Photo of the week: Linlithgow Lollypop lady

Bathgate Alps - now with even more photos

We've added more photos to our map of the Bathgate Alps. Click on the blue place markers to read about each climb, or view the larger map.

View Bathgate Alps in a larger map

New Member!

John Hanlin joined up in 2010, You'll have seen him on the RadTour and New Year's day ride, here is his belated introduction the club:

I am budding 'keen' cyclist who aspirations to improve/challenge myself and my fitness. Up until 4 years ago I was a 'trying' triathlete but knee issues put paid to that avenue of fitness.

I have 4 bikes , MTB , a tourer, and 2 road steeds (I just got a new Trek... if you have a spare hour I will tell you the story). I have toured NW side of Scotland and toured the Avignon region of France last year, both trips were with my partner Lynne.

New Member!

Alison Dourley joined up at the start of the year and regularly rides with the East Calder crew, more recently she was part of the welcoming party that rode with North Cheshire Clarion as they cycled to the Easter Meet:

Boots!
My name is Alison and I live in Kirknewton with my family. My husband, Dave, started cycling with Neil Greer sometime ago, and I became a cycling widow!! So, since then I've been keen to get more into cycling. I have had a bike for a number of years now, but it only came out occasionally for family holidays and local cycles. I should also mention that it was a mountain bike not a road bike.
A few of my friends share the same interests as me, and over the last 3 or 4 years we have all purchased road bikes. We normally cycle local routes when time and weather permit, and enjoy the 2 bridges route during the summer months. I've done the Caledonian Etape twice and hope to do more sportive type rides in the future. This year I plan to do the social rides when I can, and cycle with the ladies groups. This summer, I'm going to cycle to my cousins' wedding back in Stornaway (where I'm from). Dave will be doing this also, although he isn't exactly keen!! There is also talk of a British Airways / Comic Relief charity cycle from Edinburgh Airport to London City Airport that I may take part in. So, I'm training at the moment and as the weather improves I'll be out a bit more.

I work away quite often and this combined with Daves' shifts and childcare can make it difficult to get out regularly, but with a bit of organisation, I should be out and about soon.

I currently ride a Specialized Dolce sport that is a year and a half old.

Spurs!

New Member!

Iain Elliot joined up this spring and is a regular on the club runs and recently participated in our race coaching sessions

I've always been into bikes ever since I was a kid, but only started getting seriously into it about 10 years ago. I got my first road bike, and couldn't get enough of it. Contemplated joining a club at this point, but like lots of things, it just never seemed to happen.

After a few years, I turned to mountain bikes, and the road bike was sold. A few years down the line and I got the hankering for another road bike, and here I am, and I've finally joined a club! After looking around at different clubs, I really liked the look of the club and it's ethos of helping riders achieve their own goals.

I'm thinking of giving the summer TT series a go, although looking at last years times, I don't think anyone need worry about me challenging the top times!

At the moment I've got a Specialized Tarmac Elite and still have my Specialized Rockhopper Expert for when I want to head into the hills. I've only been on one ride with the club so far, but everyone was very welcoming, and despite some treacherous conditions I thoroughly enjoyed the run, and discovered some new roads I never new existed!

Look forward to meeting you again soon. I can't make every week, but will try to come along as often as possible.

New Member!

Neil Wilson is a new member and trainee level 2 coach:

"I started MTB in the late 80s, night riding at Mabie Forest, etc. This was before the 7 Stanes project come into existence. Rock climbing and a move to Edinburgh in 1992 put a halt to cycling for about 10 years but in 2002 I caught the bug again. Glentress and other trail centres caught my imagination and off I went.

After 2 years of talking about it I decided to enter the 70 Wild Miles event in Glencoe (2009). This started my interest in road cycling. To date I have completed the 70 Wild Miles twice, several MTB Merida Mountain Marathon events (Chain Reaction as it is now known) and recently the Scottish Nokia Coast To Coast.

This year I have successfully entered the Drumlanrig Sportive (Tearfund), the Fred Whitton (GULP) and the Trossachs Ton. I am currently building a bike for the Nokia Coast To Coast in September. I hope to enter the Kirroughtree Ten, Relentless 24 and have been press ganged into the Strathpuffer.

