BURY CTC

THOUGH it was sunny there was an autumnal nip in the air in last Sunday for the A group's outing to the Yorkshire Dales.

Littondale was the destination and members took the usual route through Accrington, Whalley and Sawley. Then it was the lanes to Wriggleswick and Settle where there was a lunch stop.

After the break the riders took the Hawes road to Stainforth and a long lung-bursting climb over Pen-y-ghent.

This mountain is 2,300 feet high and is part of the Three Peaks walk, the others being Whernside and Ingleborough.

There followed a hair-raising descent, dodging sheep, into Halton Gill.

This brought the best part of the ride down through Littondale and into Wharfedale. It was cycling at it's best with the sun shining, beautiful countryside and miles of falling roads.

We headed for Gargrave for another cup of tea and then it was back through Colne, Nelson and Burnley the two mile climb over the summit then Rawtenstall to Bury.

The route covered over 100 miles. The B group's ride was to Haworth.

There will be the final evening ride of the summer on Wednesday, September 13 ending at Burrs Country Park. Meet Castle Leisure Centre at 7.15pm.

This Sunday's rides are to Oakworth (A group), meet Bury 9am, Edenfield 9.30am or Gawsworth (B group), Bury 9am.

BURY CLARION

IT was a bright, dry but somewhat cold start for the Wigan Wheelers 25 TT on the Brock course last Sunday.

The on-going battle was between Frank Jefferson and Ernie Roughley with nothing to separate them at the Great Eccleston turn (19 miles).

However, the rising east wind made the remaining miles a test of determination as Frank finished in 1-11-14 and Ernie 1-12-35.

Other local riders were M. Bland with Derek Pritchard on the tandem, who returned a very good time of 1-2-43.

The NLTTA handicap 25 entries should be given to Adrian Smith or Frank as soon as possible.