Great opportunity to join a lively, growing and forward thinking company.

WHEELBASE Lakeland Limited is the UK’s largest cycle store and due to growth in the company we are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Purchase Ledger Clerk and General Office Assistance to join our accounts team.

Job Description:

+ Process and reconcile purchase ledger to monthly account payable
+ Assist with other Account Office duties and the general company admin

Requirements:

+ Accounting and Purchase Ledger experience is essential
+ Sage Accounts knowledge is essential
+ Microsoft Excel knowledge would be an advantage

Wage and employment:

+ 10-12 Hours per week, working no less than 4 hour days
+ Hourly rate dependent on experience

Please apply by emailing a covering letter and CV to Jo@WHEELBASE.co.uk

Closing date: 24 September 2010

WHEELBASE LAKELAND Limited - a fast moving, growing company.

Click here for Event Results

Click here for Flickr Gallery

WHEELBASE mechanic and downhiller Andy Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk and his younger brother Dan Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk took part in Round 4 of the Caersws cup last weekend which was also English Championship.

Dan Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk on the podium in second place.

Dan Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk came third in Juvenille and second in the English Championship, missing the title by just over a second.

Andy Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk rips it up to 11th place in the Juniors

Andy Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk was 11th out of 40 in the Junior category.

On course with Dan Farley, WHEELBASE.co.uk

Top results guys - we’re sure more will follow!

Whilst we will have more details of the new range next week, we are taking orders for this Limited Edition model already. The stock into the UK market is set super limited to 18 of the 250 to me made worldwide. Each frame individually numbered.

Limited Edition 575 to celebrate 25 years of Yeti

Here at WHEELBASE we have ordered 1x Medium and 1x Large which should be with us by the end of October.

The fuselage will be £2895 - this is for the frame with RP23 shock, custom turquoise Fox Float RLCs, custom coloured Chris King headset and bottom bracket.

The original Yeti yellow and turquoise colour scheme

Email us at info@wheelbase.co.uk or call us on 01539 821443 if you who like to get your hands on one of these classic pieces of mountain bike history.

Carbon / Alloy Swingarm and Limited Edition 25 Years Anniversary decals.

Apologies for the dodgy mobile phone photos!

Click here for Photo Gallery

Our new recruit Jamie Shirlaw, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk crosses the line first in a convincing victory in the Support Race at the 2010 Blackpool Rapha Nocturne.

Jamie Shirlaw, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk takes the win. One to watch for the future.

Jamie Shirlaw is a one-to-watch Junior with bags of potential. He spends most of his time out in Dubai but comes back each summer and always impresses. He joined our Junior squad on the Tour of Ireland this year and has just got better and better since.

Jamie Shirlaw, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk Wins the 2010 Rapha Blackpool Nocturne Support Race

As his ride in the Rapha Blackpool Nocturne proved he is a powerful rider, going it alone from the fourth lap. He formed a two man group with William Penn, Mammoth Lifestyle and they managed to work the field over putting in a 30 second gap to the main field on the tight and short 900m course.

Jamie Shirlaw, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk made his break with 3 laps to go and went it alone to claim a convincing victory.

Youth Race:
It was a night for the WHEELBASE junior squad with our younger all having great performances. Jack Sadler, WHEELBASE.co.uk mixed it up in the Youth Race and coming home in third in a bunch sprint.

Elite Race:
Jack Pullar, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk took the start and looked good staying out of trouble at the sharp end of the race but succumb to the two man breakaway of Dean Downing, Rapha Condor and Simon Richardson, Sigma Sport lapping the whole field apart from another 3 riders!

Sam Jackson, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk playing the courteous team mate for Shirlaw in the Support Race

Stuart Reid, HerbaLife/WHEELBASE.co.uk was due to take the start but is still recovering from illness and now focussing on the forthcoming Newport Nocturne and then the start of the National CycloCross Championships and the Three Peaks CycloCross on the 26th September 2010.

