IN THIS week’s Pedal Power we aim to step it up a gear and focus on racing.

Our campaign is all about inspiring readers, whether men, women or children, and giving them tips and advice to jump on a bike.

A prestigious UK race, the Cheshire Classic Women’s Road Race, has been held in Northwich every April for more than 30 years and will take place on April 28 this year.

In the lead up to the big day we talk to organiser Andy Wood, this week’s Pedal Power Ambassador, about organising the event and how a cyclist can up their game to racing level.

 

A RECORD number of entries promises a classic year for national road racing in Northwich.

The Cheshire Classic Women’s Road Race, which sees riders tackling 10 laps of a 7.7km circuit around Acton Bridge, has attracted entries from 120 cyclists this year.

The race, organised by Weaver Valley Cycling Club, is part of British Cycling’s national series and, as such, is a pivotal part of the racing calender.

Andy Wood, race organiser, said: “It’s a big race, absolutely huge, you’ve only got to look at the previous winners – Sarah Storey, Lucy Garner, Lizzie Armitstead and Mandy Jones.

“If you want to have a big race on your list of achievements it’s the Cheshire Classic.”

Weaver Valley Cycling Club founded the Cheshire Classic in 1980 to cater for women riders at the time who had no women’s races to compete in.

Andy, who joined the club three years ago, has taken over the reins of organising the event with and on behalf of Weaver Valley Cycling Club from former organiser Terry Veal.

He is keen to build on Terry’s legacy and help cyclists reach their potential.

“What we’ve always been about is supporting new riders and bringing on new talent,” said Andy, 27.

“I’m used to going out on the bike or in the car and seeing women out on a bike on their own, perhaps not using the right stuff, and I thought maybe there’s an opportunity here to raise awareness.

“About a year ago there was so much negative talk about women’s cycling and a lot of bad press, not getting coverage etc.

“I thought that wasn’t right, it deserves much more respect, and the Olympics showed that because the women’s road race was a much better race than the men’s.

“With the Cheshire Classic we’re trying to raise awareness from club up to racing level.

“The Breeze Network is a great example of people getting into cycling at the early stages, what bikes or equipment to get, but you come to point where you get fitter better and stronger.

“That’s the message we’re trying to get across – promoting the racing side.”

Race sponsers this year include Roberts Bakery, Delamere Dairy, Breeze, Your Sports Therapist, Epic Cycles, De Vere Venues and Halfords.

This year riders and spectators can check out the course in advance thanks to a video on the Cheshire Classic website.

Andy said: “Not a lot of races do this – we’re trying to do different stuff before anyone else so we can project women’s cycling as being forward thinking.”

To see the video visit cheshireclassic.co.uk/videos.

The race itself takes place from 10am on Sunday, April 28.

 

Andy’s tips on how to get into racing:

• Get a bike, equipment and decent kit – “Spend as much money as you can on a decent jersey, shorts, SPD pedals and shoes. Get a good bike and get the miles in.”

• Building up mileage – “Build up slowly but surely. Get involved in sportives. Spend a year getting out and doing sportives just to get the miles in.”

• Join a club – “Once you’ve got the miles in look to join a club where you will just develop really quickly and have the best time of your life, it’s fantastic.”

 

Andy’s story:

ANDY Wood has been well and truly bitten by the cycling bug and there is no going back.

The 27-year-old, who grew up in Wincham, got back on his bike to improve his fitness.

“When I was younger I was on my bike all the time,” he said.

“But then I learned to drive and so I used to drive everywhere, then you start going out clubbing and I put on a bit of weight.”

Andy, head of digital at a Manchester advertising agency, got chatting with friends who went off-road cycling and decided to buy a bike again.

“That was it, I got the bug,” he said.

“I did some sportives, like Manchester to Blackpool, and that was it – I couldn’t care less about playing football any more.

“I had found my love and it was cycling, it always came back to the bike.”