Stars of yesteryear still competing today thanks to the LVRC which celebrates 30 years of looking after veteran cyclists
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NEWS – 30 years of LVRC
Les West, Pete Matthews, Mick Ives,Dave Cuming, Phil Thomas, John French – all names you are likely to be familiar with if you’re a long term cyclist over 40. Photos of their epic rides, often black and white, are regularly distributed around the various cycling channels on social media.
If you’re not familiar they are cycling internationals, professionals and National champions of not so long ago – ’80s, ‘70s and even ‘60s equivalents of Wiggo, Cav and Dowsett perhaps. If you’re under 40 you might be led to believe these ‘old pros’, and many others like them, hung up their wheels years ago; but these former cycling stars are just a selection or regular racers from a wiser generation.
All of those named above, plus many others of a similar age and calibre, still compete regularly or did until very recently, at the highest level, within their age group. One of the British governing bodies perhaps best catering for veteran (or masters) racing is the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists or LVRC for short.
The LVRC has been catering for over ‘40s racing for men and women for 30 years this year. Although mainly road and circuit racing the LVRC has a full calendar across Britain including road, circuit, track, time-trail and even cyclo-cross.
There are a number of national championships too which are widely accepted as being ‘the’ veteran championships. And if you think LVRC racing is any easier remember it is age related.
In absolute terms old riders might lose some top end speed but ask any regular LVRC competitor and they will assure you the racing is as competitive as it always was. After all, most riders are experienced enough to know (and have ridden) all the tactical tricks in the book. Nobody is given an inch and everybody knows when and how to work.
If you’re looking to get back into racing as a mature experienced rider then you can’t do better than joining and racing with the LVRC. More at www.lvrc.org from Geoff Saxon.
Circuit races. Darley Moor, Saturday 9th April
Kicking off the LVRC circuit racing in the North-West/Midlands is a joint promotion by the Tunstall Wheelers and ProVision team. Online entries are still open at riderhq.com as well as entries taken on the day.
If you’re not a member you can take out full membership at the event prior to entering. There’s a full program of over ‘40s age related racing with generous race prizes, age group prizes and primes. Refreshments available at ‘The Darley Diner’ Full event details at https://www.riderhq.com/events/69355/tunstall-wheelers—brian-rourke-pro-vision-circuit-races LVRC clubs are running a number of circuit races at Darley Moor throughout the season.
Darley Moor, originally a motor cycle racing circuit, sits high up on a plateau on the hills near Ashbourne Derbyshire. Although flat the circuit is known locally for being fast and tough due to the exposed nature of the location. You can download the full LVRC calendar from www.lvrc.org
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