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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. Hospice Hillclimb Results : Clocktower (16th Apr 2012)19 riders rode the third Hospice Hillclimb of the year, up to Bigland Hall from the Clocktower. See Hill Climb Reports for the results. For high quality photos from the event see Martyn Uttley Photography, where images are available for £5 for a hi-res digital file, with ALL proceeds going to the St. Mary's Hospice fund. Health news update: Mike Speight is waiting for surgery and resting at home. And Dave Black (‘& Blue’) has hit the deck in Majorca and has bust several ribs. Everyone connected to the local cycling scene wishes them both a speedy recovery. Howard Lindow Lindale Road Race : Sunday 15th April 2012The Lakes Road Club LVRC Vets road race went well on Sunday in good weather on the Lindale-Meathop course. There were 2 race groups – A & B (40-49) and C, D, E & F (50 upwards). The A category was won by John Clegg (Ribble Valley CRC) with Duncan Orme (Vanilla Bikes) in second. The B category was won by Ged Millward (Ilkley CC) with Lakes RC rider Gary Spenceley second for the Biketreks team. And C category was won by Rob Pye (Clitheroe BC), from John Cosgrove (Onimpex Bioracer) in second and Lakes rider Brian Pearson third. The first few in each of the categories were:
Congratulations to all on a good race. And many thanks to all who helped with the event. Rob Spencer Hospice Hillclimb Results : Grizebeck (17th Mar 2012)19 riders rode the second Hospice Hillclimb of the year, up Grizebeck Hill. For a report and confirmed results see Hill Climb Reports. Howard Lindow Newcastleton Weekend : 23-25th March 2012Carl is organising another training weekend, staying at the Grapes Hotel in Newcastleton over the weekend of 23rd-25th March. Lovely quiet roads, good crack and good food. If you're a Lakes member and you've not received the email about this weekend, then contact Gareth (01229 870601) to check you're on his emailing list. If you're not a member, then see the membership form at the bottom of the About Us page. For details of the Newcastleton weekend, and to book, contact Carl Ballantyne on 01229 587981. Hospice Hillclimb Results : Sunshine & Ice on the Kirkby Slate Road13 riders rode the first round of the Hospice Hillclimb Series, up the horribly steep and pretty rough Kirkby Slate Road, on a picture perfect cold and crisp Sunday morning (19th Feb 2012). For full report and results see Hill Climb Reports. Chris Fiddler: Chris, the mechanic with Gill Cycles, sadly passed away suddenly in January. His son Jim, and lots of Chris's many friends, held a memorial ride on Sunday, which a lot of riders joined in memory of Chris. Because of this Gill Cycles, who were due to sponsor this February hillclimb on the same day, are now instead sponsoring the hillclimb in April. We all at Lakes Road Club send Chris's family and friends our condolences at this sad time. Howard Lindow AGM + Hospice Hillclimb 2012 Events : 21st January 2012The club AGM is on Monday February 6th, at 7pm at the General Burgoyne in Great Urswick – all 2011 & 2012 members are welcome to attend. The 2012 calendar of events will be sorted out at the AGM, but the Hospice Hillclimb Series for 2012 is already sorted – see our Events page for details.
Hospice Hillclimb Presentation : Trophy & Cheque Presentation : 14th Oct 2011
Hospice Hillclimb Results : All's well that ends well on Gamswell18 riders rode the final round of the Hospice hillclimb series up Gamswell hill , on a picture perfect 1st September evening. The race produced some seriously quick times, with Connor Furness (BCW) winning. For full report and results see Hill Climb Reports.
