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The club in a NutshellThe 'Lakes', as it's often known, is a very friendly non-formal club of keen cyclists who enjoy getting out doing all sorts of riding. We do a lot more than just road riding - mountain biking, cyclo-cross races, mountain bike races, road races, time trials, sportives, leisure cycling - the full range. We don't go in for committees - we'd rather just have a club get-together at a pub when needed to sort things out. For more details see:
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If you've news of interest to the club then please email us or Contact Us. And if you've photos let us know - even better. Fred Whitton Challenge and Grasmere Sports now on LakesTV.netA web TV report about this year's Fred Whitton Challenge is now on Lakes TV - see the Sports channel on www.lakestv.net. It includes an interview with Lofty and shots of various club volunteers helping at the event. Lakes TV have also got a report about last year's Grasmere Sports and the cycle racing there, including an interview with Barry Clarke, the winner of the Mountain Bike Dash. To see it go to Sports channel on www.lakestv.net and scroll down most of the way (by dragging the slider, just right of the programme details text) and then click on 'Grasmere Sports 2009 Part I'. Pete Quiggin 
Col McKenna
Time Trial News: Late May 2010The time trial season is now well underway, with a number of Lakes RC riders taking part in events all around the North West in a variety of open and club events, including the Lakes & Lancs SPOCO series and Barrow Central Wheelers club events. There are too many events and riders to list results here, but riders taking part in various events include (in no particular order!) Eamonn Quinn, Howard Lindow, Gaz Spencley, Stuart Walker, Richard Dixon, John Lever, Andy Holladay, Jared Minnican, Colin McKenna, Martyn Uttley, Paul Maxwell and Dan Chadwick. Particular congratulations go to:
But well done to everybody for getting out there and giving it a go! Richard Dixon Fred Whitton Challenge: Sunday 9th May 2010Over 1000 riders finished this year's Fred Whitton Challenge on Sunday, including 9 from the Lakes Road Club, so congratulations to all. For details and results see the Fred Whitton website. Judging by all the thanks and compliments emails that have come into the Fred Whitton mailbox since Sunday, it must have been our best organised event so far. So a big THANK YOU to everyone who helped at the event or helped with preparation. The Fred Whitton presentation night will be on Wednesday June 16th, at the Prince of Wales in Foxfield, with the usual circuit of Coniston ride beforehand starting from Broughton square. Pete Quiggin Castle Carrock Road Race: Sunday 9th May 2010The Castle Carrock RR took place today with six Lakes riders taking part in changeable weather conditions. A large contingent of Border City riders (15) just seemed to want to play at chasing down any attacks and then sitting up and waiting for the next one to go. At the finish it came down to a bunch sprint with Andy Holladay leading it out from about 1k out before being passed in the last 300 meters. The finishing positions for the Lakes riders were:-
Brian Pearson Elswick Road Race: Sunday 18th April 2010The Lakes had three riders in today's race at Elswick, which was run at a fast pace from the start. Any breaks were pulled back within half a lap, until the last lap when a small group managed to stay away to finish ten seconds up on the bunch. In the end Jared finished 26th, I was 31st, and Mike somewhere in between, but Mike didn't appear on the finishing list (it must be that boring white shirt that nobody should wear -- GET A LAKES TOP !). Jeff rode the hilly race at Aughton, finishing in 13th place. Brian Pearson Lindale Road Race: Sunday 11th April 2010The Lakes Road Club 'Old Gits' road race went well on Sunday on the Lindale-Meathop course. It was an LVRC event, organised by Rob Spencer, and the riders liked the course and the event. The weather was really good and there was good attacking in all the categories, and we were able to award prizes to the first 4 in each category. Many thanks to all who helped with the event - all the marshals, Trots, Gareth & Carl in the lead cars, Steve & Lynne with 1st aid, and Chris & Lynsey with the lapping and judging. All the riders would like to thank Rob, Lynne and all the marshals and helpers for making it a successful event. Some problems arose with caravans heading to/from the site at Meathop and clogging up the narrow lane, so next year Rob's planning to start half an hour earlier at 9:30am. And Rob was let down by some of the promised marshalls not turning up despite having said they would - we really need more commitment than this for future events. The race headquarters was at Lindale Village Hall and the race start/finish at the usual place on the road between Lindale village and the big A590 roundabout at the bottom of Lindale hill. There were 3 race groups - A & B group setting off first, followed shortly by a C & D group, and then shortly after by an E & F group. Congratulations to all on a good race. The results were:
