Good afternoon,

I wanted to get in touch as I work in the community team at the North West Air Ambulance Charity.

We are looking to put a team of 30 riders together for the Liverpool Chester Liverpool (LCL) bike ride to raise funds which could pay for one of our next missions and help save a life.

We receive no government or NHS funding and need to raise over £9.5 million each year to keep our crew equipped and operation ready to save lives. It’s all thanks to the generosity of our incredible supporters that we can make a difference.

It costs just £10 to register for a place on the team which and we ask riders if they could raise £50 through sponsorship to support the work that we do to keep us flying and ensure we can be there for those that need us the most.

I wondered if this is something that may be of interest to your group and if you would be happy to share the details please?

The link to register or for more information is https://nwaa.net/event/lclbikeride2021

If this is of interest or you would like to talk through in more detail, please feel free to contact me on the details below.

Best wishes

Emma

Today 10 riders from M & L together with friends from Ormskirk and Aughton U3A set off in blustery weather to ride to Heskin, Mawdesley and Croston. The weather brightened up as the morning went on and we enjoyed sitting in the sunshine at our brew stop at Delph Quarry. Three electric bikes amongst us had us digging deep to keep up at times as we rode along some lovely lanes in that part of West Lancs. An excellent ride of 40 miles and it was great to reunite with old friends once again.

Given the latest announcement from HM Government regarding unnecessary social contact the proposed Day Ride on Monday, 23rd April to West Kirby will not now take place due to the use of public transport.

Today’s U3A Day Riders set off from The Derby Arms for a ride to Ainsdale. We made our way via Lydiate to Maghull, passing The Nordic Walkers with a cheery wave, and down through Lunt and Thornton to reach Formby. Our usual watering hole, The Velo Cafe, was closed so our brew stop was at Formby Wetherspoons where we sat outside enjoying ‘unlimited’ coffee in the warm Spring sunshine. Soon we were off again and on to Ainsdale to ride back across the Moss to Halsall where we went our separate ways. A great ride of 35 miles in almost perfect conditions. Next week’s ride will be to West Kirby is cancelled.

I’m not sure if there is a collective noun for a gathering of cyclists but there was one yesterday at Old Racecourse Road when three U3A Cycling Groups met to go on their respective rides.

The Day Riders made our way through Lunt, Thornton and Crosby to pick up the Coastal Path through to Hightown, Formby and Freshfield where we took the by-pass route into Ainsdale where it was time for a brew and where we met up with Phil’s Breakaway Group.

We returned against a stiff headwind across The Moss to Halsall.

Next week’s ride will be to Widnes via the T.P. Trail, meeting at Aintree Station.

Today’s Day Riders met in Maghull and set off across bridleways to the canal towpath at Netherton before heading through Rimrose Valley Park to emerge at Crosby. We then joined the coastal path by the Coastguard building and made our way via Hightown, Formby and Freshfield, through the Pinewoods for our cafe-stop at MeCycle in Ainsdale. A variety of return routes then followed dependant on where people lived.

Once again we were blessed with good weather for this 30 mile circular.

Next Monday we will jump the 1000 am train to Moorfields and head out from the Pierhead along Otterspool Prom and into Sefton Park for a brew. We will return via Allerton and Childwall, picking up the Trans-Pennine Trail to take us back to Aintree.

I hope I’m not tempting fate but Maghull and Lydiate U3A Day Riders, together with riders from Aughton and Ormskirk U3A, once again enjoyed a Monday ride in excellent, calm and dry weather.

Riding towards Croston we could see that many of the fields had turned into lakes with the recent heavy rain. The sandbags were out in Croston Village but mercifully The Yarrow did not appear threatening.

A welcome brew at The Velo Cafe soon followed and we were in the company of plenty of other two-wheeled folk.

Off again to cross the A59 and down into Mere Bank to return via Holmeswood and Burscough.

By the end of the ride we had completed between 36 and 42 miles depending on where people lived. Our average speed was 12.7 mph. Ironically Eliud Kipchoge’s average was 13 mph to break the sub 2 hour marathon record, and he didn’t even have a bike!

A great ride in excellent company.

Alan Carr.