Like the Jock Wadley Road Race, the Reliability Trial is a Rovers Spring Classic, but unlike the Wadley I have no idea how many have been ridden, the Wadley count is 42 but the RT must be far more. The Rovers was formed in 1891, so the club is 135 years old this year, and apart from the war years and the odd pandemic I see no reason why one was not held each year.
Of course, the Reliability Trial has changed much over the years. In the early years it was also known as 100 in 8, 100 miles in 8 hours including stops, and ridden in some very challenging conditions. The name comes from “the need to check one’s bike and oneself to make sure you were both fit for the season ahead”, it was also a ploy for the police to avoid calling it any sort of a race that would have attracted their attention.
This year’s offerings were the same as the last few years, a 50-mile or 30-mile route around the Tendring Peninsula, with plenty of coastal winds and cake thrown in, and it didn’t disappoint in that respect!
Many thanks once again for all the help and support from my team of helpers and bakers, it would just not happen without you.
For me personally the event has become more enjoyable to put on, and this has come about in no short measure by the acceptance of no signage with GPX routes only. The days of putting up signs on every junction on both routes that ran in completely different directions, and then worrying about them, are now history!
We had 91 sign on for the event with good support from the Tendring Club and a strong female contingent from the Rovers. A very well done to all who took part, with no incidents to report.
Over the years this event has raised money for charity, The Air Ambulance, a defibrillator for North Hill, and the Spinal Injuries Association come to mind. This year we will be making another donation to St.Helena Hospice, a worthy cause I’m sure you will all agree.
Autumn Sportive
In early October I am joining forces with Jon Smith from the dark side of cycling to run this year’s Autumn Sportive from Boxted Village Hall. I shall offer road routes in the Suffolk hills, and Jon is planning an off-road route that will give you all a hard choice to make. With Greggs sausage rolls on offer it will not one to miss!