At the signing-on station in Bury's Nowton Park, routes and target times appropriate to riders' perceived fitness levels were chosen.

Riders had three routes to choose from, a tough 73-mile loop that took riders out to the Essex hills via Lavenham, Sudbury, Bures, Wethersfield and Finchingfield, and home through the villages of Steeple Bumpstead, Stoke by Clare, Hawkedon, Whepstead and Hawstead; a more moderate 40-mile route that wound its way through Lavenham, Monks Eleigh, Bildeston, Onehouse, Rattlesden and Cockfield, and a short 18-mile route through Lawshall, Hartest, Whepstead and Hawstead. All routes started and finished at Nowton Park.

Promise of a clear sunny day failed to materialise and, as feet were stamped and hands clapped in an effort to keep warm prior to departure, it was obvious that the day would take its toll on energy reserves. This was borne out by the above average number of non-finishers.

First off at 10am were the riders for the 73-mile route.

They were followed 10 minutes later by two groups tackling the 40-mile route and, finally, eight riders on the 18-mile route.

Needless to say, the 18 mile group returned first. Two riders failed to finish the route but Cath Colman, Jonathon Sharpe, Tony Peck, Don Picking, Paul Barry, and Jonny Barry got round in a variety of times.

Soon after, the first group home from the 40-mile comprised Anna and Wojtek Siodelski, Chris Caselton, Stephen Lightfoot, John Steed, Kevin Flanagan, Ron Back, Steve Newman, Nathan Colman, David Leaver and Peter Heath. The group just missed the 18 mph average target speed, dropping down to the next category, 15 mph.

The next group home clearly produced the ride of the day. Led by the Wheelers' chairman, Barry Denny, this small group of four contained three of the club's young, rising stars – Esther Colman, Alan Trolove, and Nick Garrad.

To cover 40 rolling miles in near freezing conditions with an average speed of 13 mph is good going for anyone. To achieve it at the age of 11 (the age of all three youngsters) is quite remarkable.

The three are all products of the Wheelers' 'Go Ride' training scheme and will form the nucleus of a youth racing team this summer.

Finally, it was the turn of the 73 milers to arrive back.

Just getting inside the 18 mph limit were David Goodwin, Bruce Smart, Matthew Harvey, Michael Cowland, Dale Sturman, Richard Farrow, Neil Dykes and Richard Sykes-Popham.

They were followed home by Philip Peacock, James Carpenter, Brian Travers, Andy Elderfield, Deane Hill, Adrian Grimwood and Brian Starr – all at 15 mph average speed.

Riders arriving back in ones and twos were: Gary Shields, Glynn Smith, Julian Colman, Stephen Hill and Jeff Agricole (at 13 mph).