Cycling: East Lancs 50-mile Reliability Ride

Pete Matthew and Nicole Decamps after their 50m ride

Last Sunday was the Club’s 50-mile Reliability Ride and the start of the season long Best All Rounder Competition. The ride was also special because it was part of the Club’s celebrations of its 50th year.

The weather was great and 37 riders lined up at the leisure centre to undertake the ride which had to be completed in under four hours.

The route took the riders to Bury and then a left to Edenfield and Rawtenstall. Then on to Haslingen, Accrington and Great Harwood towards Whalley before a right turn towards Padiham. Just before Padiham a left turn up the hill towards Fence for the longest climb of the day on the lower slopes of Pendle Hill, before turning right and dropping into Briercliffe. At this point the route turned left into Burnley and back down through Cliviger, Todmorden and Littleborough to finish at Hollingworth Lake.

The fastest riders started first and completed the route in under three hours, which was quite an achievement with the route taking in 3,000 feet of climbing. The vast majority of riders finished between three and half hours and four hours.

A club spokesperson said: "The field consisted of male and female riders of all ages, which was epitomised by the oldest and youngest riders of the day being Pete Matthew and Nicole Decamps who have 61 years in between them in age, proving you’re never too old nor too young to take up cycling.

"The main racing of the weekend was on Saturday when three riders took part in the first 25-mile time trial of the season organised by Withington Wheelers in Cheshire and they recorded the following times; Mike Coulter 1:13mins; Karen Bailey 1:13mins and Jack Millar 1:8mins."