I have 4 bikes and one in progress - a Santa Cruz Heckler, a Pace 305, a Cannondale CAAD5 and a Giant TCR2 Composite. My project is a cyclocross style bike based on my old Melin Malt 2 frame.

My favourite cycling is either MTB at Ae Forest, Innerleithen or mountain routes like the Feshie Bridge Challenge. On road I like local hilly rides around Linlithgow and beyond. I need to expand my horizons regarding road biking but plan a lot of visits to the Crow Road very soon."

New Member!

Stephen Darling joined up last month:

"I moved down from Aberdeen a couple of years ago, but with one little one and one very little one, there was not much time for cycling. However, now they’re a bit bigger (3.5 & 1.5) it’s a bit easier to get out, so I thought I’d join up to see if I could get involved in a few club runs and other activities.

My cycling history started with mountain biking as a teenager – I even had a couple of races though I wasn’t that great – but then I didn’t do that much for a few years. I got back into it, mostly on the road this time, with an end-end in ’05, and started Audaxing, with an SR series in ’07, though that was the only one of those I’ve done so far, partly due to the time they take, partly due to the fact that I couldn’t walk for 2 weeks after one of the longer rides.

In 2008 I enjoyed a year in Deeside Thistle; took part in their club TT series and had a lot of fun. I also took part in the Scottish 12hr TT, coming last in the field! But I got a new job down here and so stopped being a member. That was about the time our littlest one was born, so last couple of years I have just been pootling along with commuting and the odd longer ride. This year though I’ve been getting more miles in again.

You’ll probably see me most often on the 2005 Ribble Audax bike that I bought for the end to end, but I’m afraid I’ve occasionally been a bit trigger-happy in EbayLand, so there’s a couple of others of a certain age in the garage including a Raleigh, proudly boasting that it is an ‘All-Steel Bicycle’ that weighs only slightly less than the Forth Bridge.

Looking forward to meeting everyone, Steve."

Revealed: Our most popular photos in 2011

These are our most popular photos, by page view, in our flickr gallery. Click the title to see them.

1. Club photo with spin class bloke
Non mover
Still at number 1 for the 2nd year, our first ever group photo from 2009, with an unnamed spin class instructor. Views 340

2. Shona Young
Non mover
2009 member, Shona, models her club jersey and stays at number two for the second year. Views 289

3. Julie Dominguez
Highest new entry
Our track ace is a new entry at number 3, this photo was taken in 2009 at our TT series. Views 238

4. Neil Fraser
New entry
The club's prolific Audax rider is another new entry in our list of most popular photos. Views 208

5. 2010 club photo
Up 2 places
Our second group photo, taken in front of Linlithgow Palace in 2010, grows in popularity but still can't make top spot. Views 205

6. Tuesday night chain gang route
Down 3 places
Our 2010 training session never quite got off the ground and last year's highest new entry, the map of the location, slips 3 places. Views 200

7. July 4th 2009 club run
Down 3 places
A big turn out at our old club run start point (the Scottish Korean War Memorial). It was a fine ride that took in South Queensferry and a blast up Kingscavil. Views 181

8. Tobias Bauer
New entry
Our president returns to the top 10, this is what he looked like before he started riding Audaxes. Views 166

9. Allan McCrimmon
New entry
Last year's TT series winner and mile eating tourer moves into the top 10 for the first time. Views 157

10. Most Meritorious section
Down 5 places
This photo was taken in 2009, at Blackness Castle, to celebrate our first award as the National Clarion's most meritorious section, since then the club has been presented with the title in 2010 and 2011 too. Views 154

2010 most popular photos here: http://tinyurl.com/39fzfzq

2009 most popular photos here: http://tinyurl.com/6a6vb4m

Wanted: Volunteers for our Open 10TT

Last years Clarion Open 10 TT was a superb event. Lets make our 2011 race just as good but we need your help.
Please volunteer your time. It's your chance to don a fluorescent tabard and bellow loudly without anyone telling you to be quiet. Tobias Bauer, the organiser explains more:

Dear all

As in 2010, the West Lothian Clarion is organising an open 10-mile time trial on the Cambusbarron course near Stirling. This year’s event will be on Sunday 5 June at 8am.

