Vote for ride of the year 2009

It has been very difficult narrowing down the nominations, but we have a very strong shortlist for Ride of the Year 2009, as voted by you. Please email me your vote from the shortlist below (each entry has a link to the story behind the nomination)

Email your choice to me at mball@matthewball.co.uk

Only votes emailed to me will count and only West Lothian Clarion members get to vote.

Deadline is Friday 2oth November.

The winner will be announced at the Christmas Social and annual prize giving

1. The night time ride to Berwick upon Tweed
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/06/border-reivers-nocturnal-border-raid.html

2. Silver for Julie Dominguez
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/07/silver-and-bronze-for-jules.html

3. Mandy and Andy Weaving ride the Vatterdun on a tandem
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/06/travellers-return.html

4. Simon Taylor rides the RAAM
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/06/clarionista-in-race-across-america.html

5. Matthew Ball and Jez Hastings ride to the Manchester Easter Meet on fixed
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/04/ride-to-easter-meet-or-raid-clarion.html

6. Craig Marshal smashes his PB for the Northern Rock Sportive
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/06/northern-rock-cyclone-report.html

7. Malcolm Wake, Mark, Jim MacDonald, Peter Buchan ride the Baeg in atrocious conditions
http://westlothianclarion.blogspot.com/2009/05/bealach-beag-report.html

Winter Duathlon Series

Edinburgh Road club are now taking entries for their Winter Duathlon Series at Kirkliston via www.entrycentral.com.
This year the series will run from December to February. For more info see the ERC news page

New Saturday ride format a success

Over a third of our members took part in a club run on Saturday. 11 riders made up the 'Active' group which set off first from the Linlithgow Leisure Centre, followed by 8 more in the 'Social' group. At East Calder Neil Greer lead another 8 riders on a 'Social' ride around the two bridges. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the rides.

All the ride details: www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns

Graham on the Linlithgow 'Social' ride said:
"I was on the Social ride and it seemed to go really well. The weather helped and the group stayed together well I thought, always regrouping quickly if it did split for any reason. The route was fairly low-lying, out to Dalmeny House and back via Hopetoun, about 30 odd miles, and the general feel was relaxed and very, ummmmm, Social, with a few stops to chew the fat and an average, on the move, that stayed within the advertised 13-15mph.

Personally, I really enjoyed the ride and hope to make it back for more next week. Thanks to all in the group and Andy W for taking the lead. "

Sadiq on the 'Active' ride:
"Glad things went well with the social group, the active group certainly had a good workout, heading out to Dalmeny and back before venturing into the Alps via Bridgend for a wee slugfest. It was great to chat to a few people I hadn't really spoken to before. It looks like it was a great success. Hopefully we will continue to get solid numbers for both rides as the weather worsens. We saw a lot of people are out on their bikes on the stretch between linlithgow and Dalmeny on a nice saturday morning like that and we are always likely to attract new people to our club"

Neil on the East Calder 'Social' ride
we had 8 riders out for the inaugural run from East Calder on Sat. Set off west via the back roads through Livingston/Bathgate to Grangemouth/Skinflats, across the new Kincardine bridge then headed to Culross for the compulsory cake stop - as usual it didn't disappoint. With a tailwind we then made good progess along to Rosyth with the chain-gang bowling along comfortably at 25 mph. We then returned via Kirkliston/Newbridge and the back lanes to East Calder where one rider double punctured - 3 miles from home...Glorious sunshine for most of the route - felt like Spring! Overall about 60 miles in 4 hours or so..
Thanks to everyone who took part - truly memorable.

West Lothian toothpaste

Thoroughly enjoyed the 'Active;' ride on Saturday but managed to get a mouthful of 'West Lothian toothpaste' in the process.

West Lothian toothpaste is a particularly yucky mixture of water, muck and manure sprayed up off the road from the bike in front. The minor roads we tend to ride along can be covered in the stuff and on a dirty ride without mudguards, the group gets plastered in the sticky brown gloop.

So, In Winter, if you are coming on a Clarion club run please fit mudguards. They will protect your own kit and that of the grateful riders behind you.

If you've got a fancy carbon bike your Friendly LBS will sort you out with a descent pair of clip on mudguards.