Of the Lakes lads, Gary got away in an early two-man break in the A/B race, but that was brought back, and he then hit a pot hole and suffered front & rear punctures. But worst of all his carbon handlebars broke under the force of the impact!! - a very expensive outing. In the C/D race Brian got away in a four man break but unfortunately the others were "Hill Rats" and he got dropped on the climb so it was back to the bunch. Mike then made several attempts to get away before Brian got away again in a small group that stayed away to the finish and he finished fourth in his category. Well done Brian. Jeff rode in the E/F race but punctured early in the race so that was his race over. Congratulations also to Lakes riders Jared Minnican and Scott Smith, who took 8th and 22nd overall in the Kent Valley RC road race on the hilly Old Hutton course on the same day. Jared's was a brilliant 4th in his category - well done lads! Pete Quiggin (with thanks to Rob Spencer & Brian Pearson) Treales Road Race: Sunday 28th March 2010Today was the first outing in the LVRC calendar for the Lakes team of Jeff, Mike, Brian and Gary "I'm not racing this year" Spencely. Gary rode in the A/B race and held on well for 7 of the 8 laps until lack of training miles told, or was it the long ride the day before took its toll. In the C/D race Mike took off in a break on the first lap, which looked promising so I made a big effort and bridged across. We were all working well and putting a good gap between us and the bunch when the lead car of the race took a wrong turn and stopped after 100 meters to tell us to turn round and go back and turn right! This left us chasing the bunch who had been directed on the right course by a marshal. We caught the bunch but another break had gone up the road so that was that. Jeff rode in the E/F/G race with Terry Smith and finished a fine 3rd in his age group with Terry winning in his category. Our next race is Meathop R.R. run by our club on Sunday April 11th, so get there and support us if you can. Brian Pearson 
Jeff, Brian, Jared and Mike (off picture)
at the Cockermouth RR Cockermouth Road Race: 21st March 2010The Lakes road race team had its second outing today at the Cockermouth RR with very mixed fortunes. On a lumpy 10 mile circuit the race started at a fast pace, shelling riders out for fun, but the BOYS hung on until lap 2 when I punctured, then on lap 3 Jared snapped a spoke, and towards the end of the same lap Mike met the man with the big hammer, only young Jeff left now. With the bunch getting smaller every lap, Jeff stayed with them finishing a fine 7th in the uphill sprint finish. GOOD EFFORT JEFF !!! Brian Pearson Road Race Report: Sunday 7th March 2010The first Sunday in March saw the start of the road race season for the Lakes youth team (!!) of myself, Jeff Standley and Mike Arnold (average age over 21 !!). It was a sunny but cold morning at Treales, that saw attacks by Jeff then Mike then me, but all brought back.
A group of about 12 riders got away with 2 laps to go but I and Jeff started a chase which brought it all back together for a chaotic bunch sprint. Jeff and I took to the grass verge to avoid trouble and finished 22nd and 30th, whilst Mike on the other side of the bunch nearly ended up on a 4-wheeled tandem, but still finished 33rd. Cockermouth next, and Jared Minnican is riding so that should bring the average age down a bit! Brian Pearson Furness Junior Club?: Feb/March 2010There are moves afoot to try to set up a Go-ride club for youngsters in Furness, to help get them into cycling. Donna & Steve Loftus have been involved with the very successful Salt Ayre Cog Set club in Lancaster, and Donna & Steve, Gareth Boyd, Jonathan Brown, myself and others are trying to set up something similar in Furness. At the moment it looks like it might be on Monday evenings, from May to September say, and based at Ulverston Victoria High School. Several people are going on a coaching course soon, with the aim of starting things off in a couple of months. We'll need quite a few more people to help. And not just Lakes Road Club people - the aim is to make it club-independent and get people from other clubs, parents etc. involved. Helpers don't need to be expert cyclists - just someone who can spare a bit of time to help manage youngsters and guide then to ride themselves. It's a great cause - so if you can help in any way, or know someone who might, then please Contact Us. Pete Quiggin |