As always, this is only possible with the help of club members and other volunteers and I am looking for people who are willing to take on one of the following tasks:

One commissaire
Time keepers and recorders x 3
pusher-off
Marshals x 4
Rider registration x 2
Kitchen and other helpers x 3
Bakers and food preparers
Last year we had to ask external officials to act a commissaire and time keepers but I feel that we now have the expertise needed to cover these posts within the club. A TT is a very good way of getting first experience as assistant road commissairs since it doesn’t require any convoys, cars, etc.

Our open events have a very good reputation and I am confident that we can repeat last year’s success.

Please let me know if you are able to help.

Thanks in advance,

Tobias

Calling Clarion women - support the women's road race champs

We're asking Clarion women to enter the Women's Scottish Road Race Championships, as according to the post below on filles-a-velo.com it could be canclled due to lack of interest. Read on and enter...

The Scottish Road Race Championships (men’s & women’s) are being held on 22 May 2011, in Balfron.

With less than a week to go until entries close, the women’s field is severely lacking to the point where the women’s race may have to be cancelled!

This is very disappointing, as much hard work was involved in putting on a separate race for the women. The race is open to ALL categories. It’s all well and good us women crying that we want more women only races, but if we don’t support the ones we do have then there is no chance of the calendar expanding.

So please please show your support and enter if you can.

For more details contact the club's women's coordinator Debbie Pollard: lasses[AT]westlothianclarion.co.uk

Enter on line HERE

Combined club run this weekend...

Club Captain, Neil Greer, is planning the next 12 week's of club runs but he needs your help. If you have a new route you'd like to try please let him know. Read on for Neil's plans this weekend.

Despite my good intentions ("The Road to Hell etc...." I hear you chorus!) I have still not been able to get myself organised to get the next 12 weeks club runs published.

In part, this is due to some new routes having been suggested by the East Calder riders, so, if any Linlithgow riders have some routes they also want incorporated into the schedule, now is the time to speak up! And if you do, can you please provide the Bikely/toaster link for the route. Thanks.

As for this week-end, as it is the first Sat. of the month this means Combined Club Run, so can I suggest that this should be the Two Bridges.

Saturday Two Bridges Route
Linlithgow - meet at 8.50 am for a 9 am depart; East Calder meet at 7.50 for an 8 am depart to ride over to LLC.

Sunday
Meet at the Cross as usual for a 9 am depart.

Finally, can I please make a second request for data on the last 3 weeks rides from LLC. Many folk like to know how the club is progressing over the year and this is one way of giving that feedback, but it does mean I need the raw data. It doesn't need to be Poet Laureate stuff, just the bare stats of Route, Nos (split M & F), distance covered and average mph.

As I have another commitment I shall not be able to make this ride, but if any East Calder riders want to join me at 7 am I shall be going out for a 2 hour run.

Enjoy your rides!

Cheers,

Neil: clubruns@westlothianclarion.co.uk

'Nae Bother' to proper cyclists

Tobias Bauer and Neil Fraser completed another qualifying stage for their Paris-Brest-Paris 1200km Audax, this time it was a 400km 'Nae Bother to Us' slog around the West of Scotland says Neil:

Well the good luck with the weather for the qualifiers had to end at some point and it ended on Saturday at the Portmahomack 400. Not that it rained, oh no. Clouds - hardly a single one to be seen. Just a relentless and punishing East wind.

It started well. Forty riders left Portmahomack - at 6am already in full sunshine. With a tailwind from the get go the pace of the group just kept getting higher, until we were sitting at 40kmh on the flat. Great views and good chat in the bunch, with everyone relaxed and looking forward to a good day out. Loch Shinn flew past and when we reached the turn at Laxford Bridge my average speed was 31kmh.

Riders - Graeme Wyllie, Edinburgh Road Club and Alex Pattison, Angus Bike Chain

The road North from there to Durness got a bit lumpy and the Easterly wind strengthed. A bit less conversation but we carried on. Stopped in Durness for a Cream Egg and a Coffee from a wee shop then hit the infamous A838 along the North coast to Melvich. This road is like a roller-coaster, relentlessly climbing from sea-level to over 200m then immediately dropping back again. On a good day it's tough. With a strong headwind it's a world of pain. My average speed for this section was 13kmh and I was chewing the stem just to keep that going. At times I was close to just getting off and walking. A control at Strathy with good home made fish pie raised the spirits and this was quickly followed by relief as the route finally flattened out and turned South. A pint and a packet of crisps in a small hotel at Kinbrace set us up for the evening run, a gentle tailwind pushing us West into the sunset at Altnaharra before a long steady climb up to the famous Crask Inn.