Event results (Provisional)

Elite Event
1. Dean Downing, Rapha Condor Sharp 1.03.27
2. Simon Richardson, Sigma Sport Specialized @ 3 secs
3. Dean Windsor, Rapha Condor Sharp @45 seconds
4. Kristian House, Rapha Condor Sharp, @47 seconds
5. David Clarke, Pendragon Le Col Colnago @
@ 1 lap
Graham Briggs, Rapha Condor Sharp
No. 50
Jonny McEvoy, Motorpoint Marshals Pasta
Jeroen Janssen, Kuota Road CC

Sam Russell, WHEELBASE.co.uk - Great effort in the first shot at a Crit race. More to come.

Support Race
1. Jamie Shirlaw, HerbaLife/Wheelbase.co.uk
2. William Penn, Mammoth Lifestyle RT
3. 65
4. Matthew Pilkington, Dulwich Paragon
5. Bill Nickson, Bill Nickson Cycles
6. Adam Cairns, Chevin Bang & Olufsen RRT
7. Milan Sihelsky, Kuota Spinergy GSG
8. Richard Wilkinson, ProBikeKit.com

Youth Race
1. 10
2. Alistair Hepworth, Batley CC
3. Jack Sadler, Wheelbase.co.uk / Gore Bike Wear
4. Tom Armstrong, Ribble Valley Juniors

As used by the Schleck brothers and Spartacus himself Fabian Cancellara the new HotPack Jacket by SportFul played its role in the Le Tour preparation of Team Saxo Bank.

This superb garmet is now in stock and available at WHEELBASE. Windproof, waterproof and breathable this jacket stuffs into a sack no larger than a couple of innertubes (but considerably lighter!).

SportFul HotPack Jacket in Black £68

Subtle, yet smart Italian styling with reflective panels and excellent breathability thanks to generous vents on the back making this jacket the perfect riding champion as we head towards Autumn and unsettled weather.

SportFul HotPack Gilet in White £55

The SportFul HotPack jacket will definitely be finding its way into our jersey pockets for the rest of the season.

Available in White or Black and in either a Jacket or Gillet version.

CLICK HERE TO BUY - SportFul HotPack Jacket £68
CLICK HERE TO BUY - SportFul HotPack Gilet £55

N:B Look out for SportFul ‘No Rain’ arm warmers and ‘Wet look’ overshoes as worn by Cancellara in Paris Roubiax - COMING SOON TO WHEELBASE!

Photo’s by Sports on Sunday

Photo’s by Cycle Sport Photos

Photo’s by Fursdon Photography

In celebration of the worlds toughest cycle race ‘Le Tour de France’ this weekend the UK’s largest cycle store WHEELBASE, based in Staveley, held it’s annual ‘Le Tour de Staveley’, a non-competitive road sportive for all abilities.

At 3pm Saturday 17 July 2010 a sell-out field of 300 riders rolled out from WHEELBASE in the Staveley Mill Yard to tackle a choice of a 48 mile ‘lumpy route’ or a slightly milder 28 mile shorter option. The heavy downpours and drenched roads did not deter any riders with only 20 no-shows.

Now in it’s fifth year the organisers of this fantastic non-competitive road bike sportive decided to ramp up the difficulty of the event at the request of participants from last year!

A damp start but plenty of smiles and the weather soon cleared up. Photo courtesy of Rick@CycleSportPhotos.com

On paper the course looked like a straightforward 48 mile run through the rolling lanes of South Lakeland but a number of strategically placed leg burning climbs whittled the field down, and tested each riders physic.

The peloton first spun through the hamlets of Underbarrow, Brigsteer and shot off down pan-flat Lyth Valley in one long chain towards the first major 20% climb of Tow Top were spectators had gathered too watch the riders tackle the steep, technical bends with Stuart Reid of the HerbaLife/WHEELBASE team breaking way and tacking the honours as first rider over the top.

Riders stream down the pan-flat Lytrh Valley. Photo courtesy of Rick@CycleSportPhotos.com

It was then on over Cartmel Fell and up Bigland Hill before tacking the new ‘Tour of Rusland’ addition with it’s stunning views up over the Lakeland Fells.

