On 18th September, six of our members visited Hope Technology in Barnoldswick.
Hope Technology is one of the world leaders in engineering bicycle components, designing, testing and manufacturing virtually all products in-house at their factory in Barnoldswick, We were privileged to be allowed access to the shop floor where state of the art technology was producing their latest components and complete bikes.
Rows of CNC cutting and milling machines start out with cast ingots of alloy, turning and shaping them into hubs, and brake calipers whilst other machines produce disk brakes from hardened sheets or steel. All waste metal is compated into small bales, and sent for recycling.
In the Carbon fabrication room, sheets of carbon fibre are cut and moulded to produce seat posts, handlebars, and complete frames. The pictures show a seat post mandrel, wrapped in approximately 20 separate carbon sheets and ready to be clamped into its mould prior to oven treatment to fuse and set the resin. The frame has just come out of the mould and is ready for finishing and polishing.
We were then shown how quickly a wheel can be built and trued. A technician feeds the spokes throught the rim, where the lacing machine attaches the spoke nipple and tightens it. A second machine then spins the wheel, stopping it periodically to adust tension and alignment. Final truing is carried out by hand, the whole process taking less than five minutes.
Finally, we'd like to say a huge Thank You to Hope Technology (http://www.hopetech.com/) for allowing us this unique and fascinating opportunity.
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Monday 6th March saw the return of our annual Quiz Night !
Tradition says that last years winners set the questions, and so the honour(?) this year fell to Pendle Forrest.
Six teams participated this year, struggling with some really tough questions. Who would have expected to remember in which year Campagnolo introduced the Super Record groupset!.
After a stiff picture round naming current and past professional riders, and three question rounds on cycling and general knowledge we took a well deserved break with a Pie & Pea supper.
Another picture round followed, naming cycle manufacturers logos all the way from Hetchins to Bianchi, and two more question rounds to finish the closely fought contest.
And the results were...
| In last place with 53 points | The Missing Links |
| 3rd Place - 63 points | High Gear |
| 2nd Place - 75 points | 3rd Generation |
| Winners - 77 points | Where are the loosers (Anne & Tony) |
And so the "Old Crank" trophy was awared to Blackburn District, although judging from the photo, half the team seemed more interested in their Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Blackburn are now tasked with setting next years questions.
Thanks to all those that attended, and to Boyce's Barrel for providing the venue again.
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This year, our annual Christmas Ride and Dinner was held at the Rolls Royce Social Club in Barnoldswick.
As is traditional, the day started with a short ride, led by our President: Ian Lowcock, heading out via Thornton-in-Craven through West Marton and Newsholme before dropping down into Gisburn. Dinner wasn't until 3pm so we had time for a snack in Gisburn before heading up a very muddy Coal Pit Lane. Walking this section was the only option, and we had to wash our wheels in the stream once we got to the other end. After joining Brogden Lane, we all returned to Barnoldswick with a hearty appetite.
After dinner a short presentation ceremony was held where riders of our 100km and 100mile challenge rides earlier in the year were presented with certificates of achievement.
As is traditional, the Bill Heywood trophy is always awarded at our Christmas dinner, and this year, for his services as club Secretary for many years, it was presented by Ian to John Ramsden.
This year, a second trophy has been added to our collection, donated by the wife of Jack Harrison, who sadly left us earlier this year. The committe, in agreement with Joan Harrison, decided that the "Jack Harrison Memorial Trophy" should be awarded to the "Rider of the Year", and was presented by Joan and Ian to Dorothy Altham, for her rise from beginner to A-team rider within 2 years.
Congratulations to all our award winners.
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Monday 15th February was Quiz Night !
With last years winners from Blackburn section setting the questions, we were expecting some stiff competition.
Embarrassingly, we were thoroughly useless at identifying the sponsors from the professional cycling team jerseys, and had to put in an extra effort in the ensuing rounds.
Luckily pie and peas have a wonderful way of boosting the brain cells, and we had three clear rounds with full points to help us catch up, but in the end it wasn't quite enough, and we came a close second to Pendle Forest, who claimed the "Old Cranks" trophy, and the dubious honour of setting next years questions.
Photos of the second and third place teams, and the individual runners up trophies.
Thanks to all those that attended, and to Boyce's Barrel for providing the venue for the second year running.
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Traditionally, our Christmas Lunch is held at the Copy Nook, Bolton by Bowland, and this year was no exception.
Several riders met at Langroyd for a short ride to the Copy Nook, riding back after the meal, whilst others met at the Copy nook, for a shorter, circular ride thtough Waddington. Both groups enjoyed a bright sunny December morning, which was a nice change after the recent wet weather.
It's also traditional for some (read that as one!) of our members to turn up in fancy dress.
We then met in the bar at around 12:00 relaxing whilst other guests arrived, bringing the total to around 40 members.
We also use this annual event to present the Bill Heywood Trophy, which this year, by unanimous agreement was presented to David Wilkinson in recognition of all his work for the group over the years. The title photo shows it being presented to David by last years winner, Jim Duerden.
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On Thursday, 22nd October 2015 we took a break from cycling for a social evening, 10-Pin Bowling.
15 of us took to the lanes for a nights competition, with not a bike in sight (apart from Jim, and his "guest" rider!). As we had three lanes, the plan was for a few games in each lane, and them the highest scorers from each team playing in the "final".
Well, we assembled for the final, only to be disappointed after 3 frames when the lanes were simply turned off. Apparently it was closing time, so we never found out who won,!
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Sunday 16th December 2012.
Our Christmas Meal was again held at The Copy Nook, Bolton by Bowland, and was attended by 36 members and friends. There was time to socialise in the bar area before heading into the function room at 1:00pm for the 4 course meal.
Seven members joined the morning ride, on a 22 mile route from Higherford over to the Copy Nook, on what was as good a December day as we could have hoped for, with blue skies, and even a rainbow visible over Rathmell. Richard Armstrong deserves a special mention as he took it upon himself to open all of the gates on Tod Holes Lane for the rest of the party.
Meanwhile several other members had driven to the venue and then done a short circular cycle ride from there, while others just met up for the meal.
The Bill Heywood Trophy is awarded annually, in honour of our former Club President. A secret ballot is held at our AGM in November to determine the recipient of the trophy, in recognition of the work they have done for the club.
This years vote had resulted in a four way tie between President Ian Lowcock, Secretary John Ramsden, Rights & Planning and Off-Road Representative Chris Marshall and Former Secretary Norma Duckett. Following a short discussion between the relavent parties it was decided that this years trophy should go to Norma Duckett in recognition of all the work she has done for the club over many years on the committee and as Secretary.
Previous winners of the Bill Heywood Trophy:
2012 - John Ramsden
2011 - John Ramsden
2010 - Graham Shutt
2009 - Andrew Jennings
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