Veteran Auchencrow Thistle rider Donald Smith was not deterred by the weekend's wet weather when he rode a 76 mile road sportif on Saturday, followed by a 30 mile off- road sportif on Sunday. Both events were based on and around the hills of Selkirkshire and Peebles-shire, with the undertyre conditions being particularly tough for the mountain bikers on Sunday. Donald finished Saturday's road event in 4hrs 00.31secs and was still fresh enough to come in 15th on Sunday's off-road challenge.
Club riders Neil Milton, Tim Caine, Duncan Martin and John Nisbet had no such problems on Tuesday night when they had full evening sunshine for their 28 mile hilly ride, round by Rigfoot and the Henlaw. Neil was once again in top climbing form riding the full route in a 53 chain-ring, quite a feat on the "sair ca' "up past Rigfoot farmhouse.
With the season winding down with harvest in progress, the club can look back on some especially enjoyable club nights riding over the hill roads of the Duns area, still fortunately blessed with little traffic and wonderful pastoral scenery...truly one of cycling's hidden gems !

Auchencrow Thistle riders Dougie Gale and Dave Philip made the most of their trip to watch the Pyrannean stages of the Tour de France when they themselves cycled up two of the region's most famous climbs, the Col du Tourmalet and the Col d'Aspin. The 18km long climb up the Tourmalet took them up to 2114 meters above sea level and although not so high the Col d'Aspin rises 600meters in only 12km, a steeper gradient than the Tourmalet.
On the Tuesday club night Donald Smith and Neil Milton led Tim Caine, Hamish Gardner. Neil Tait and John Nisbet on a 38 mile route on the warmest evening so far of the summer, taking in the fine scenery by Bothwell, Crichness and Harehead.
The aforementioned first three riders were joined by Kelso Wheeler Graeme Veitch and former Thistle rider Aidan McIlroy for a 110 mile cycle on Sunday, starting and finishing at Kirk Yetholm to give them a chance for some new territory.

Traffic lights at Westruther meant that Auchencrow Thistle riders had to cut short their intended 19 mile time trial along the Choicelee -Westruther road on Tuesday night. Fortunately Donald Smith was timekeeping on the night and on driving to "the turn" saw the lights and wisely turned the riders at a safe point to give them a 13.5 mile route.
Neil Milton was comfortably the fastest club rider on the night with 34.16, followed by Tim Caine on 38.49, Duncan Martin on 40.33 and John Nisbet on 42.36. Former member Aidan McIlroy was given a private time trial outwith the club riders and scorched home in just over 31 minutes.
As the Tour de France concentrates this week on L'Alpe d'Huez it is worth noting that five members of Auchencrow Thistle , including three from one family, have ridden up this most famous of climbs, a percentage that few other clubs could match.

Traffic lights at Westruther meant that Auchencrow Thistle riders had to cut short their intended 19 mile time trial along the Choicelee -Westruther road on Tuesday night. Fortunately Donald Smith was timekeeping on the night and on driving to "the turn" saw the lights and wisely turned the riders at a safe point to give them a 13.5 mile route.
Neil Milton was comfortably the fastest club rider on the night with 34.16, followed by Tim Caine on 38.49, Duncan Martin on 40.33 and John Nisbet on 42.36. Former member Aidan McIlroy was given a private time trial outwith the club riders and scorched home in just over 31 minutes.
As the Tour de France concentrates this week on L'Alpe d'Huez it is worth noting that five members of Auchencrow Thistle , including three from one family, have ridden up this most famous of climbs, a percentage that few other clubs could match.

Veteran Auchencrow Thistle rider Donald Smith, already well known for challenging distances on the road, had the most demanding race of his career when he rode the Ten Hour MTB race at Kirroughtree, Newton Stewart on Saturday. Although Donald rode the same race last year as part of a two man relay this was his first time as a solo rider, but it was well worth the effort as he was 1st Veteran and 12th overall, covering 9 laps or 92 miles, all off-road.
Jane Holmes was the club's only rider at the Kelso Civic Week TT, where she finished 2nd lady in a time of 63 minutes over the demanding 19.5 mile course . Several other Duns based riders took part in the 11 mile fun-cycle which ran concurrently.
Neil Milton was once again in top form for the SVTTA 25 mile TT Championship at Stirling on Sunday, coming in 10th overall with a time of 58.20 thus consolodating his consistent record for sub-hour 25s.
On the Tuesday club night several niggling injuries reduced the turnout to just Tim Caine, Neil Milton and John Nisbet, with the three riders making the most of the long summer nights to put in a 30 mile hilly ride round by Drakemyre, Howpark, Eyemouth and Prenderguest.