At Crask they'd laid on coffee/tea/soup/baked potatos/crumble (and of course a bar!) so we had a nice long stop and didn't start on the last leg until 0030. By this time the night was pretty cold but in a six strong grupetto we pedalled gently back to the finish, getting into Portmahomack at just before 0400. Not my fastest 400 but given the route and the wind I felt okay about it.

I've done a fair few audaxes and I found this one pretty hard work. So I've got to say Chapeau! to Tobias for getting round in a comfortable time. He came in a couple of hours after me but looked an awful lot fresher than I felt. The 400 is a big step up from shorter audaxes as it involves a lot of night riding. Tobias is clearly top audaxing material as he finished this one and is still keen to do more!

There's even a great wee video of the trip featuring our President at 4 minutes...

Gateway to the Highlands Sportive times

Many thanks to the organisers Grant Craven, Michelle Gregory and Neil Fraser. We'd also like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers and riders who took park.

Comments about the event here: http://tinyurl.com/6cog64m

100 Rod Aitchison 03:42
101 Andrew Baird 04:15
102 Graeme Barr 03:47
103 Hamish Battye 04:18
104 Stuart Bird 04:30
105 David Bisset 05:30
106 Al Black 03:14
107 Matt Blackburn 04:58
108 Richard Brown 05:02
109 Neil Boyd 04:08
110 Peter Buchan 04:42
111 Colin Buchanan
112 Steve Burton 05:05
113 David Cairns 04:04
114 Keith Cameron 05:02
115 Andy Cato
116 Rachel Chalmers 05:17
117 Ian Clarke 04:08
118 Lindsay Clarke 04:28
119 Steve Clarke 04:28
120 John Clayton
121 Andy Cook 04:08
122 Douglas Corbett 04:18
123 Diane Cox
124 Giovanni D'Alessio 04:08
125 Craig Dickie 03:41
126 Murat Dilek 05:04
127 Chris Downey 04:27
128 Craig duncan 04:57
129 Eric Easton
130 Mike Ewart ############
131 Simon Fagan 04:12
132 Kevin Ferris 04:18
133 Graeme Forbes 05:01
134 Tony Gibson
135 John goldie
136 John Gordon
137 Peter Gorrie 05:23
138 Stewart Gracie
139 Stuart Gray 04:02
140 Stuart Greeves
141 Nick Hall 03:50
142 Richard Hancock
143 Bob Harber 05:11
144 Stephen Henley 05:00
145 David Hills 05:18
146 Graeme Horne 04:11
147 Andy Horner 03:57
148 Adrian Hughes 03:54
149 Christopher Hughes 05:02
150 Gordon Jackson 03:50
151 Wilson Kane 03:49
152 Ian Kirby 04:45
153 Colin Lofthouse 04:11
154 Siang Ling Loh 05:04
155 Calum Lorimer 04:41
156 Jim MacDonald 04:34
157 Gary Macfarlane 04:11
158 Roy MacGregor 05:32
159 Bruce Mackie
160 Andy Martin 04:24
161 Alan Massey 04:12
162 Neil mcainsh
163 Mark McCabe 04:27
164 Stuart mcclymont
165 Charlie mccoll 04:27
166 Stephen mcdowall 04:06
167 Denis McFadden 04:40
168 Alan McGinlay 05:36
169 John McGivern 04:08
170 Ross Middleton 03:47
171 David Mitchell 05:18
172 Tim Moss 05:04
173 Phil Mullery 04:58
174 David Murdoch 04:44
175 Alan Murray 04:46
176 Paul nunn 03:49
177 Kevin O'Hara 04:40
178 Jamie O'Kane 04:18
179 Stewart Osborne 04:18
180 Allan Ramsay 04:21
181 Charles Rollo
182 John Royle 04:28
183 Alan Rutherford 04:42
184 John Schyma 04:44
185 Thomas Schyma 04:44
186 Gordon Scott 05:31
187 Bob Scully 05:13
188 Liz Short 05:36
189 Sarah Smith 05:18
190 Kirsty Stephen 06:01
191 Stephen Mooney 03:51
192 Willie stephen 06:01
193 Iain Stewart
194 Alistair syme 05:32
195 Ishbel Taromsari
196 Billy Todd ############
197 Craig Watson 05:00
198 Bill Young 04:06
199 Steven Fleming 04:28
200 Elaine Sandeman 06:07
201 Keith Murray ############
202 John Dickie ############
203 Andy Colman 04:11
204 James Mitchell 04:40
205 Andrew Murdoch 04:49
206 David Dalziel 03:37
207 James Batty 04:06
208 Andrew Mancmarowski 04:52
209 Trevor Hutton 04:52