Meet Chris Hoy

Wednesday 4th November at 12pm
Waterstone's, 13-14 Princes Street (East End branch), Edinburgh T: 0131 556 3034

Go and meet one of Britain’s greatest Olympians and most admired sporting heroes, Scottish cyclist Chris Hoy, who will be here signing copies of his new autobiography.

Arrive early to avoid disappointment. If you are unable to attend, Waterstones can often reserve signed copies - contact the branch in advance for details. Signed copies cannot be guaranteed and may not carry dedications.

Women's club run

In an attempt to attract more women to the club runs Kerstin is leading a women-only bike ride on Saturday 14th November.

The ride will start at Linlithgow Sports Centre at 9.oo am and complete a 15 mile loop at about 12 mph.

If it proves popular it'll become a regular part of the Clarion rides calendar.

If you've not been on a group ride before take a look at the rides guide on the website

New East Calder Saturday club run

A sizeable portion of the club's membership live in the east of the county and don't always get the opportunity to make it over to Linlithgow to ride our two Saturday runs

Neil Greer, who joined earlier in the year, has been organising a group ride from East Calder and suggeted making it an 'official' Clarion club run. If you live over in that part of the county why not ride over to the start at East Calder Leisure Centre for 8.30am.

The ride is 'Social' with the speed between 13-15mph covering about 40-50 miles. They always stop at a cafe and lke all our 'Social' rides no body gets left behind

Alternate Saturday club run: East Calder start
Start Promptly at 8.30 am so arrive with plenty of time beforehand
Meet East Calder Sports Centre. See google map
Type of ride This ride is a 'SOCIAL' ride
Distance Can be anything from 35 to (rarely) 80 miles but the average is 40 - 50.
Cafe Stop A re-fuelling cake stop is compulsory!
Parking We encourage riders to cycle to the start but there is ample parking at the sports centre and also in neighbouring side streets if you need it
Contact Neil Greer on ngreer[AT]qedms.com

All our rides information can be found at www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns

All new Saturday rides

From 31st October the Saturday club run will start from the Linlithgow Leisure Centre at 9.00am. There will be two rides, a slower 'social' ride and a faster 'active' ride. Please come along and support the new format.

All the details are on the website

Ride of the year nominations wanted

Last year Brian Bernard was awarded the club's Ride of year award. He crashed during the Fred Whitton Challenge, dislocating his finger and damaging his ankles. He showed great resilience in the face of adversity to finish the sportive in 8 hours forty minutes and his ride was overwhelmingly voted ride of the year by the Clarion members.

Please send in your nominations for this year's award so that a shortlist of five rides can be made and then voted on by club members.

The award recognises an outstanding ride by a member or a group of members during the year. It doesn't have to be the fastest ride.

Nominations could be for a new personal best time or a ride where a member overcame adversity, or completed a major challenge, or a new record or simply a ride that makes a great story.

Send in your nominations to me at secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk

Explain why you think your nomination should be on the shortlist, describing their amazing ride.

Clarion Braveheart Fund Donation

Message from club treasurer Graham Foster:

The Club gives one pound of every membership fee as a donation to the Braveheart fund. Given that applications are now open for 2010 membership renewals (don't forget!!) we totted up 68 memberships in 2009 and sent off a cheque to the Braveheart. As it's a donation from each and every club member, I thought I'd share the letter I've just received:

Dear Graham

Many thanks for your kind donation on behalf of the West Lothian Clarion CC.

It is very kind of the club to think of the Braveheart Fund like this. It is also pleasing to hear that your membership is rising. I'm sure you must be doing good things at the Clarion to attract such numbers. Hopefully in the near future one of your riders will qualify for funding from the Braveheart.

Once again thank you for the donation.

Kind regards
Alan Miller
Braveheart Fund

The Braveheart Fund was launched in 2003 by former British champion, Motorola professional and Giro d’Italia survivor Brian Smith. Its aim is simple: to raise the funds to allow young Scottish cyclists, be they roadies, trackies or mountain bikers, to fulfil their potential.

CHANGES TO SATURDAY CLUB RUN

On the 31st October the meeting point for the Saturday run will move to the Linlithgow Leisure Centre and start at the new time of 9.00am.

We will also now be running two rides: a 'social' ride and an 'Active' ride following a similar route and covering about 30-40 miles. We want everyone in the club to come out and give them a try, the new format will only succeed if you come along and support them.