Auchencrow Thistle rider Neil Milton continued his impressive time trial record over the Cambusbarron course at Stirling when he finished 4th overall in the Law Wheelers 10 mile TT on Sunday. Heavy rain meant riders had to be cautious on the Kippen roundabout but Neil still clocked 22.12, only 8 seconds behind Carlos Riise of the Shetland Wheelers, giving him an average speed of over 27miles per hour.
Neil was also in good form for the club 's Tuesday night 3-up time trial over the Westruther moor road, when he, Tim Caine and Donald Smith came in first with a time of 50.36. With virtually no training whatsoever Hamish Gardner and John Nisbet still managed a time of 58.13, not bad for the over 50s on the 19 mile course !

World Championship triathlete Neil Tait made a welcome return to purely leisure cycling when he came out on the Auchencrow Thistle Sunday run, along with Tim Caine, Hamish Gardner, Jane Holmes and John Nisbet to take in a 35 mile circuit round by Eyemouth, Pease Dean, Ecclaw and Preston. The previous week Neil had finished 22nd overall in the World event at Vancouver when he was also second Scotsman. Having been selected for the past two years Neil now has his eyes set on a place in the team for the 2009 event in Australia.
On the Tuesday club night this year's ESCA 25 mile TT champion Neil Milton led Duncan Martin, Tim Caine and John Nisbet on a 30 mile circuit thus giving him a suitable warm-up for the 100 mile Northern Rock Cyclo-sportif on Saturday.
Riding with club-mate Donald Smith the two Auchencrow riders achieved a Gold Standard when they finished the punishing Northumberland course in a time of 5hrs 24 mins, which included time spent at check-points etc.

Auchencrow Thistle riders played a major role in the RNLI Burnmouth Brae races on Sunday, with Tim McCall, Les Turnbull and Iain Bell completing all three legs, comprising the 5km run, the Brae cycle and the Brae run. Tim came first overall and Les second, while in the cycling section alone Tim was 3rd with 2.38, Les 4th in 2.51 and Iain 1st MTB rider in 3.17.
The previous Sunday Iain travelled through to Tweedbank for their duathlon when he came in 23rd overall and 12th vet.
On the Tuesday club night only a handful of riders took part in the club's 10 mile TT, which saw Neil Milton, Donald Smith and John Nisbet get season's best for the Cranshaws course, while former member Aidan McIlroy also clocked a very respectable 22.39 in a non SCU time trial. Thanks again to club captain Ian Black for timing.
Neil and Donald had to work much harder when they were 12th and 13th quickest in the 100 mile Five Dales Challenge down in Yorkshire. The very well organised event attracted over 300 entries, with Neil and Donald cycling round together over the extremely hilly route to achieve the Gold Standard ( sub 6hrs 15mins) with a time of 6.02.

Having missed out on a PB by only two seconds the previous week Auchencrow Thistle rider Donald Smith made absolutely certain of his record at Sunday's Scottish National 10 mile TT Championship, when he took a massive 42 seconds of his previous best time. Run over the Cambusbarron course at Stirling, Donald clocked a 23.19 to finish just behind fellow club rider Neil Milton who once again broke the 23 minute barrier with a 22.54. Former club member Aidan McIlroy, who now rides for the Edinburgh Road Club was the fastest of the local riders with a 22.05.
On Wednesday night Donald and Neil both rode the ESCA 10 mile TT Championship over the much tougher Kirkliston course, with Donald clocking 24.11 and Neil 23.48, although such was the standard that neither was in the top ten finishers..
On both the Tuesday club night and on the Sunday run members took advantage of the weather conditions to put in some good hilly miles over by Abbey St Bathans and Coldingham Moor respectively.