Wallace Monument Easter Hillclimb

Organiser, Tom Beattie, pulled off a cracking event on Easter Saturday.

It had everything: a closed road to race on; cracking prizes; a full field including Scotland's best hill climbers and youth riders; tasty snacks in the cafe; a large crowd to cheer the riders and a loaf of Soreen for every competitor!

The one thing that didn't turn up was the sun, so the anticipated view from the top wasn't as glorious as it could have been.

Many thanks to Tom who did a superb job arriving at the start after working a night shift. West Lothian Clarion would also like to thank all the competitors and volunteers who helped make the race a special event.

Results:
40 Arthur Doyle Dooleys Cycles 2 1.45
18 Eddie Cowie Stirling Bike Club 3 1.48
28 Gordon Chisholm Perth United CC 4 1.54
24 Matthew Ball West Lothian Clarion 4 2.03
13 Mark Baugh Stirling Bike Club 3 2.07
47 Kyle Petrie Stirling Bike Club Youth A 2.07
38 Scott Johnston Team Icarus 3 2.08
6 Mark Donaldson Falkirk Bike Club 4 2.09
31 Jeremy Evans Unattached 4 2.09
26 Andrew Stewart Glasgow Ivy CC 4 2.11
16 Scott Glasgow Glasgow Nightingale CC 4 2.12
39 Andrew Colman Unattached 4 2.14
33 Jason Barnes Glasgow Nightingale CC 4 2.15
34 Nick Hall Bury Clarion 3 2.15
9 Peter Cullen Stirling Bike Club 4 2.17
15 Sharon Doyle Sandy Wallace Cycles F 2.17
27 Andrew Abbess Stirling Bike Club 4 2.19
36 Craig Gilmour Falkirk Bike Club 4 2.26
12 Simon Fagan West Lothian Clarion 4 2.27
37 Stephen Darling West Lothian Clarion 4 2.28
58 Matthias Barnet Edinburgh RC Youth B 2.31
29 Ian Clarke Fenland Clarion 3 2.35
56 Rhys Donnelly Glasgow Riderz Youth B 2.37
23 Grant Craven West Lothian Clarion 4 2.40
19 Andy Horner Bury Clarion 3 2.41
5 David Mason West Lothian Clarion 4 2.42
7 David Martin Unattached 4 2.48
25 Anne Greig Perth United CC F 2.50
46 Louise Borthwick Edinburgh RC Youth A 2.50
53 Alistair Merry Discovery Junior cc Youth B 2.50
48 Keri Greig Unattached Youth A 2.57
22 Chris Goode Manchester & Salford Clarion 4 2.59
50 Emma Borthwick Edinburgh RC Youth B 3.00
59 Lulu Bartlett Edinburgh RC Youth B 3.00
49 Jamie Mason West Lothian Clarion Youth B 3.07
60 Cameron Mason West Lothian Clarion Youth C 3.16
30 Diane Cox West Lothian Clarion F 3.22
35 Katherine Wren Stirling Bike Club F 3.23
51 Lewis Stewart Glasgow Riderz Youth B 3.25
10 Shona Greig West Lothian Clarion F 3.33
52 Calum Johnston Team Icarus Youth B 3.46
57 Ryan Glasgow Unattached Youth B 3.55
8 Bob Duckworth Bury Clarion 3 4.04
55 CallumGreer West Lothian Clarion Youth B 4.04
67 Abby Stewart Glasgow Riderz Youth D 4.07
65 Alexander Ball West Lothian Clarion Youth D 4.10
17 Martin Greig Unattached 4 4.21
20 Debbie Pollard West Lothian Clarion F 4.22
71 Sam Chisholm West Lothian Clarion Youth E 4.22
61 Alistair Abbess SBC Wallace Warriors Youth C 4.39
45 Rhona Beattie West Lothian Clarion Youth A 4.43
68 Audrey Doyle Unattached Youth D 4.59
62 Lorna Doyle Unattached Youth C 5.00
54 Stuart Paterson Unattached Youth B 5.04
72 Finlay Gilmour West Lothian Clarion Youth E 5.09
73 Andrew Turner West Lothian Clarion YouthE 5.29
64 Ryan Ewing West Lothian Clarion Youth C 5.36
63 Morven Greer West Lothian Clarion Youth C 5.57
69 Patrick Barnes Glasgow Nightingale CC Youth E 6.50
66 Catherine Abbess SBC Wallace Warriors Youth D 7.46

