Thursday 22 November 2007

Introduction to the West Lothian Clarion cycling club

We are a newly formed cycling group based in West Lothian in Scotland. Our goal is to create a cycling club in the local area that will appeal to cyclists who would like to "get to the next level" in their cycling ability.

It is our intention to develop the club through group rides initially and progress to competing in all disciplines in the cycling world from road racing, cyclosportives, time trials and audax events throughout the UK and possibly Europe.

We would like to invite anyone in the local area who has an interest in road cycling on our regular Saturday morning rides, starting at 8.30 in the winter and 8.00 in the Summer. These rides range between 30 to 40 miles and start from the Korean war museum in the Bathgate hills. 

Please feel free to post to this blog.

Rgds, Bill

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Top work Bill, this is great!
See you at the Korean War Memorial at 8.30 on Saturday

Anonymous said...

Just back from an MTB night ride at Beecraigs. Cold clear night with a load of puddles and the odd loch blocking some trails.......

Great site Bill, onwards we go! See you all Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Are the British turning into wimps?
I kept hearing weather reports about how cold it was going to be this morning. I cycled into work and it wasn't THAT bad, quite nice actually especially when the sun came out.
OS 65

Anonymous said...

I didn't fancy riding in those winds this morning, they were blasting off my house all night. Forecast for tomorrow is rain but little wind, so see you all KWM 8.30am Sunday

Anonymous said...

Typical weekend weather, i'm getting a wee bit sick of this every weekend it's the same, rubbish !!

Anyway if you are waiting on the weather to get fit in Scotland just get fat instead. I need to stock up on the wet gear for the coming months to make sure I keep going out.

If we know it is going to be bad we should perhaps arrange to meet at the same place on the mountain bikes and go into Beecraigs for a couple of hours instead. What do you think?

See you guys tomorrow at 8.30 KWM

Anonymous said...

Ach, wasn't that bad. Except when it was.

Couldn't do an early start but did a quick 25 round the Slammannan hills in the afternoon. Bleak. Patient tootling West into the wind, big ring fun on the way home; bike filthy.

It's so long until April, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Only me and Matt out yesterday due the occurance of a wild, drunken party at 'the eagle's nest', aka Bill's mountain refuge, the previous night...

We dropped down through Torphican, plumbed the Avon Gorge, then did 30mph through-and-off past Muiravonside to Linlithgow. We passed under the aquaduct and then just before the boozer at the end of the road we took a left for a long, tough (especially when you are trying to follow White Lightening, Matt's fixie) drag to California, then to just before Avonbridge where we parted company, Matt returning home. Enjoying the decent weather I continued out to Limerigg before taking a left, crossing over the A89 to the lumpy road taking you passed Cairneyhill Quarry and up to Kirk of Shotts. The tailwind party then started and I used a favourable gradient to skoosh all the way down to Harthill at 30mph or over, then back to Whitburn.

Anonymous said...

Guys and Girls

Can we have some feed back for group turbo training sessions at a small community hall near Westfield called Bridgehouse. We have the chance to hire the hall for £10/hour on a Thursday night between 7pm and 9pm, £20 for the session. If we managed 5 people £4/head which isn't too bad for a 2 hour training session. The sessions could be run like a spin class and it would be something different with a new leader every time. We may also attract some of the Falkirk club and poach them as well for the Clarion.

What are your thoughts?

Bill

Anonymous said...

Hi Bill
This is a great idea, and I would try to come, but I can't guarantee it. When would your first night be?
OS 65

Anonymous said...

CURRY NIGHT
I'm planning our curry night in Linlithgow.
how does Wednesday 12 December sound? Who can make that date?
OS 65

Anonymous said...

I've entered the Bealach Beag (10/5/08) with a friend from Glasgow.

Despite not paying my subs to Matt yet, I've given WLC as my club & I just hope I don't bring disgrace on our new and good name. All I need now is a 14lb carbon dream, mountain-bike gearing and a new set of lungs.

Anonymous said...

CURRY NIGHT BOOKED!
8pm Wednesday 12th December.
Ashmaan Tandoori Restaurant
25 Mill Rd, Linlithgow Bridge
Linlithgow, EH49 7QJ
01506 845097

I'm afraid I can't make it! I've been called away on work that night, but have a good one.
Table booked under my name

Anonymous said...

