This weekend's club runs

Club captain, Neil Greer, sends in the plans for this weeknend's club runs

Hi All,

With this Saturday being the first one in April this will be another opportunity for riders from both start points to join up for a Combined Club Run.

The forecast is currently looking slightly challenging - mild (8C), but with a 24 mph Southerly gusting to 29 mph, see:

Click for weather check

The route is the Caldercruix loop with a refreshment stop at the Cup Cake for those so inclined (aka the EC Crew!), so this run will forever now be known, neatly, as the:

"Clarion Caldercruix Cup Cake Cafe Combined Club Challenge" - try saying that after a beer or two....

click here to see the route

The run(s) will aim to leave LLC at 9 am, so please be there for 8.50 am. EC riders an hour earlier at ECSC to leave at 8 am for the ride across.

For Sunday, meet at the Cross for 9 am, with the option for riders to also try this challenge.

So, who is up for the "CCCCCCCC" this week-end ?

Cheers,

Neil

Find out more about the clubs runs here: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns
Read about how to ride in a group here: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/westlothianclara
Remember, you are responsible for your own safety so make sure you know the route

4 days left to book your Easter Meet

This year's big Clarion gathering in Stirling looks to be the biggest for years...

Don't miss out on all the fun, look what we've got planned:

Friday 22nd
1. Scottish Welcome and sign on
2. FREE Whisky Tasting
3. FREE Observatory tour
4. FREE live music

Saturday 23rd
1. Hill climb
2. Clarion conference
3. Social ride to the Carron valley
4. Kids grass track races
5. Clarion Ceilidh and buffet

Sunday 24th
1. Easter Egg Hunt
2. Gateway to the Highlands Sportive
3. Very social ride to the Falkirk Wheel 4. Stirling castle tour 5. Champions banquet with guest of honour Chris Sidwells

There is something to suit everyone, from social rider to racer, and family members and friends are welcome too!

Find out more including all the timings: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/eastermeet

North Cheshire Clarion ride through West Lothian

Five North Cheshire riders are cycling to the Easter Meet and will be passing through our county on Friday 22nd April as they make their way to Stirling

Why not accompany them on their way?
Sign up for the ride on the forum: CLICK HERE

Last chance to buy an exclusive signed print

Local artist, Garry Marshall, has been commissioned to draw an exclusive, limited edition, signed print, to celebrate the Easter Meet's return to Scotland.

The print shows a Clarion rider, resplendent in his club jersey, riding towards Stirling's famous Wallace Monument on a fine spring morning.

Garry is an internationally published animator and illustrator whose work has featured in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine.

The print is A3 in size and is an archive quality, 'Giclée' print. There will only be one print run, so this will be your only chance to buy an individually signed and number print.

The price of the print is £25 including postage and packing. 

Proceeds from the sale will go towards funding the Easter Meet.

  

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

Hurry While Stocks last!

We have a few of club branded items left:

Black T shirt with Batgate Alpes design 

1 x Small £13

Yellow T Shirt West Lothian Clarion logo in black

1 x Kids ages 12-13 £13

1 x Kids ages 9-10 £13

Kids West Lothian Clarion Cycling jersey £18.50

3 x Ages 9-10

2 x Ages 7-8

1 x Club Mug - with jersey image no name

£7.50 

1 x Exclusive Clarion Signed Print

It would make a lovely birthday present or special gift

£25

email secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk if you want any...

Two races at Easter: kids grass track and a hill climb

We've got two races organised over Easter and kids can enter both. On Saturday 23rd April at 8.00am there will be an open hill Climb up the Wallace Monument in Stirling. Then in the afternoon pop over to the Highland Games Showground in Bridge of Allan for the Kids grass track racing

More details here: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/easterraces

Social in Linlithgow on Monday 4th April

We meet up on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. Come along and chat about the weekend's riding, swap dvds and books and plan your next big event.

First Monday of the month

8.30pm The Four Marys on Linlithgow Hight Street

Third Monday of the month

8.30pm the Black Bull, Mid Calder

See you there!

Learn more about racing - at the pub!

To allow members to learn more about taking part in competitive events we will be having an additional club social in April. This will take place at the Black Bull, Mid Calder from 8.30pm on Thursday 14 April. Our own West Lothian Clarion national racing champions, Julie Dominguez and Steve McCaw will be available to provide an introduction to racing and answer any questions you
may have.

It will be a good opportunity to meet with fellow clarionistas who are considering entering races this years with the possibility of sharing transport to any forthcoming events.

Please post up on the forum if you are able to attend. http://tinyurl.com/6bse46n

For those of you who may not be planning to take part in races during 2011 it will also provide an interesting insight into racing and how we can all provide invaluable support to those members of our club who are able to raise the profile to a higher level within the cycling world.

Otherwise there is some decent beer on tap and a fine selection of nuts.

Our third and biggest RadTour

Sunday 13th March saw the start of the club's 2011 season of events. The weather forecasters gave us all a scare - it's one thing to run an event with bad conditions overhead but something else entirely to ride to the top of the Lang Wang under the depth of fresh snow that appeared on the Saturday morning. But a thaw followed, fingers were crossed and in the end 53 riders gathered in Linlithgow, with heavy rain showers quickly clearing.

There was a real range of abilities out on the road, with the usual three speed groups, and some welcome appearances by guests from local club and unattached riders. As with last year, the highlight was definitely Jules' cafe at half way, the rapid descent off the high moors being made all the better by a superb spread of soup, bacon rolls and cakes.

