Saturday Cafe Ride

Ali McQuillen has planned a shorter ride that'll pass by the Cup Cake Cafe. The route has an option to cut short directly to Linlithgow or back over towards Beecraigs after the cafe stop.

Ali says "Post up on the forum if you're intending to go to the cafe and I'll let them know that we're coming so they can reserve a table and bake more scones!

Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/avonbridge-slammanan

The ride starts from the Linlithgow leisure Centre at 9.00am and has an average speed of 12mph

This weekend's club runs

Club Captain Neil Greer sends in this week's club run details

Well, on the day of the Club's inaugural Burns Supper, the forecast is showing some typical Winter weather with the temperature expected to hover around freezing with a 5 mph SW, fair visibility and dry; I guess that puts it in the "Proceed With Care" category for riders!

Check out the route and read our ride guidelines before coming out:
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/technique

There are 3 rides leaving Linlithgow: a 12mph Cafe Ride, a 15 mph Club Run and an 18mph Hard Group Ride. 15mph club run starts from East Calder.

Make sure you choose the right group for your level and follow the correct pace for the group you are in.

Saturday Rides 28-Jan-12
Linlithgow Leisure Centre
Route: Slammanan
Start 9.00 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Slamanan
Ride Leader(s) - Can you lead a ride?

East Calder Sports Centre
Route: Balerno/Craigie/Wynchburgh
Start: 8.30 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/397085
Ride Leader(s) - Can you lead a ride?

For Sunday - and to help you recover from your Haggis etc - meet at the Cross at 9am - route to be decided on the day.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your rides and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Supper later..

To Rabbie!

Neil

We're in the Comic (again!)

Last February Chris Sidwells wrote an article about West Lothian Clarion that featured in Cycling Weekly over 4 pages.

In today's magazine, we've been featured again! This time one of the photos Chris took of our club run has been used to illustrate a story about Graeme Obree's new training manual.

We're pretty chuffed, thanks very much Cycling Weekly!

Available in all good news agents

Get out and ride this weekend

Club Captain Neil Greer has posted up a couple of first rate routes for this weekend's rides but suggests the weather may get the better of us.

Make sure you take a look at the route and read our ride guidelines before coming out:
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/technique

There are 3 rides leaving Linlithgow: a 12mph Cafe Ride, a 15 mph Club Run and an 18mph Hard Group Ride. 15mph club run starts from East Calder.

Make sure you choose the right group for your level and follow the correct pace for the group you are in.

Saturday 21st


Linlithgow Leisure Centre
Start: 9.00 am
Route: Braehead
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Braehead
Ride Leader(s): Can you lead the ride? Contact Neil Greer on clubruns@westlothianclarion.co.uk to volunteer

East Calder Sports Centre
Start 8.30 am
Avonbridge Loop
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/394450
Ride Leader(s) Can you lead the ride? Contact Neil Greer on clubruns@westlothianclarion.co.uk to volunteer

However, with Winter being very unpredictable at the moment, the current forecast is not looking too encouraging.

It is showing 4C (but feels like -2C), light rain and W winds of 26mph, gusting to 50mph+, which is not really conducive to good group riding if this translates into severe crosswinds...

Sunday 22nd
Sunday only looks marginally better (2C, W20mph, gusting to 40mph)

So, I recommend that everyone contemplating riding this week-end keeps a very close eye on the forecast and makes a decision based on that; better to be safe than sorry, and there is always the turbo!

Whatever you end up doing, ride carefully...

Neil

This weekend's club runs

Club Captain Neil Greer has posted up a couple of our classic club runs for this weekend's rides.

Make sure you take a look at the route and read our ride guidelines before coming out:
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns
http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/technique

Thankfully, our milder Winter continues (yes, I have my fingers crossed!) and although it will be a wee bit colder this week-end, conditions still look good for riding. The forecast is Bright, 6C and a 5 mph SW - def. easier than last week-end's 20mph battle..

Just a reminder that the routes are:

Saturday 14-Jan-12
Linlithgow Leisure Centre
Forth Climpy
9.00 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Climpy-Forth
Ride Leader(s): TBA

East Calder Sports Centre
Carnwath / Apple Pie
8.30 am
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/463272
Ride Leader(s): TBA

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

So who is going to be out this week-end?

Wherever you go, ride carefully.

Neil

Join up for 2012

2011 was a super year for the club with more participation in our events than ever before. Join up and help make 2012 even better

Club Events to look forward too:
• Weekly turbo sessions
• 5 weekend club runs at 12mph, 15mph and 18+ mph - something for everyone
• Bi-monthly socials in Linlithgow and East Calder
• Great social events like the Burns supper, Tour de France social and Champions night
• A packed year of competition including our 10TT series, 25TT champs, Cyclo Cross, Hill Climb and Freewheel Champs
• Challenge events like our 7 castles of West Lothian reliability trial, all-night ride and president's run
• Adult Coaching sessions
• Plus loads of National Clarion events around the UK including the Buxton Easter Meet

If you're thinking of joining up please do so sooner rather than later as it would make the secretary's job a bit easier.

Download a form from the website here: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/join

Senior membership is just £15, household membership is £10.50

Make cheques payable to "West Lothian Clarion"

For more details email Matt on secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk

Spurs!

Next Hangar of Anger is on 12th January

Join our Turbo training squadron at the next session on Thursday 12th January at Philpstoun village.

Get there for 7.30 to set up and warm up for an 8pm start. Cost: £1

Stick around for refreshments afterwards

Places are limited so sign up on our forum:

Join us at the West Lothian Clarion Burns Supper

Book your place for the first ever West Lothian Clarion Burns Supper at Linlithgow Golf Club on Saturday 28 January from 7pm.

The cost is £12.50 for a 3 course meal plus coffee as well as bagpipes, traditional speeches, poetry and singing.

The menu is as follows:

Scotch Broth or Vegetable Soup

Haggis, Neeps & Tatties with a creamy whisky and pepper sauce (Vegetarian Haggis also available) OR
Breast of Chicken with Mash and a creamy whisky and pepper sauce

Raspberry Cranachan OR Scottish Cheddar & Biscuits
Coffee/Tea with homemade Scottish Shortbread

How to book
To confirm your place please send an e-mail to socials@westlothianclarion.co.uk (along with menu choices) and send a cheque for £12.50 made payable to West Lothian Clarion to
Stephen Henley, 64 Tantallon Gardens, Livingston EH54 9AT or if easier hand your cheque to any of the committee members.

Please confirm your place by Sunday 22 January