Saturday Ride 27th November

Saturday Ride 27th November
Originally uploaded by westlothianclarion

Members were very wise to stay in bed this morning, rather than take the risk of riding on our snow covered roads.

This was the scene at the Leisure Centre at 9.00am. Normally 20 or more riders meet up here for the Social and Active rides

7 nomination for club member of the year

Racing Secretary, Grant Craven, has received 7 nominations for the Club Member of the Year award from members of the club. The award will be presented at the Champions night (along with all the other trophies) and we will reveal the winner at that time:

Nominations are:

Allan McCrimmon
Angus Gaillie
Julie Dominguez
Kerstin Bonau
Neil Fraser
Simon Fagan
Steven Fraser

Get along to the Champions Night on Friday 26th November at the Westport hotel and enjoy what will be a great social occasion
Thanks

West Lothian Clarion Mugs - the Ideal Christmas Stocking Filler!

No doubt, you may be interested to hear that the club has secured a deal with a local pottery firm to produce personalised mugs, just in time for Christmas!

These will be white and carry the club logo and jersey as standard and can be ordered with your own name on it, which will be hand-written.

These will obviously become collectors' items, so, if you are interested, in principle at this stage, in getting your hands on one of these, please reply to this thread.

Prices will be as follows:

1 off - £7.50, 2 off - £14.00, 3 off - £19.50 and 4 off - £25.00

At these prices, this will allow the club to make a small profit and this will go towards the Easter Meet.

If there is sufficient interest, I will be prepared to co-ordinate the orders and organise collection and delivery to Linlithgow.

Please register your interest by the end of this week (Sunday 28th Nov.)

Contact Neil Greer on clubruns[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk for more details

PEDAL POWER NIGHT CANCELLED

CANCELLED DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER

Coaches Wanted

The next level 2 coach training course will be held in January 2011. We are interested to hear from people who would like to train as a coach. All expenses are covered by the club

Level 2 Coach training programme 1 2011
Edinburgh Day 1-2 January 08th and 09th 
Day 3 April 09th 

Level 2 Coach training programme 2 2011
Edinburgh Day 1-2 May 21st and 22nd 
Day 3 August 13th

Please email Matthew Ball at secretary[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk for more information

Book now for the 2011 Stirling Easter Meet

Stirling, Scotland on 22-25 April

This beautiful location nestles at the foothills of the Highlands with its stunning scenery and wildlife. The historic town is ideally situated, about an hour from both Glasgow and the capital city, Edinburgh, and has much to offer in itself, too, including historic buildings, good shopping, eating out, and arts and culture.

The event will be family focussed with many activities for kids including an Easter egg hunt and kids racing.

Meet HQ and accommodation
The Meet will take place a stone's throw from Stirling Castle, at the Barcelo Stirling Highland Hotel. Rooms will be allocated on a first-come first served basis with a B&B rate of £80 per room for Friday and Sunday, and £100 for Saturday, based on 2 sharing.
Single occupancy rates are £60 and £80 respectively. Family rooms are available (at no extra cost. Children pay for breakfast only).

Please contact reservations on 01786 272725, quoting booking number 8647824.

Early booking is is recommended to secure a room

Alternative accommodation
Stirling's Youth Hostel is 5 minutes from the Stirling Highland Hotel for those looking for budget accommodation. It has bike storage, a licence, private and family rooms. http://www.syha.org.uk/hostels/central/stirling/information.aspx
Telephone: 01786 473 442
At present there is plenty of room but like the hotel early booking is recommended

There will be an additional meet levy which will be announced shortly

Activities over the weekend will include:

Friday 22nd
1. Scottish Welcome
2. Whisky tasting
3. live music
4. The hotel has an observatory and tours to visit the telescope will be on offer

Saturday 23rd
1. National Clarion Hill Climb Champs (entry fee extra)
2. Conference
3. Social Rides
4. Clarion Youth Grass Track Championship (under 16) using geared bikes (entry fee extra)
5. Clarion Party with a ceilidh band and buffet
Plus Clarion beer

Sunday 24th
1. Gateway to the Highlands Sportive (entry fee extra)
2. Sight seeing tours (eg Stirling castle) (entry fee extra)
3. Social Rides
4. National Clarion Champions Night.

