The club kit has arrived

Dave Dourley says the Club Kit is due this week, here are the details for collection:

After a bit of sorting out, it should be available to pick up from Dave's house on -

Evenings only after 7pm
Sunday 10th , Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th

or

All day Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th. (If no answer either at school with kids or in back garden)

Those on the reserve kit list - I'll contact you direct via e-mail with what is available

Sat nav ready? 8a Whitemoss Road, Kirknewton, West Lothian, EH27 8AF

If you are unable to make any of these dates, email clarionkitorder@hotmail.co.uk to make a date for collection

New Bathgate Alpes T shirt

We've got a new Bathgate Alpes T-shirt in the pipeline. Stick your name down on the forum if you want one.
Click here to sign up

Day out at the races

10 senior riders and 2 juniors were out racing at the weekend.

Read about their exploits by clicking the links below:

1. Royal Albert 10TT
2. Gordon Arms Mountain TT
3. Super Six B Race
4. Kelso Youth Crits

Best place finisher was Alex Ball, 4th in the under 8s at Kelso and Paul Nunn who did well to finish in the main bunch in his first race back after a period off the bike

Simon Kenny gives it full beans in the Super 6 race below

SONY DSC, originally uploaded by turb24.

This weekend's club runs

Before coming on the club run, please familiarise yourself with the route (see below) and our ride guidelines: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns

We are also looking for a club member to lead this week's rides, this isn't an onerous task and is your chance to put something back into the club. Please contact Neil Greer to put your name forward: clubruns[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Read on for Neil's ride preview

Hi All,

If this week-end's forecast is anything to go by there should be some tan-lines by the end of the week-end!

Just a reminder that the rides for this Saturday are:

Linlithgow
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Climpy-Forth
Meet at 8.50 am for a 9 am depart, and

East Calder -
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Loch-Leven-Loop493977
Meet at 7.50 am for an 8 am depart

Sunday
The same Linlithgow route, meet at The Cross for a 9 am depart.

Last week-end saw 29 riders out on the Sat/Sun club runs, so let's see if we can keep the momentum going - you won't get much better conditions!

Enjoy your rides.

Neil

A great weekend for a bike ride

Last weekend saw two big groups riding the Saturday club run and 8 riders out on the Sunday run.

Read the reports here: http://tinyurl.com/6dut554

Picture shows Saturday's Social group

Find out more about our club runs here: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns

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.