NEWS: Lancashire Road Club – West Lancs Ronde

Lancashire Road Club ran their first “reliability ride” in the clubs 102 year history around West Lancashire on Sunday 16th February raising £200 for the ‘Ride For Charlie’ charity

NEWS: Lancashire Road Club – West Lancs Ronde
Lancashire Road Club ran their first “reliability ride” in the clubs 102 year history around West Lancashire on Sunday 16th February.

The Bolton based club put on the event to bring North West Cycling together as the season approaches following the old school method of the reliability ride where local cyclists turn up on the day and follow a pre-determined route as a group or as individuals looking to test their form ahead of the upcoming season.

101 cyclists from all over the North West took part in the ride starting in Horwich on Lever Park avenue. There were two different routes, a long ride consisting of 74 miles heading out towards Southport before heading in a southernly direction skirting Ormskirk, Kirkby and Skelmersdale before heading back through Appley Bridge and Coppull before taking in a quick lap of Anglezarke. The shorter route of 40 miles followed a similar direction out whilst passing Croston, Rufford and Mawdesley before heading back towards Horwich and taking in the same finishing loop of Anglezarke.

The event then finished at the fantastic Rivington Brewery where riders were treated to some great food and drinks from the food vendors & Rivington tap Room.

Former pro’s Nick Craig and Fred Salmon took part in the event with Olympian Nick Craig describing the ride as the hardest he had done on the road since the Sydney Olympics in 2000. A special part of the event was the ride supported the Ride for Charlie Foundation which was set up after Nick’s son tragically passed away in his sleep. Participants of the event raised £200 in support of the charity which was then matched by Rivington Brewery and Merlin Cycles who are based in Buckshaw Village, Chorley.

Having fought against strong winds and cold conditions through Sunday’s ride the first riders back took around 3hrs 30 for the long route with all riders returning safely with smiles on their faces after a tough day out.