Howard Lindow Hospice Hillclimb Results : Round 3 : August 4 2011Round 3 of the Hospice hillclimb series took place on Thursday up Grizebeck Hill. 27 riders rode the event, which was won by Scott Smith (BCW) from Connor Furness (BCW). For the full report and results see Hill Climb Reports
Howard Lindow Change to Evening Out after last Hill Climb : Now on Friday 2nd September 2011We had planned a few drinks at the Ulverston Beer Festival immediately after the last of the hill climb events on Thursday 1st September, but it now looks like the following night, Friday, would be better. So book a pass off from the other half, or bring them along, for Friday 2nd September & chill out after the hillclimbs and TT season. Anyone interested in a night out (meal/Ulverston beer festival etc.) please use our let me (or BCW Glenn) know by 12th August. Howard Lindow Lindale Road Race : Sunday 10th July 2011The Lakes Road Club LVRC Vets road race went well on Sunday in good weather on the Lindale-Meathop course. There were 3 race groups – A & B (40-49), C & D (50-59) and E & F (60 upwards). The A category was won by Michael Clark (Wheel Guru) with Ron Plumbley (Liverpool Mercury) in second. And the B category was won by Mark Hammersley (Wheel Guru) with Lakes rider Chris Anderson second for his new Biketreks RT team. Lakes rider Brian Pearson also finished high up in his category. Congratulations to all on a good race. And many thanks to all who helped with the event. Carl Ballantyne Congratulations to Colin McKenna : July 6 2011.. for his win at the very wet 6th July mid week 10mile TT. On a night that was more conducive to canoeing rather than cycling, Col managed a cracking time of 22.13 to get his first win on the Haverthwaite course. Well done Col. 'C'mon LRC' Hospice Hillclimb Results : Round 2 : June 30 2011Round 2 of the Furness masochist society/Hospice hillclimb series took place on Thursday 30th June up Gamswell Hill, the climb from Daltongate in Ulverston up to the top of Kirkby Moor. A really good turnout of 33 riders enjoyed sunshine, a lung-busting steep climb, and great views from the top. The fastest time was again set by John Dodgin of Biketreks with 5-53, followed in equal second by BCW junior Connor Furness and Eelco Doctor (Macclesfield Wheeler), both in 6-09. Lynn Hammel was 1st lady with 6-38, and Lakes RC's Eamonn Quinn took 1st place in the 45+ category with 7-04. Many thanks to everyone who helped at the event. For full report and results see Hill Climb Reports
Howard Lindow Hospice Hillclimb Results : Round 1 : May 26 2011Round 1 of the hospice hillclimb series took place on Thursday 26th May up Grizebeck hill. And there was a fantastic turnout of 37 riders including the female national hill climb champion Lynn Hammel. The fastest time was set by John Dodgin of Biketreks with an impressive 7:21, followed closely by BCW rider Scott Smith at 7:31. Lynn Hamel was 1st lady with 7:48 & Connor Furness of the BCW was 1st junior with 8:51. Lakes RC's Steve Williams took 1st place in the 45+ category with 8:25. Many thanks to everyone who helped at the event. For full report and results see Hill Climb Reports
Howard Lindow Hospice Hillclimb Series : April 2011I have organised 4 Thursday night club hill climbs, spread through the summer and run on 2 new local courses, with 2 races on each course. Two are being run as Lakes RC events and two as Barrow Central Wheelers events. And the races will be straight head to heads between the 2 clubs - the fastest 2 riders on each race from each club will have their times added together for a total time, and these times will be added together over the 4 races and at the end of the series a trophy will be handed to the winning club for the year. There'll be 4 categories in each race and prizes available for the winner of each category: Mens / 45+ / Womens / Juniors (U18s) And four local businesses are sponsoring a race each, each putting forward prizes for the winners. For dates and full details see Hospice Hill Climb Series. As well as competitors I could do with 2 time-keepers and 1 bike holder for each event. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out or competing - Tel: 01229 480526 or send a message using the Contact Us page. Howard Lindow Lindale Road Race : Sunday 10th April 2011The Lakes Road Club 'Old Gits' road race went well on Sunday on the Lindale-Meathop course. It was an LVRC event and turned out to be a really good event with fantastic weather. The race headquarters was Lindale Village Hall and 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. And Lakes RC riders were very active, with Brian Pearson taking 2nd in the C category, and Col McKenna and Chris Anderson both taking 4th in their categories - well done lads. The first 3 in each of the categories were:
Many thanks to all who helped with the event - all the marshals, Trots, Eamonn etc. in the lead cars, Steve & Lynne with 1st aid, and many others. All the riders would like to thank the organisers, marshals and helpers for making it a successful event. Rob Spencer Simon Thomas : Feb 2011Simon is a young rider with a Belgian team racing on the continent, with the ambition of turning pro. His father Joe used to ride with the Lakes Road Club back in the 80's and early 90's. And quite a few of us met Simon when he was in this area last Autumn and he kindly met up with us and gave us an insight into what it's like to race abroad. Simon has recently been awarded some support from the Dave Rayner Fund. And after training in Spain over the winter he's soon to head for Belgium to join his team, the Asfra Flanders Racing Team. He'll also be racing in this country, since his team have entered the Dengie Marshes Tour, near Chelmsford, which also has entries from top British teams. So if anyone can make it down south that weekend then go and watch and give Simon a cheer for us. You can follow Simon, and read what it's like trying to make it as a pro, by having a look at his blog The Life of Simon, or following him on Twitter. Good luck Simon! Lakes hosts North of England Cyclocross Championship : 5th Dec 2010
Velodrome Trip: Sept 2010
CDNW Road Race: Aug 2010
Starter Ride: 10th Oct 2010The Lakes Road Club ride on Sunday Oct 10th was a starter ride suitable for newcomers. A few members had had enquiries from people wanting to come along for a ride, so the ride that Sunday was aimed to be suitable. It started at the usual place and time and the plan was a simple lap of the Coniston Water, with a brew stop, but the ride ended up going a longer way home, round by Broughton. Gareth Boyd
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 |
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.jpg "Hospice Hillclimb cheque presentation")