West Lothian Clarion Champions party

All members, friends and family are invited to our annual shindig where we celebrate our 2010 cycling achievements

++ FREE BUFFET
++ RAFFLE
++ CYCLING QUIZ
++ ANNUAL AWARDS

We've commissioned 4 new trophies for the Mens Hill Climb Champ, Womens Hill Climb Champ, Freewheel Champ and member of the year.

Other trophies to be awarded are for the womens, mens, and Junior TT champions, the Best All Rounder trophy and Tour de Trossachs trophy.

A bunch of club records have also been broken including all the short distance TTs and some course records too

7.30pm Friday 26th November
Westport Hotel
Linlithgow

We ask members to bring a prize for the Grand Raffle.

See you there!

2011 Membership renewals

2010 membership ends on 31st December 2010 so we are now taking renewals for 2011.

Memberships are currently invited into either Senior or Household categories.

Senior membership £15
Any individual aged 18 and above and is £15

Household memberships £10.50
Subject to there being a Senior member resident, the second and any subsequent member thereafter, is entitled to become a Household member.

Those aged 15-17 can join as Household members only, and may only ride on club events where they are supervised at all times by a parent or guardian who is also a member.

Cheques should be made payable to "West Lothian Clarion" and handed to the Secretary Matthew Ball

When renewing members only need to submit a membership form if their details have changed

For more details email secretary[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Youth memberships: £7
Those aged 6-14 can join the West Lothian Clarion Kids Club. Membership for 2011 will be £7 which also includes membership of the National Clarion. For more details contact the kids club secretary Ewen Fulton at kidsclub[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Christmas Gift idea

We have a unique opportunity to buy a signed limited edition print of the cover illustration for Boots and Spurs (the national Clarion member magazine)

Each A3 (297mmx420mm) will be signed and numbered by the artist - Garry Marshall (based in Dollar, Scotland).

The prints will cost £25 including post and packing. With proceeds going to fund the National Clarion's Stirling Easter Meet.

Cheques for £25 should be made payable to "West Lothian Clarion" and sent to Matthew Ball by Saturday 13th November

Email Matthew on secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk to place an order for christmas.

Iain Ross joins us

Iain Ross
Originally uploaded by westlothianclarion

Welcome to new member, Iain Ross, (43).

"I work in the marine industry which keeps me busy and on the move. I live between Linlithgow and Bo'ness with my wife and two children. Whilst not exactly your typical MAMIL - I'm about 4 stone too heavy for that - I'm happy to be going in that general direction."

"Cycling highlights to date have been Etape Caledonia for the last two years - I think the only one not to get a puncture in 2009 and winner of the coveted 3167th (=5hrs46min) place in 2010."

"I Also rode the Trossachs Ton this year which was harder work than I would have liked but I'm looking forward to doing it again next year - fitter and lighter."

"My riding style to date has been slow and persistent but I want to get fitter and faster. I've been on a few weekend tours this year with my son and I'd like to do do a little mountain biking in the future.

"My bikes at the moment reflect this, they are a Specialized Allez road/training, Dawes Horizon tourer and a lovely Trek 6500 hardtail which has only recently arrived and is great fun in a way only a new bike can be!'

President's Run slideshow

Almost 40 riders took part in our President's run on Saturday. Tobias took us on a mystery tour around fife, including a ride over the Cleish Hills with clear views at the top and a cafe stop in Dollar.

Winter = mudguards

West Lothian tooth paste
Originally uploaded by westlothianclarion

No one wants to look like this at the end of a club run. So please fit mudguards during the Winter months.