East Lancs Ride Report

East Lancs 3 Man TT Team, Andy Gorton, Frank Smith and Ben Trippier

The weekend’s racing started early last week with the East Lancs fielding its strongest team in the Manchester Wheelers 50Km (31 miles) Three Up Team Time Trial.

The time trial was on the J5/12 course, which comprises an undulating circuit around the Jodrell Bank telescope south of Knutsford in Cheshire.

The event started at 6.47pm and there were 18 teams in all from clubs all around the North West.

The East Lancs team was made up of Andy Gorton, Frank Smith and Ben Trippier all of whom were bang in form with each of them having broken club records on a weekly basis over the last couple of months.

The weather was fine and calm and the East Lancs trio started in Twemlow Lane and quickly got into their fast pace on the A535 heading NE towards Chelford Island. Riding at 32-35 mph on the level sections, the trio were never threatened by the following teams and they held their speed throughout to complete the 50Kms in one hour seven minutes.

However, they ultimately had to settle for third place behind a Liverpool Phoenix team who recorded 1 hour 5 minutes and Coveryourcar CC who managed 1 hour 6 minutes, but the East Lancs team beat several other quality teams and were very proud of their performance.

For Frank Smith the pain in his legs hardly had time to subside before he was back on the bike the following day at 6am for a 200 mile charity bike ride around the North West. Accompanying Frank was fellow club rider Kamil Waligora and three other riders who all tested their stamina to the limit but successfully completed the distance.

For Andy and Ben there was the challenge of another lung bursting 10 mile time trial on Saturday evening. This was the Lancaster CC event on the superfast L1015 course on the dual carriageway between Levens and Lindale in Cumbria. For Ben a poor third quarter spoilt his effort and he had to settle for 21.22 minutes for the distance, but Andy Gorton is a rider in top form and he lowered the club record for the fourth time this year to 20:32 minutes with a fantastic effort.

Junior rider, Alex Trippier is also starting to hit some form and he lowered his personal best at the distance by almost a minute to 22.42mins and dad David proved age is no barrier by beating his personal best set 40 years ago to record 24:05 minutes in what proved to be a successful event for the club.

Senior road racing riders Ben Whitehead and Chris Green competed in last Tuesday's circuit racing at the Tameside circuit with both having some success. Ben stayed with the leaders throughout and finished a fine fourth place and Chris Green was similarly well placed to earn more points and break through the 40 points mark for the year and have his licence upgraded to second category.

Away from the racing scene club riders were enjoying a variety of other rides. The junior team have now finished their GCSE exams and got together for a 60 mile ride towards Burnley, back over the Long Causeway to Hebden Bridge, up Cragg Valley to Ripponden, up Ripponden Bank, over Nant Sarah’s to Denshaw, around Saddleworth and back over to Rochdale for a great ride to get the legs turning again.

The Sunday Club run went over Blackstone Edge and through the lanes to Sowerby Bridge for a café stop and a pleasant but hilly ride and a further contingent rode a 60 mile audax ride through the Cheshire lanes.