I rode in the Braintree Velo Spring road race on Sunday (Bulmer, Nr Sudbury) as did Richard Farrow. It was a regional cat 3/4 race over 54miles with 51 riders lined up. Excellently organised and we rode resplendent in our West Suffolk Wheelers outfits...Richard and I met on the start line - only WSW I have come across so far...and then bumped along together in the bunch while we raced. Fast and furious but nothing either of us couldn’t handle but twas both our first outings this season...bunch sprint for the honours meant our leading group began to get entertaining as we hit the final bend up the hill to the finish...I came in 8 seconds behind the winner in 18^th and Richard not far behind me – 20^th maybe? So nothing to shout about but we have kicked off the season and will hopefully get a little further up the leader board in the races to come.

 Ben Stephens