they completed anything between 4 and 12 laps in the respective age categories.
The adult course was trimmed down to 2.1km with the changes designed to protect the park. The courses were well received by all riders and the racing was tense and exciting with more than a few spills in the mud.
Wiggle Honda UCI international road racer (and local) Eileen Roe was out racing and winning in the ladies open, whilst her dad Leslie Bikes Brendan Roe was riding in and winning the mens Vets 50+
The closest race of the day was the hard fought vet mens with a field of 96 riders. Leslie Bikes Gary McCrae winning in a time 39:51, closely followed by James Melville of Glasgow United (40:14) and Alister Watt Granite City RT (40:24).
Full results can found at www.kinrosscyclingclub.co.uk
