This weekend's club runs

Last weekend loads of members tweeted about their Sunday runs, this weekend why not head over to the Cross in Linlithgow for 9.00am and ride with your club mates?

Before setting off on a club run please read our ride guidelines:
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns

And information on how to ride in a group:
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/technique

Club Captain Neil Greer sends in the details for this weekeknd's rides:

The forecast is currently showing: Clear, 11C, but with a very strong SW of 28 mph, gusting to 53 mph.

This is, IMO, verging on the very dangerous, so all riders should watch the latest forecasts closely and be prepared to abandon riding if there is no improvement in these conditions.

Crosswinds can be particularly hazardous at these wind speeds and the last thing we need is a group pile up.

There will always be another day to get out with your fellow riders and those turbos would no doubt welcome another session too!

Please, let's all take sensible, informed decisions this week-end.

I am as keen as the next person to get out this w/e, but trust you agree with my take on the weather…

If there is a vast improvement, I shall be out, but not if it stays as forecast….

A reminder that, as per the new schedule posted up this week, the suggested rides for this Saturday are as follows:

26-Nov-11
Linlithgow Leisure Centre
9.00 am
Route: Forth Climpy
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Climpy-Forth

Ride Leader(s): TBA

East Calder Leisure Centre
8.30 am
Route: Biggar - The new Apple Pie Bakery!

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/434342

Ride Leader(s): TBA

27-Nov-11
For Sunday, meet at the Cross at 9 am - route decided on the day.
The sunday runs are gaining popularity so why not pop along for a social ride

The Hangar of Anger is back!

21 members entered the all new Hangar of Anger for our Thursday night turbo/roller night. Mark Ewing lead the structured session which produced about an hour's worth of sweat

There was a good atmosphere in Philpstoun village hall, with riders arriving for 7.30, setting up their bikes and warming up ready to start at 8pm.

Mark took us through a programme of drills including single leg pedalling and short intervals, finishing off with a warm down and stretching. At times the noise was uncannily like a squadron of Lancaster Bombers

Lewy and Graeme brought along cake so afterwards there was a chance to blether over a coffee before heading off into the rain.

Debbie said "It was miles better than any spin class I've been to, all planned out to fit with the music - Mark obviously put a lot of thought into it."

There were a variety of levels, from newbies to seasoned club riders benefiting from Mark's session and of course no one was left behind!

The next session will be on Thursday December 1st. It'll cost 50p with the first 25 members securing a place in the squadron by emailing Matt Ball at secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk

What to bring:
Clean bike
Turbo/rollers
Cycling kit and shoes - absolutely no topless riding!
Drink
Post ride snack
Hand towel
HRM/Power Meter - but if you haven't got one don't worry
Money for hire of hall
Piece of carpet or a beach towel to sit under bike or cloth to clean your sweat off floor
Please carry your bike into the main hall

If you are feeling at all unwell or have a cold please do not attend

Club rides this weekend

Club Captain Neil Greer reveals this week end's club rides

Hi All,

Herewith post just put on the forum:

"The club committe met last night to discuss how we propose to improve the format of club runs and there will be an announcement shortly, so my new list has been further delayed….

However, can I suggest that for this Sat the runs should be:

19-Nov-11


Linlithgow
Slammanan
9.00 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Slamanan
Ride Leader(s): TBA

East Calder
Balerno/Craigie/Wynchburgh
8.30 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/397085
Ride Leader(s): TBA

The forecast looks favourable with Medium Cloud, 10C and a 10 mph S - pdg for Mid November!

20-Nov-11
For Sunday, meet at the Cross at 9 am - route decided on the day.
The sunday runs are gaining popularity so why not pop along for a social ride

Next week, I promise I shall have the full schedule for the next 3 months - let's hope it doesn't mean heading for the ski slopes like last year....

Enjoy you rides.

Neil"

So, who wants to boost Craigies revenues this w/e?

N.

News from the National Clarion

National Secretary Ian Clarke send the following news from Clarion HQ

Boots!

As the season closes for most of us, hardy cyclo-crossers keep going, there's still one more Clarion race championship and that is next weekend:

National Clarion CX Champs
Clarion Cyclo-cross championships will be decided in the Nottingham Clarion event on the 19th of November.

Details can be found here
http://nottinghamclarioncc.sports.officelive.com/ClarionNDCXLRace.aspx
and here
http://ndcxl.org.uk/event/

Racing starts at 12pm for U10s right through to seniors etc. at 2.15pm. This is the last Clarion Championships of the year. Please forward this email to any clubmates who ride cyclo-cross.

CLAIM YOUR CLARION AWARDS FOR 2011
It's time to spread the word to your section clubmates and claim your awards for the season. Titles such as Clubman, Clubwoman, most meritorious section, best novice, most meritorious junior are awards that many sections fail to claim and we are sure there are many worthy contenders out there.

On top of this you can claim for club records see here for current records
http://www.clarioncc.org/records.html and then send your claim to racing secretary: 
Francis Grafton 29 Cyril Road, West Bridgford, NOTTINGHAM NG2 5JW.

Also don't forget the time trial champions claims (BAR) and the road points claim which is awarded on the number of BCF point recorded. We include a copy extract of the rules for awards so that you can check if you could have won something or want to claim something.


