Early season sportive

THE JODRELL BANK CYCLOSPORTIVE
14th March Woodford, Cheshire

Early season cyclosportive around the Cheshire lanes. Taking advantage of Cheshire's micro climates mild winter weather. The event features 3 distances 30 miles, 50 miles, and 80 miles catering for all levels. The picturesque route takes the riders past the famous Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope.

More details here: http://www.cyclosport.org/eventdetails.aspx?eventid=2419

A nice part of the world and home to the most recent Clarion section: North Cheshire Clarion: http://www.northcheshireclarion.co.uk/

Cyclists on ice

Neil Greer on an alternative Clarion club run in Kirknewton:

"Hi All, Just to let you all know this is why the bike has not been out! ...actually, we were just doing the weekly shop...
Cheers, Neil"

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Season's Greetings to all our members and regular readers of our news blog!

Don't forget the Gut-Buster Classic on Boxing Day. Riders meet 10.30am at the Black Bitch in Linlithgow for an hour and a half social ride and then back for a drink at the pub afterwards.

click here for the post and a map of where the start is

Committee meeting and AGM

The next committee meeting will be Wednesday 13th January, please send any items you wish to go on the agenda by Wednesday 6th January to me (Matt), by EMAIL ONLY, at secretary[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

I'd also like to remind members that all items for the AGM agenda need to be sent to me via email by January 15th. We are looking for nominations for the post of President, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Secretary, Rides Secretary and and Race Secretary. If you are interested in volunteering please send an email by the same date.

The committee is presently one person down, with the post of Race Secretary vacant.

Let me know if you would like clarification on what the roles entail.

Attendance at the AGM is open to all paid-up 2010 members. Membership renewals and new applications will be accepted up until half an hour before the start of the AGM but earlier renewal would be preferable.

All classes of club membership have full and equal voting rights.

Click here for all the details on club membership. This week Allan, Donald and Craig have joined up again for 2010.

Weekend ride reports

Unsurprisingly, due to the state to the roads, few riders made it out on the club runs at the weekend. Saturday's weather was so bad that Bill even opened up the Hangar of Anger for an indoor club run!

Allan brrrrravely made it to the Cross on Sunday, here is his report "I wasn't surprised that no one showed for the Sunday run given the conditions. The icy roads meant it took me a little longer to get out of Philpstoun, so I didn't get to the Cross till 9.05 am, there wasn't anyone there and the snow was just coming on so I didn't hang around"

"I headed out on the Edinburgh Road through Winchburgh and Kirkliston, and because it was still snowing, I turned and retraced the same route. The ride was uneventful and nothing of interest happened, the distance was only about 20 miles ridden at a reasonable pace, just fast enough to keep me warm and slightly out of breath and took about an hour. I should add it took me longer to clean and lube my bike than it did to get it dirty!"

This week's award for the hardest rider in the club has got to go to Allan!

Volunteer training

Six Clarionistas have signed up to the SCU's volunteer workshops on January 16th and 17th at the University of Stirling.

Assistant MTB XC Commissaires Course
Simon and Mark

Assistant Road Commissaires Course
Tobias and Matt

Timekeeping and Recording Training
Matt

Event organising workshop
Matt, Bill

Safeguarding and Protecting Children
In Safe Hands
Kerstin

Many thanks to those who volunteered, it will go a long way to developing the club's level of experience.

Tips for riding on ice

Thanks to Giles at North Cheshire Clarion for this link:

http://road.cc/node/12090

Boxing Day Gut Buster Classic

This weekend's club runs

Allan will be at the Cross in Linlithgow on Sunday for 9.00am, and says "Not a great forecast for the weekend but i'm planning a ride from the cross at Linlithgow 9am along to Cramond and back, aprox 25 miles, if anyone wants to join me, I'll see you Sunday."

The 'Social' and 'Active' Saturday rides will leave Linlithgow Leisure Centre at 9.00am but there won't be an East Calder Saturday ride this weekend.

Saturday's weather looks like it will be more inclement than Sunday's, if its raining, the Linlithgow group will be sheltering at the entrance of the Leisure Centre but if the roads are icy there may not be many people turning up.

All our ride details can be found at http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns.html

Welcome to the club Mike

Mike balances family life and keeping fit by getting most of his miles in on his way to work.

Mike says "2009 will see me crack the 100 mpw barrier for the first time, mainly doing the 32 mile work round trip. But as I was once a competitive runner, I still get the urge to ride harder, so I've done the odd TLI race and sportive – Bealach Beag in 2007 (about 10% down the field) and the Northern Rock Cyclone (60 miler) in 2008 have been the highlights."

"My first target for 2010 is to keep off the operating table. I’ve already had one major hip operation (called a resurfacing) and arthritis is gradually getting the better of my left hip too; but that’s what great about cycling – the modest stress on the joints means you can still push yourself. So I’m aiming for the Lakeland Loop in April then as I’m 50 in 2010, I want to get in a few >50 events, such as the TLI Cumbrae RR. One thing I’ll probably never do though is beat my work colleague, Mike “the cannibal” Ewart to a 30 mph road sign! (I know the feeling - Matt!)

