Road Racing with Swindon RC
Swindon Road Club members are active in many road racing events around the region. There are lots of races within easy travelling distance and there are races suitable for beginners through to higher standard races suitable for more experienced riders.
For beginners there are closed road circuit races at Castle Combe racing circuit near Chippenham, Thruxton Racing Circuit near Andover and also there is a short closed road racing circuit at Portsmouth which holds regular events.
There are also a variety of races on the open roads organised either under British Cycling (BC), League of Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC), or The League International (TLI) regulations.
During the summer there is local road race series organised under the Cotswold League banner.
Club members often co-ordinate on which races to enter whilst out on club rides, or via the Message Board, or occasionally in the local pub!
If you are a newcomer to road racing then as a starting point you should take part in the regular Saturday morning club rides and the summer Tuesday club rides. This will get you used to the faster race pace and the etiquette of riding in a bunch. From there you can try your hand in some of the local circuit races (Castle Combe or Thruxton are ideal).
The British Cycling website has some excellent information on Road Racing. Also look at the TLI website and also the LVRC website (if you are the wrong side of 40!) for details on the races they organise.
Below is a list of some of the events that are ear-marked by Swindon Road Club members. Full details are on the British Cycling Website.
- 3rd March, Severn Bridge Road Race, 3rd Cat & E,1,2,3
- 16th March, Team MK Early Season warm up races, Milton Keynes 4th Cat & 2,3
- 23rd March, Victoria Park, Warwickshire (1 fee buys 2 races!) 4th Cat & 3rd Cat
- 30th March, Phil Corley Day At The Races, Milton Keynes 4th Cat & 3rd Cat
- 6th April, Surrey League Road Race, 4th Cat & 3rd cat
- 21st April, Bristol South Road Race, 3,4
- 28th April, Birmingham Circuits, 4th Cat & 3rd Cat
- 2nd May, Weekly Castle Coombe circuit race starts, E,1,2,3,4
- 4th-5th May, Totness Vii 2 Day Stage Race, 1,2,3
- 12th May – Cotswold League, Gloucester City Graham Taylor Memorial, 2,3,4
- 19th May - Southern Area Championships (to be confirmed)
- 2nd June, Banbury Star Road Race, Oxfordshire, 3,4
- 9th June, Climb on Bikes Road Race, 3,4
- 16th June, Cotswold League, VC Montpellier Road Race, 2,3,4
- 23rd June, Cotswold League, Cheltenham and County Road Race, 2,3,4
- 30th June, Cotswold League, Swindon Road Club Road Race, 2,3,4
- 20th July, L’Etape De La Fonce, 3,4 – Teams of 4
- 15th September, Ride 24/7 Cricklade Kermesse, 2,3,4
