AFFILIATED TO B.C._CTT_LVRC
The
Clayton Velo as been one of the premier cycling clubs in the northwest,
since its formation in 1965, founded by Clayton Le Moors cycle dealer
Jack Spencer, the club quickly became a major force in not just local
races, but in Star Trophy (now Premier Calendar) and events such as the
Milk race.
Over the years the club as been sponsored by several companies including
the founder Jack Spencer Cycles, Whitehead & Wood printers and Tarmac/Cubits
the builders.
In 1971 the club embarked on what was then a rare opportunity to raise
money for a good cause in the form of a sponsored ride, not a club to
do things by half, the ride left Blackburn on Saturday and returned to
Burnley the following Thursday by way of John o' Groats, Lands End and
London, a total distance of 2088 miles, ridden in relays by five teams
of three, on behalf of the Samaritans.
Over the years the club as the won the Lakeland & Lancashire Road
Race Championship, the Points Championships and Team Awards on far to
many occasions to list in this short resume of the club.
The Clayton Velo once a pure road racing club as over the years developed
into a true all-round cycling club, time trailing, cyclocross, track racing
and mountain biking, with its members being regular winners in both local
club and open time trials.
In the year 2001 the club won 5 medals in 4 different cycling disciplines,
a bronze in the national veterans road race, bronze in the vets criterium
championship and bronze in the 50 mile vets tt championship. Not to mention
two bronze medals in the world masters track championship at the velodrome
in Manchester.
February sees the first of our race promotions the Clayton Spring Classic
RR, always a hard event, it is the traditional opener of the northern
road race season. Salt Ayre is the venue of our next events the Spring
Series, every Saturday morning, in March /April, these events where designed
as training races and are proving more Popular as years go by.
2002 may see the last of the Autumn Classic, run in August this event
may be replaced by a small stage race in 2003.
As well as riding, the club also promote races under LVRC and TLI.
In 2002 the club promoted its first S.P.O.C.O. (sporting courses) time
trial, around Bashall Eaves, the event proved a success and hopefully
will be repeated in future years.
Club runs and training rides all leave from Whalley centre at various
times Saturday 12-30 pm Sunday 10-00 am Tuesday 6-30 pm Thursday 6-30
pm.
In February we have our training weekend, this is generally the week before
the Spring Classic and the start of the racing season, while in November
the mountain bike weekend is generally regarded as a wind down weekend
after the racing season.
Although reading this may give the impression of the Clayton Velo as purely
a competitive club, but in fact some members don‚t race regularly,
if at all, but just enjoy riding their bikes.
So you see the Clayton Velo is an excellent all round club, affiliated
to all the national cycling bodies and boasting more than its fare share
of British Cycling commissaries and race organizers par excellence.
www.britishcycling.org.uk
www.ctt.org.uk
www.lvrc.org
www.lakeslancsspoco.freeserve.co.uk
www.audax.uk.net