CHAINS are being oiled; riders are brushing up on their map-reading skills; and organisers are busy plotting some fiendishly difficult courses as the Lakeland Lanequest Series prepares to return.
The six-race summer series will roll into action on Tuesday, June 5, with scores of riders set to take part over the ensuing five weeks.
The 23rd consecutive running of the series sees Helen Jackson and Tom Gibbs defending their women's and men's solo series crowns.
Backbarrow's Gibbs won five of the six events last year to beat Ulverston rider David Heffernan – victor in the other race – to the crown, while road racer Jackson came out on top in a battle with orienteer Jo Cleary to take her prize.
This year, riders will start the cycle orienteering series – in which they must visit as many checkpoints as possible within a two-hour time limit – at the Smithy Inn, Holme.
There will be events at Oxen Park and Ford park, Ulverston among the series, which culminates in the final race, and the prize-giving, by sponsors Wheelbase at Wilf’s Café, Staveley, on Tuesday, July 10.
Lanequest races attract serious and leisure cyclists alike and are popular with families too, with categories including the pairs and the generation pairs, where parents and children often ride together.
With competitors accumulating a best score from four out of the six events, and with classes to attract solo, pairs, generation and junior riders, there is plenty of interest across the board.
The events usually raise around £350 for a nominated charity – with Riding For The Disable, Oxen Park Reading Rooms and the For Park Community Group among those set to benefit this year. Each ride can attract in excess of 150 entrants.
The schedule for the 2018 series is as follows (all events have starts between 5.30pm and 7pm).
Tuesday, June 5: The Smithy Inn, Holme.
Tuesday, June 12: Manor House, Oxen Park.
Tuesday, June 19: Redwell Inn, Arkholme.
Tuesday, June 26: Ford Park, Ulverston.
Tuesday, July 3: Station Inn, Oxenholme.
Tuesday, July 10: Wilf's Cafe, Staveley.
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