The cycling hill climb season is almost with us and the good news is that, after a disappointing loss to the local program for this year, the climb of The Rake at Ramsbottom is back on the schedule.

The Rake, in the centre of the town, has always been the favourite hill for riders and spectators alike but for some reason the entry last year was well down on the usual and the Bolton-based Lancashire Road Club cancelled their event.

However, after a change of heart, the punishing one-in-four gradient of The Rake will be welcoming its usual large crowd with the event held under closed road conditions.

Event organiser is now triple ex-National champion at the discipline, Peter Graham, who is busy canvassing entries and particularly in the minority categories for hill climbs such as tandems and a class-leading prize list is on offer for the main event as well as the more unusual machines on the hill this year.

Entries to Mike Smith as per the handbook will be passed on to the new organiser.

The final 10-mile time trial of the 2009 season on the Hapton-based course was won by Rossendale’s own top rider of this season, Paul Warrener, with a time of 24 minutes 23 seconds.

Three North Lancs Road Club riders followed with Ian Cox (25-00), Mark Bateman (25-31) and Matt Nuttall (25-43).

This Sunday, the Lancashire Road Club promote their classic 12-hour time trial over roads in the Fylde.

The event has attracted 37 entries who will be spread over one hour from 6-31am. Last man off at number 60 is present leader of the British best all rounder competition Nick Bowdler of the Farnborough and Camberley Cycling Club, who has already ridden a massive 287 miles in the half day this year.

Of our East Lancs entries there will be four from the North Lancs Road Club in Adrian Nicholls, John Draper, Harry Haseley and David Tomlinson plus Blackburn’s Julian Markham, who rides for the Preston Cycling Club.

In 2010 this long established event will be the National Championship at the half-day ride and is probably why Bowdler and a number of other well travelled entries will be studying the course for the title race next year.