Auchencrow Thistle riders took advantage of Tuesday night's near perfect conditions in their club confined 10 mile time trial over the Cranshaws course. The decreasing easterly wind assisted riders on the outward leg but was of little hindrance on the return, resulting in greatly improved times across the board, with Neil Milton taking first place and Donald Smith missing out on a PB by only 3 seconds. Tim Caine clocked a course best on his standard road bike, while Duncan Martin made a welcome return after breaking his collar bone early last summer. Thanks go to club captain Ian Black for starting and timing the event.
The previous day Donald Smith finished in the bunch in the fully subscribed May Day Gallup APR, organised by the Falkirk BC. As usual Donald did more than his fair share of the work but was able to hang on when the "wheelsuckers" finally went into action.
On Sunday the club held their first Century run of the season with Neil Milton, Donald Smith and Tim Caine doing the full 100 miles, while Hamish Gardner and John Nisbet settled for the 50 mile option. All five rode together to Westruther, Blythe and Legerwood where the 50 mile option came back by Corsbie, Houndslow and Kelloe Mains, whereas the 100 route turned west to Blainslie, Yair and Ashkirk before returning by Yetholm and Cornhill.

Auchencrow Thistle riders Neil Milton, Donald Smith and Tim Caine travelled through to Peebles to ride the 22mile Tour of the Meldons MTT, which attracted a strong entry of some 60 riders. Neil was once again back on the podium , coming in 3rd Vet with a 1.00.06 ahead of Donald in 1.02.03 and Tim in 1.7.45.
Earlier in the week, though, it was Donald who had the upper hand when he and Neil rode the Musselburgh RCC 10 mile TT over the Wallyford course, recently revised to include the new roundabout at "the Pans". Despite this impediment Donald still clocked 25.11 and Neil 25.26.
On the Tuesday night the club held their first confined 10 mile TT of the year over the Cranshaws course, when Tim Caine was the only rider to achieve a course best. Thanks go to Ian Black and Iain Bell for timing on such an unseasonaly cold evening.

Auchencrow Thistle had the best weather of the week for the annual running of their 26km "Up the Cleugh" MTT, which attracted 43 entries and saw two course records broken. Iain Grant of the Johnstone Wheelers set a time of 40.34 to break the previous course record by 35 seconds, while former Auchencrow rider Aidan McIlroy, now of Edinburgh Road Club, was second in 42.13 with clubmate Barry Duncan in third place and first vet with a 42.37. Jessica Wilson-Young, also of the Edinburgh Road Club set a new ladies' record of 46.46 while Lee Whitelaw joined Aidan and Barry to form the winning team, again for the Road Club.
Of the host club riders, Neil Milton once again had a top ten placing with 45.37, closely followed by Donald Smith in 46.03. Tim Caine, on his first ride over the course notched a 49.32 while Tim McCall in his first ever open time trial had a 53.23.
A large contingent of Berwick Wheelers riders saw a recovering Dougie Robertson get 50.56, Steven Rowley 51.14 and Alan Ramsay 51.36. Alex Aitchison opted for a standard road bike to get 55.15 and Alison Kerr 1.2.02.
The host club are very grateful to the marshalls, timekeepers etc who ensured a safe finish for all.
On the Tuesday club night 5 riders contested the postponed 2007 club hill-climb up a very wet Burnhouses Dean, with Tim McCall winning from Tim Caine, Donald Smith, Doug Forrester and John Nisbet.

Auchencrow Thistle opened their 2008 summer season with a Measured Mile Time Trial, when the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for 11yr old Zara Milton, from Duns. On a night when the gale-force wind kept several adult members at home, Zara was determined to ride and clocked up a superb time of 2min 50secs on the west-east leg, starting and finishing with a smile.
The headwind on the east-west run was troublesome for the heavier or not so lithe riders, but they had their revenge on the return leg! Former Eyemouth man Tim Caine, who has just joined the club, put in a great ride to take first place by a mere one second from the ever-competitive Donald Smith, with Tim McCall earning a well-deserved third place. Times were: J Nisbet 4.30 & 2.08, N Tait 4.09 & 2.09, D Forrester 4.15 & 2.02, N Milton 3.54 & 2.09, T McCall 3.51 & 2.10, D Smith 3.37 & 2.03, T Caine 3.42 & 1.57 and Z Milton 2.50.
This Sunday the club host the 16 mile Up the Cleugh MTT, with a current entry of some 35 riders from 10 different clubs.