HOW FIT DO YOU HAVE TO BE?
Our rides are not suitable for those who are new to cycling or occasional leisure cyclists. But if you are regularly riding at least 30 miles in about 2.5 hours and are looking to develop your abilities in the company of others, our social rides would be an ideal and welcoming place to start.

THE SOCIAL RIDE
This ride is ideal for people coming out with the club for the first time. The pace is steady and the average speed is about 13-15mph over mixed terrain. No one will get abandoned but riders can get dropped on climbs, if this happens the group will wait and regroup. If you find the pace too high please SPEAK UP so the speed can be slowed or the route altered to get you home safely. Riders are assumed to be self supporting and, while the group might have a café stop, this is not guaranteed, and riders should carry adequate food and drink. If you you don't feel up to this level of riding we can put you in contact with the local Cyclists Touring Club

THE ACTIVE RIDE
This ride is aimed at people who want to improve their fitness. The pace is steady with an average speed of about 16-19mph so you need to be fit to participate. The pace is kept up over climbs and there is sometimes a sprint at the end. Rides tend to be between 30-40 miles and don't wander too far from the start. The group will aim to accommodate a reasonable range of abilities but those significantly slower than the general pace of the group should be prepared to navigate their own way home. The Social ride will roughly follow the same route so you can drop back and ride home at a more leisurely pace.

Before you come on a ride please read the following important information

1. Prepare your bike
2. Safe group riding
3. Group riding technique
4. Group riding hand signals

Kid's section

We are in the early stages of planning a kid's section which will run in parallel but insulated from adult club. The section will have a separate committee and finances from the adult club.

The kid's club will be aiming for GoRide accreditation, Scottish Cycling's programme for developing youth cycling.

The kids club will revolve around a Saturday morning or evening training session following the GoRide manuals, which are provided by Scottish Cycling . The emphasis is on fun, while teaching a variety of cycling skills which can be done on any bike. All the activities take place on traffic free facilities, such as school playing fields and playgrounds.

We are looking for volunteers to get involved with running the section and start planning the next year for a launch in April 2010.

If you are interested in getting involved or want to find out more information about the kids section come along to the first planning meeting.

Please email me (Matt) directly at secretary@westlothianclarion.co.uk if you would like to attend.

Date: Wednesday 11th November
Time: 8pm
Location: TBA

I've visited a Johnstone Jets training session and plan to model our kids section on their set up.

Group riding skills session

View Mill Road Industrial Estate in a larger map

Learn to cycle in a group confidently and pick up essential skills for racing and sportive riding at our group riding skills session. The session will be about 1 and a half hours and will cover a few basic drills and to improve your technique.

Date Sunday 8th November
Time 3pm
Location Mill Road Industriual Estate, Linlithgow Bridge.
Bring cycling shoes and trainers, warm clothing
Don't use your best wheels or lovely carbon fibre racer!

President's run photos

On Saturday the club held it's first ever President's run, announcing the start of the cycling 'social season'. Mr President Bill Young, devised a fabulous route down to Biggar for a cafe stop. Almost 30 riders from all over our county set off in two groups from Bathgate on a cold but gloriously sunny autumn day. The group rode through some of West Lothian's finest countryside as we trundled though Blackburn, Addiewell, Woolfords, Carnwath, Biggar and back via Braehead, Forth, Climpy, Fauldhouse and Blackridge for one of the club's most successful events.

GROUP RIDING HAND SIGNALS

Allan Massey found this useful link on Bikeradar outlining hand signals for group riding


1. One hand ‘gently patting an invisible dog’: The whole group should slow down or ease back.
2. Hand straight up in air: Group is stopping for a junction, puncture or because there’s an obstruction.
3. Left or right hand extended: Change in direction ahead or indicating the direction of a turn.
4. Elbow flick: This is more often seen on the track, but it’s sometimes used on the road when riding in a chain gang. It indicates that a rider on the front has finished a turn, is about to pull off and would like you to come through.
5. Waving/pointing behind: Indicates there’s an obstruction that the whole group needs to move in the direction indicated to avoid.
6. Pointing down at road: Obstruction on road to avoid, such as road kill, pothole or drain cover.