1st December ride - 36 miles
A tough ride with Fathead on Saturday, Torphican, Avon Bridge, Limerigg (Fathead named it the West Lothian Riviera!) Then over Forestfield and down to harthill and Whitburn. Fathead decided to call it a day while I slogged back to Linlithgow via Avonbridge. The decent to whitburn was a killer on a fixie, 30mph isn't fun!

Anonymous said...

No work commitments this weekend guys so up for a slightly longer one if there are any takers. Same place same time KWM 8.30. See you there,

Rgds, Bill

Anonymous said...

I will be out Saturday too. The weather forcast is for much wetness, combine that with the winds we've had recently and it could get gnarly! We could stick to the plan and do a short, flatish loop several times at a steady pace, taking turns at the front....maybe over Avonbridge way where the roads are quiet....

Anonymous said...

Foz, the Beag is quite a challenge! I did it last year after someone pulled out at the last minute and finished 67th quickest...I was absolutely butchered at the end though as I rode nearly all of it on my own without the advantage of sticking to a group...If I was you I would deffo try and get up there at least once before May to do a recce of the route as it will help a lot to know the course and what to expect...the peninsula road between Applecross and Shieldaig is a series of shortish steep humps one after another....

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the advice, Fatheed. I've been up the Coire road a few times in the car. Had a bit of fun there in 2004. Bunch of three of us got back to the Bealach car park at 11pm after getting caught in heavy rain on a local climb called the Cioch Nose.

I'll be happy to get round it in some sort of good form, but I'm sure the Bathgate hills and the like of Tak ma Doon are going to see some spring mileage. Barring Biblical rain I should be out on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Folks,

We had a good 30 odd miler today with Sadiq, myself and a new recruit, Lesley, who turned up sharp at 8.30 ready for action. The roads were really icy so we decided to go down the treated B road route through Avonbridge and headed west on the usual loop via Longriggend. We introduced Lesley to the chain gang type riding style on the way home just to break the run up. Lesley has competed in triathlon's and time trials in the past and we will all have to up our game now as she will be nibbling at our heels soon !!!
The usual sprint took place on the way back with myself and Sadiq going for the 30's but as usual the big man did it again !! I will be using different tactics next time and taking him by surprise or telling him that his tyre looks flat on the way past, which might work just to give me the break.
I spoke to Matt who says that he is going to enter the Etape Caledonia and I said we should enter as a team so if your up for it please post here with your interest.
Its all about getting the word round folks and getting people to turn up on a Saturday. When new members turn up it is in our interest to take it easy and encourage them so that they come back.
See you all at the curry night on Wednesday at 8pm.

Rgds, Bill

Anonymous said...

CLARION EASTER MEET
Location: Stamford (Picturesque town just off the A1 in Northamptonshire)
21-24 MARCH 2008
This event as been running for about 110 years, last year about 100 riders attended. They are great fun, It's a packed weekend of relaxation and riding. You choose how much of each you do. Its the kind of even that the whole family can attend. The weekend costs about £40 plus accommodation.

ACTIVITIES
Friday Evening: The mayor's Reception, followed by Ghost Walk
Saturday am: Annual Conference
Saturday pm: Hilly 11.2m TT
Saturday Evening: Dance, Buffet plus jazz/blues band
Sunday: Sportive (50/100/160Kkm options)
Sunday pm: relax around Stamford and watch a pro bike race from Belgium
Sunday evening: Annual Banquet and prize presentation

Accomodation at Lady Annes Hotel (http://www.ladyannesstamford.co.uk/) at special rate is £240 for 3 nights
To book rooms tel: 01780 481184
Or you could find your own accomodation in the area: http://www.stamford.co.uk

More information here:
http://www.clarioncc.org/catalog.html

If you want to come let me know and I'll get the details to you

OS 65

Anonymous said...

Anyone riding tomorrow? Weather man says sun and showers max temp 7, minimum 1

I'll pop along and see if anyone is oot and aboot

OS 65

Anonymous said...

SATURDAY RIDE
The clocks have changed so the new start time is 8.00am at the Korean War memorial between Linlitghow and Bathgate. See you there

os 65

Anonymous said...

THURSDAY TRAINING NIGHT
Meet: 6.30pm, Bridge Inn, Linlithgow Bridge
Pace: Start steady then build up speed
Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/114980
Drink: In the pub after the ride.
Lights: Still needed for the last lap and ride home
Further reading: http://www.edinburghrc.co.uk/news/281/95

See you there!
os 65