21 Martin Perfect London Clarion 4 DNF
32 Robert Harber National Clarion CC 4 DNF
11 Frank Anderson West Lothian Clarion 4 DNS
14 Terence McMahon Glasgow Ivy CC 4 DNS
70 Struan Beattie West Lothian Clarion youth E DNS

National Clarion Championships
West Lothian won almost every category in the National Clarion event

Team prize: West Lothian
Matthew Ball, Simon Fagan, Stephen Darling

Woman:
1. Diane Cox, 2. Shona Greig, 3. Debbie Pollard

Men:
1. Matthew Ball, 2. Nick Hall (Bury) 3. Simon Fagan

Youth A Girls: Rhonna Beattie
Youth B: 1. Jamie Mason, 2. Callum Greer
Youth C Boys: 1. Cameron Mason, 2. Ryan Ewing
Youth C: Girls: Morven Greer
Youth D: Alexander Ball
Youth E: 1. Sam Chisholm, 2. Finlay Gilmour, 3. Andrew Turner

Thanks
A big thnak you to those who supported the event by donating prizes, they are;

The Wheelroom, East Calder.
Leith Cycles, Edinburgh.
The Tricentre, Edinburgh.
Bicycle Repairman Edinburgh.
Herbies Bikes, Broxburn.
Endura.

and of course NOrth Cheshire Clarion and Soreen

Ride our club 10 mile time trial series

Grant Craven and Tom Beattie are the new 2011 TT series organisers. Tom Announces this year's series

The 2011 TT series starts on the 12th May. Last years fastest man, Jonathan Buckley and series winner, Allan McCrimmon have both hung up their TT bikes for this season - so who's going to be top dog of the TT's for 2011?

Whether you're racing for the series win or just for your own PB come along on Thursday evenings and support the series, and maybe earn some bragging rights into the bargain.

IMPORTANT - To run the series we require two volunteers each week, one timekeeper and one pusher off, neither job is terribly difficult and if you've not done it before, instructions will be given and there will be plenty people there to keep you right. If you're going to race in the series then you should volunteer at least once throughout the series, when you volunteer you will be awarded series point so that you don't lose out, (in fact for some of us these are our highest scoring weeks).

Click here to volunteer here: TT series forum

Please post up on the forum to volunteer for specific dates, I would like these roles to be filled at least two weeks in advance so that we can organise the handover of the TT equipment bag to the next volunteers each Thursday evening as far as possible.

The full details are here http://www.westlothianclarion.co.uk/10tt.html

All riders should fully familiarise themselves with the risk assessment.

The series dates are noted below, lets get the volunteer slots filled as early as possible to ensure the smooth running of our series.

Dates for the series:

A 10 race series every thursday on the following dates:
Registration is between 7.00 and 7.15. Race starts 7.30pm

TT1:12th May
TT2: 19th May
TT3: 26th May
TT4: 2nd June
TT5: 9th June

2-UP TT champs - Thursday 16th June

++3 week break to accommodate local and school holidays +++
Training rides are planned to replace the TT series during the break

TT6: 21st July
TT7: 28th July
TT8: 4th August
TT9: 11th August
TT10: 18th August