Neither the route changes since last year (avoiding Almondell) nor the last minute roadworks at Broxburn seemed to cause any problems for riders and it wasn't long until a stream of tired and happy riders started appearing back at HQ.

This was the third club Rad Tour and the largest turnout so far, despite the weather on Saturday. Many thanks to all volunteers, especially club members Neil and Julie Greer for their superb feed stop - hope that the buzz on the day keeps building for the upcoming Easter meet!

Graham and Rob

(Organisers)

RadTour: Amber Light

The plan is to proceed on the assumption that the RadTour will go ahead, says Rad Tour organiser Graham Foster. Reports from the highest roads (thanks again to Neil Greer) suggest the big fall this morning is thawing fast and that such roads are rideable with care. It could, of course, get worse overnight but for now the plan is to proceed.

See you at the Vennel car park for registration from 8:45 to 9:15.

Calling West Lothian Clarion members: Your invite to the Easter Meet

Dear all

As you will know, we are hosting the 116th National Clarion Easter Meet in Stirling this year.

As the name and number suggests, this event has a very long tradition and is the highlight of the Clarion year.

A few club members have been working hard behind the scenes to put on a series of exciting rides and social activities, and I am convinced that this year's meet will be the best yet.

As one of the newest Clarion sections, it is an honour to maintain the Easter Meet tradition and to welcome Clarion members from all over the UK to Scotland for the first time since 1948.

This is a great opportunity to showcase both Scotland and the club. I therefore urge you to come to Stirling and participate in the events, making new friends along the way.

Highlights

Friday 22nd
1. Scottish Welcome and sign on
2. FREE Whisky Tasting
3. FREE Observatory tour
4. FREE live music

Saturday 23rd
1. Hill climb
2. Clarion conference
3. Social ride to the Carron valley
4. Kids grass track races
5. Clarion Ceilidh and buffet

Sunday 24th
1. Easter Egg Hunt
2. Gateway to the Highlands Sportive
3. Very social ride to the Falkirk Wheel
4. Stirling castle tour
5. Champions banquet with guest of honour Chris Sidwells

There is something to suit everyone, from social rider to racer, and family members and friends are welcome too!

I appreciate that some members will be away because it is the Easter weekend but we have now over 130 members so let’s make West Lothian Clarion the best represented section at the Easter Meet.

I look forward to seeing you in Stirling.

For booking details visit www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/eastermeet

Tobias (President)

Rad Tour: Snow Forecast

As you are all probably aware, there is heavy snowfall forecast for Saturday and possibly Saturday night as well. Clearly the Rad Tour, which follows minor roads where possible and goes over some high moorland roads, is likely to be affected by this. Cancellation or postponement is an option which the organiser and the club will have to consider.

We will review the situation late tomorrow afternoon and will reach a decision about whether we still plan to proceed which will be posted here, on the WLC Blog by 6pm on Saturday.


Could you please make sure that you check up on this tomorrow evening (12th March)

If we do have to cancel/postpone we would obviously rather do this on Saturday night than Sunday morning, to minimise disruption to participants, but clearly there is a possibility that things could deteriorate on Saturday night and the decision to cancel/postpone could be taken at any point prior to the event start time of 9:30. Obviously a full refund would be given of any entry fees.

So please be sure to check the blog on Saturday night and, whatever you do on a bike this weekend, please take care.

2011 Easter Meet update

Bookings for the Stirling Easter Meet are rolling in, it looks like it's going to be a packed event, make sure you book your place soon! The organisers are cracking on with their plans, here are a few recent developments:

Ribbons
The Scottish Easter Meet ribbons arrived today. Everyone who attends the Easter Meet is provided with the traditional ribbon to wear with pride throughout the weekend

Kids Go-Ride grass track races

The venue - The Highland Games Showground in Bridge of Allan - has been booked and, this morning we we took a tour of the venue with, games chairman, Jimmy Gould. It's going to be a cracking event at a brilliant location. more details here: www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/easterraces

Champions Night Guest of Honour
We can announce that Chris Sidwells, who recently wrote an article about our club for Cycling Weekly, will be the speaker at the Champions Banquet on Easter Sunday 24th April.

Chris is a best-selling author, journalist, photographer and broadcaster; a writer of books, magazine and newspaper features on every aspect of cycling and fitness.

His Complete Bike Book (DK 2003), Bike Repair Manual (DK 2004) and Cycling for Fitness (DK 2006) have been translated into many languages and are sold throughout the world. And his Tour Climbs (Harper Collins 2008) was the best selling sports book in Britain during July 2008.

His writing and photographs feature in every issue of Cycle Sport and Cycling Weekly magazines (IPC Media), Chris also writes for 220 Triathlon magazine and has contributed to Bicycling, Cycling Plus, Running Fitness, Men's Fitness and GQ magazine as well as broadcasting and speaking on the subject on radio and television.

Chris' best selling book, Tour Climbs: The complete guide to every mountain climb on the Tour de France was re-released as an updated paper back on May 28 2009. Chris has written the words and taken the photographs for what will be the first English language guide book to every climb the Tour de France has used with a height gain of over 400 metres.

Chris has finished working on A Race for Madmen another cycling book for Harper Collins that will be published on 27 May 2010

Find out more about Chris here: www.chrissidwells.com