Easter Meet 2012 - Buxton
Details will soon be announced with details of events, rides, races and venue/hotel. 
Expect a hot one organised by Stockport Clarion. For details please contact Duncan McLaren on dunchewitt@hotmail.com, but give him chance to send out details first.

Set in the beautiful spa town of Buxton we last went there in 1965. Plenty for all the family, easy rides along the Tissington and Manifold trails, or gruelling rides over the toughest climbs in the area.

National Treasurer needed
Following Peter Roscoe's standing down last year, a successor never came forward. This has left the role with Peter who has kindly keep things ticking over.

We desperately need a National Treasurer and appeal to you all to step forward and help out the Clarion in this critical role. Peter will give a complete handover to the new officer. Please email me directly if you are interested.

Spurs!

Ian

The mudguard season is here

If you are on a Clarion club run during the Winter please fit mudguards. You don't want your lovely white kit ending up like this! So make your fellow rider happy and fit a pair of mudguards.

Club runs this weekend

Hi All,

I am delaying publishing the new list of club runs until the mgt c'tee has met to discuss some new ideas about same.

So, in the meantime, can I suggest that for this w/e the runs should be:

12-Nov-11
Linlithgow
Lang Wang
9.00 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Lang-Wang
Ride Leader(s): TBA

12-Nov-11
East Calder
Avonbridge Loop
8.30 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/394450
Ride Leader(s): TBA

For Sunday, meet at the Cross at 9 am, route decided on the day.

Can I also add that we are now officially into Winter riding season so that means 2 things for us:

1. Can all riders please use bikes fitted with some sort of mudguards please; nothing is worse, at this time of year, than getting a face full of WL toothpaste from the rider in front!

2. Although the ride departure time will not change for LLC, for EC the time changes to 8.30 am.

Forecast looks reasonable with possibility of light showers, 12C and a 11 mph S.

Let's all enjoy our riding and, for all those who did the Group Riding Skills session last Sat, let's try to put it into practice and spread the word!

Cheers,

Neil

So, who will be out the w/e?

BTW, FIFA have now said we can wear a poppy too!

Neil Greer
Club Runs Captain
West Lothian Clarion

Champions night 2012

Champions night 2012, a set on Flickr.

The club had its 4th and best champions evening at a packed Linlithgow Golf Club.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere loud and convivial

Stephen Henley was an excellent master of ceremony, President Tom Beattie provided an superb quiz and the kids did a great job with the Raffle

Steve McCaw was given the final honour of the night – Club Member of the Year.

Steve has been an outstanding racer this year and a superb ambassador for the club and cyclesport. Breaking national indoor and outdoor track records including setting a new outdoor hour record. At the Clarion track champs he broke 5 national records and then went on to dominate the track championships. He has advised club members on how to get into racing through his advice on the forums and has also volunteered as a helper on the club 10TT series.

Full list of Award winners
1. Debbie Pollard Sea to Sky record breaker
2. Matthew Ball Sea to Sky record breaker
3. Mandy Macall Club 10 TT women's course record
3. Steve McCaw Club 25TT men's course record
4. Lynne Gow Club 25TT women's course record
5. Alex Ball most improved boy
4. Leah Grant most improved girl
5. Ryan Ewing kids club rider of the year
6. Sadiq Mir Tour of the Trossachs trophy winner
7. Brian Mclellan TT series winner (Iain Elliott 2nd, Grant Craven 3rd)
8 Michelle Gregory TT series winner (Debbie Pollard 2nd, Mandy Macall 3rd)
9. Matthew Ball men's hill hlimb champ
10. Diane Mackie women's hill climb champ
11. Chris Downey club freewheel champ
12. Steve McCaw: men's 25 TT champ
13. Lynne Gow women's 25TT champ
14. Brian McLellan and John Michael Howison - 2-up TT champ
15. Sadiq Mir BAR champion
16. Steve McCaw club member of the year

A big thank you to our Social Secretary Stephen Henley for organising such a brilliant evening

Group riding skills coaching session

A fully booked coaching session with 20 riders took place on Saturday morning at Oracle on Blackness road Linlithgow

The riders participated in drills covering, cornering, side by side riding, following a wheel, small group and finally big group riding.

Communication signals and etiquette (like not attacking off the front) were also covered

Thanks to everyone who came along and to Oracle for allowing us to use their car park

Eliminate bad habits, including ones you don't know you have!

To welcome in the social season and new members, the club has organised a group riding skills session this Saturday 5th November.

Meet: 9.00am Leisure Centre, Linlithgow

From there we will ride over to Oracle on Blackness Road to make use of their traffic free car park

Purpose of session
The session will be useful to any member who wants to feel more confident in a group or develop their skills
The session will cover:

1. keeping a wheel
2. riding side by side
3. communication in a group
4. change overs on the front
5. singling out
6. cornering
7. braking effectively

The session will also cover group etiquette and safety

There will be some fun spot prizes!

Riders both experienced and beginner will get an opportunity to develop their skills

We have space for 20 riders in this first session but will plan further sessions over the coming weeks.

It is recommended that everyone in the club attends a session so that you are aware of what is expected on a club run - even experienced riders will learn new skills!

The coaching session will finish at 10.30, after which riders can test their skills on a proper club run - A ride to Craigies Farm
Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Lithgae-Cragies

email secretary Matthew Ball on secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk to book a place

Places are limited to the first 20 members who respond by email, with a reserve of 3