Cycling: East Lancs go distance riding

East Lancs cycling team - Andy Gorton, Sam Wilson, Matt Jackson, Kamil Waligora, Leighn Chambers, Ben Whitehead and Pete Reid

Distance riding was the name of the game over the last week for some club riders.

Andy Gorton has organised several long-distance rides over the last few years such as France 'end to end' and Spain 'end to end', and this year it was closer to home as Gorton and his intrepid group tackled Lands End to John O Groats. 

The ride was 880 miles and 35,000 ft of climbing to be undertaken in six days. 

The riders who completed the challenge were Andy Gorton, Sam Wilson, Matt Jackson, Kamil Waligora, Leighn Chambers, Ben Whitehead and Pete Reid who were all shattered but elated having successfully completed this marathon ride. 

Gorton already has plans for next year - an incredible 'end to end' of Italy.

Closer to home last Sunday was the club’s 100-mile Reliability Ride, to be completed in eight hours. 

A group of eight riders successfully completed this ride in glorious weather, starting at Rochdale and going to Blackburn, Longridge, through the Forest of Bowland to Hellifield, Otterburn, Gargrave, Thornton in Craven, Colne, Todmorden and back to Rochdale.

Racing activities were a little limited, but Dave Ireland took part in the Dukinfield CC 50-mile time trial, held on the J4/16 course where the riders do three laps of a circuit around Jodrell Bank. Ireland completed ride his in 2hrs 17:04mins.

The unluckiest person in the club last week was Anna Weaver. 

She was the first East Lancs member to be picked to ride in Women’s tour de Yorkshire.

Hhaving trained hard was looking forward to riding in this great event, lady luck conspired against her and she was hit by one of the motor cycle outriders and knocked of and out of the race after only 20 miles of stage one - though not seriously hurt.