WITH the longer daylight hours now with us, there are several opportunities to compete in cycle events on midweek evenings across this part of Lancashire.

Already, the Pendle Forest Cycling Club have started their regular series of Thursday evening time-trials, based in Thornton-in-Craven, on the eastern flanks of our area.

The Rossendale Road Club begin their own series of Tuesday evening events on April 29, with a 10-mile time trial on the Hapton-based course between Burnley and Accrington.

The North Lancashire Road Club events, on the Edisford circuit near Clitheroe, will be moving from their normal Thursday evening to Wednesday this year and will start on May 14.

Formalities are kept to a minimum and entry is always on-the-line for these types of events, and normally a cyclist who is not a club member can go along and have a go which offers an ideal introduction to competitive cycle sport.

Both of the first two Pendle Forest events were won by local rider Chris Wood, who clocked 15 minutes 31 seconds to beat Andy Gates (15.34) and Brian Hickey (15.55) the first week and his ride of 15.50 beat Adam Blackeley (16.32) and Steve Singleton (16.33) the second week over the same 6.25 mile course.

Their event this evening is a 10-mile ride out to Skipton and back to Thornton.