Venue to be decided closer to the time once there’s a more accurate forecast — we could get almost anything thrown at us except a heatwave – though the long range forecast seems half decent with little in the way of snow and ice.

As it’s the shortest day, Scorton or Chipping would seem to be the furthest that’s sensible. I had also thought about Light Ash Farm near Bilsborrow – but according to their website it’s only doing pre-booked Xmas Lunches.

Roots Cafe at Catforth are doing ‘ Xmas cyclists breakfasts’ – but clubs are asked to book as places are limited. If enough people want to go, I’m going to need confirmed numbers by the AGM.

Decision by the AGM — or we could always make it a magical mystery tour like the ‘A group’ and if we’re lucky the cafe stop will be decided upon before we get to Preston

Allan Stark

The traditional jaunt up and down the Coast Road from the Birkdale roundabout to Pontins and return.

Signing on in the Club Room (and socialising) from 10.15.am. with the first rider off at 11.00.am. back to the club room for reflection on the event and announcement of the winner.

See here for a report on the 2013 event 

The sixth edition of this now traditional Mountain Bike (or similar/ shopping bike for Will White) ride starting from the Club Room at 9.30.am.

The route is along the Coastal Road, then through the Pinewoods, across Formby, along the path adjacent to the Altcar range and through Hightown to Crosby. Returning via the Cheshire Lines path.

For details and reports on earler editions see here

Probably to Roots cafe in Catforth but exact destination will depend on the weather on the day. Leaving from the Plough bus stop at 9.30.am. Route then heads across the Moss to Tarleton instead of going up the main road.

Waddington Café (33.5 miles)

Blackgate Lane, Tarleton at 9.30

Preston, Haughton, Longridge, Chaigley, Waddington.
Return via Chipping and Inglewhite
Shorter alternative – Cobbled Corner, Chipping (27.5miles)
Terrain – Hilly after Longridge

Knott End Café(37 miles)

Blackgate Lane, Tarleton at 9.30

Preston Marina, Bartle, St Michaels, Stalmine, Knott End
Return via Hambleton, Cartford Bridge, Great Eccleston.
Shorter alternative – Roots Café(20 miles) or Light Ash Café(24.5 miles)
Terrain – Very flat

Puddle Ducks , Dunsop bridge (43.7 miles)

Blackgate Lane, Tarleton at 9.30

Preston, Woodplumpton, Barnacre, Scorton, Dunsop Bridge
Return via Whitewell and Chipping
Shorter alternative –The Barn, Scorton (32 miles)
Terrain – pretty hilly after Scorton

Café de Lune , Conder Green(39.5 miles)

Blackgate Lane, Tarleton at 9.30

Preston Marina, Bartle, St Michaels, Pilling, Cockerham, Conder Green
Return via Cockerham, Foreton, Scorton, Barnacre, Bilsborrow, Preston
Shorter alternative – Roots Café(20 miles) or Light Ash Café(24.5 miles)
Terrain – flat

March 1^st – Cobbled Hey Café (30 miles)

Preston, Woodplumpton, Broughton Lights, Inglewhite, Bleasdale,

Cobbled hey Café

Please note that after Inglewhite there is an option for those wishing to go a bit further to do a loop of Beacon Fell and meet up again at the café.

Return via Billsborrow

Comments: Cobbled Hey is actually a working farm set high up on top of the fells. A bit of a climb to get to it but great views on a good day. The pace should be moderate on this ride as Spence is doing other things. Pretty flat other than the climb to the Café.

Club run to watch the Eddie Soens 50-mile circuit race at Aintree, this year featuring our very own Dan Salcedo.

NOTE: Need to leave the Plough at 8.30.am. and Ainsdale police station at 9.00.am. to get there in time to see the racing.

March 8^th – The Green Jersey Café, Clitheroe (36 miles)

Longton, Whitestake, Lostock Hall, Higher Walton, Samlesbury , Nabs Head , Mellor,

Brownhill, York Rd, Whalley, Pendleton, Clitheroe.

Return via Waddington, Chaigley and Chipping

Comments: This is the first club run to the Green Jersey which is a bike shop/Café.

Not many flat roads after Lostock Hall.

March 15^th –  Puddleducks Café, Dunsop Bridge (via Marl Hill, 37.5 miles)

Preston, Fullwood, Haighton, Longridge Fell, Trough Rd, Marl Hill, Newton, Dunsop Bridge

Return via Little Bowland and Chipping.

Comments: Not the normal Trough route to Dunsop Bridge.  For those who like to go downhill fast the descent of Marl Hill is a cracker. Shorter route would be direct to Dunsop Bridge and miss out Marl Hill and Newton.

B-Group Sunday Long Ride combined with the Miles for Mons Group.

Update – Plan B – Now 9.15. at the Plough bus stopand going North apparently

Meeting at the Club Room for a 9.15.am start or the Plough Bus Stop at 9.30.am. Destination will be Rivington.

March 22^nd Cobbled Corner, Chipping (via Stonyhurst College, 38 miles)

Preston, Fullwood, Haighton, Longridge, Knowle Green, Hurst Green, Stonyhurst College, Birdy Brow, Chaigley, Chipping.

Return via Quiet Road Route to Inglewhite

Comments: Shorter route would be direct to Chipping missing out Longridge and Stoneyhurst College.

March 29^th Wray via Littledale (48 miles)

Usual route to Scorton (riders not wishing to go further can call in at the Barn) ,

Dolphinholme, Quernmore, Littledale, Wray Café

Return via Caton, Quernmore, Scorton

Comments: This ride is an absolute gem and it has been included by popular request. Littledale is an isolated area and the ride will involve going through a gated road (if we can find it) and through some beautiful countryside. Pretty hilly after Quernmore but a flatter return route.

There is a desire by some riders to extend the mileage as the weather gets better and Ingleton and Kirkby Longsdale have been mentioned as possible destinations in the near future but this may involve a slightly earlier start.

Suggestions on further destinations/routes welcome

A combine effort for the third Sunday B Group club run and the “Miles for Mons” group. Destination Knott End. About 80 miles return trip from the Plough. Mostly flat.

9.00 clubroom, 9.15 Plough, 9.30 Blackgate Lane.

A group of SCC members numbering about 23 people are travelling to Mons to meet with members of the Dragons Audax club. The plan (for most) is to travel Hull to Zeebrugge overnight on Wednesday, ride to Mons on Thursday (150km), ride the event on Friday (210km), Saturday “free day” ( possibly visiting some famous climbs from the Classics), Sunday ride to Zeebrugge (150km) for the ferry and return home on Monday 4th May.

Details of the event are here