"I do most of my miles on a B’twin – basic frame built up mainly with 105 kit. I also have a Planet X – again an aliminium frame – which I’m re-building with Sram Rival/Force and a new wheelset this spring. Somewhere lurking in the shed is a vintage Specialized Rockhopper that does as a hybrid when I need it; of course, it’s donned with slicks."

"Every year I say I want to do more cycling so hopefully joining the Clarion will help and I won’t be too much of a stranger. It’s great to see more people out on bikes and I’m sure the Clarion has made a big difference locally. So keep up the good work!"

Kids cycle club update

Five dads involved with the proposed youth section put on bike session for their own kids at the weekend.

Seven youngsters took part in a variety of activities like slaloms, relay races and a 'devil' race. The morning kicked off with a bike check, a warm up and then a few easy activities to boost the riders' confidence.

The programme was set up to allow the dads (Andy, Simon, Mark, Matt and Denis) to get a better idea of what a coaching session involves and to see if the kids would enjoy attending every week. This first informal event got a big thumbs up from the kids and dads a like, with Ryan and Sam saying the "relay race" was the best bit.

The next step for the youth section is to elect the officials and apply for funding so that four coaches can get trained up next March. The club plans to begin coaching next summer if WLC members agree to having a kids section at the AGM.

If you would like to get involved with the kids section come along to the next meeting:

When: 8.30 pm Wednesday 16th December
email Matt at secretary[AT]westlothianclarion if you want to attend

For more pictures click here

Veteran TT Association

Jim Harris, our honorary member and and go-to-man for the Scottish section of the Veteran Time Trial Association (VTTA) has sent me their 2009 report which documents all the events and winners from this past year.

If you are 40 or over (and lets face it many of us are), you might be interested in joining up with the association, they run a comprehensive calendar of races throughout the year including 10, 25, 50, 100 TTs, a veterans Best All Rounder competition and numerous trophy races.

The VTTA was established in 1943 with the aim of providing realistic competition in time trials for older racing cyclists, so they would be encouraged to continue in the sport. Races are won not by your actual time but by times calculated using a set of 'standards' according to age.

The standards, which are either times for set distances, or distances for set times begin at the age of 40 and become more generous with each passing year. Standards for women are similar to those for men but there is a phased shift to reflect physiological differences.

If you are interested in finding out more go to www.vtta.org.uk

Or visit the Scottish VTTA website to find out more about the racing north of the border here

Easter meet 2010

Last year Jez and I had a great time riding to the Easter Meet in Ramsbottom, Manchester and won the milage trophy, for the section that cycled the furthest to the meet, in the process. This year's 115th meet is a little further away - Eastbourne, about as far away from West Lothian as you can get while staying in the UK.

Nevertheless there are plans afoot for a West Lothian contingent to make their way to the annual gathering of all the Clarion sections.

A group of riders are planning to ride to Eastbourne, but get this, the most direct route is via the Netherlands. We plan to ride or train it to the ferry at Newcastle, take a berth to the Netherlands and then ride down to Dieppe where we will catch the ferry to Newhaven and ride the remainder to Eastbourne, arriving Good Friday.

For the less adventurous, a few members planning to take the train or drive down to the meet as well.

If you are interested in attending the Easter Meet (whichever way you will be travelling) come along to the Four Marys in Linlithgow this Thursday 17th December at 8.30pm

The Easter Meet starts Friday April 2nd with people setting off home Monday morning April 5th

Over the Easter weekend there will be a sportive, a time trail, kids events, a Friday get-to-gether, a Saturday night party and the annual prize giving knees up on the Sunday night. Plus local tours, historical visits and the annual Clarion conference.

Foggy Forth

Sunday's temperature inversion along the Forth Valley.

Saturday ride report

It looks like the fog persuaded most people to stay at home today, nevertheless two riders made up the group at Linlithgow Sports Centre. Here is Andy's report:

Just two people out on todays run myself and Mike. We waited to around 9:10 am and then set off. Our route took us along to Bridgend, Faucheldean, Winchburgh, Broxburn through Almondell country park to East Calder then the sustrans route to Kirknewton this involved about half a mile of what could only be described as a cyclo cross track.

From Kirknewton we went up Leyden road to the LangWang, this is were the fun began, the visibility went down to about 50 yrds and was baltic, patchs of black ice and puddles frozen, it was like a frozen waste land. We then turned of the LangWang and down through Harburn to West Calder, Blackburn, Bathgate and then we went our seperate ways.

Although it was cold and a very moist fog as we were soaked it was good to be out if not a bit exciting. Had about 41 miles when I got home including my ride over to Linlithgow, so Mike would have had around the same by the time he got back. Hope to be out agin soon.

All our ride information can be found at: http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/clubruns.html