The final major test on the long course was the ‘Bianca Strada’ (white road) gravel climb of Chapel House Wood, Newby Bridge with dramatic views over Lake Windermere.

Enjoying the Biancha Strada. Photo courtesy of Rick@CycleSportPhotos.com

As this was definitely a non-competitive event the obligatory refreshment stop was at the Masons Arms, Stawberry Bank where staff and the WHEELBASE.co.uk hospitality crew greeted riders with a welcome drink after a hard afternoon sweating it out on the climbs.

Le Tour de Staveley picks out the best of the Lakeland lanes. Photo courtesy of Rick@CycleSportPhotos.com

The re-grouped riders then ambled back through Winster up a short but deceptively tough climb past Knipe Tarn en-route to the finish back at WHEELBASE in Staveley and a two course French themed meal at Wilf’s Café. Drinks were also available at Hawkshead Brewery and riders could sit down and rest weary legs in front of a big screen showing the days action in the real Tour de France.
Riders are also given the opportunity to ride the same ‘dream’ bikes that the pro riders in the real ‘Tour de France’ are using with the event is supported by Italian road bike manufacturer Wilier, sponsor of Team Lampre, the beautiful and super-expensive Pinarello Dogma of Team Sky and Cannondale from the USA, sponsor of Team Liquigas.

“Seeing the riders stream in a long line down the Lyth Valley is a wonderful sight. It is the second year that our event has sold out and it is a true testament to increasing popularity of cycling - and that cycling really is for everybody. We’ll be back again next year with more surprises and hopefully a little less rain.” Toby Dalton, Director, WHEELBASE LAKELAND Limited

Click here for photos of the prize presentation

Click here for photos from the Lakeland Lanequest 2010 series

A thrilling and closely fought competition was a fitting finale to this year’s Lakeland Lanequest series, the last event of six which started from Wheelbase at Staveley, and was followed by the traditional presentations and prize giving at Wilfs cafe.

The Mens Solo league competition was very close and with Mike Toyn, who was a previous winner of the overall Men’s Solo league competition in 2008 and 2009, unable to ride the final event and improve his score, as he and his wife Rachel were organising the final event. To ensure the final event was entirely fair to all, whatever the positions in the league might be, Mike and Rachel had planned the controls and map well before the first event. In actual fact, Mike was only just leading the overall competition, and David Heffernan would need 302 points to tie with Mike.

An initial look at the scattering of controls, shown on the event map around Staveley, looked to be a deceptively compact area including Bannerigg, down around Bateman Fold and Crook, Burneside, Mislet and the lower Kentmere Valley. Closer inspection of the map showed some challenging climbs, as well as numerous route options available to try to link the controls in an economical way to visit as many as possible within the 2 hours allowed. This would be a fittingly challenging event, to be the ultimate decider for the final series places.

The final results for the overall league positions for the best four scores from the six events were decided. David Heffernan just gained the extra 2 points he needed to secure the Solo Mens overall series titles, with 1218 points from Mike Toyn a very close second with 1216, and David Hollingham 1167 for third place.

Anne Plant was the winner of the Solo Women’s title with 1092 points from Jo Cleary in second with 942 and Rachel Toyn with 903 for third place.
The Juniors saw Bryony Halcrow a clear winner with 966, a very commendable performance that would have placed her second in the Solo Women, and gained her a special prize of a Wheelbase jersey, from the series sponsors WHEELBASE, as the most improved rider. In second place was Joseph Oglesby with 770 points. The Generation pairs saw a draw for first place shared between both Matt and Katie Woods, and Steve and Jake Mason, both pairs scoring 1006 points, with in third place Tom and Matthew Phillips with 915 points. In the Adults pairs/3’s, Andy and Sarah Crozier took first place with 1020, from second placed Mike Brooks/ Andy Beck and Andy Douglas 984, with Tony and Pauline Richardson 936 in third.

The results for the final event from Staveley were; in the Solo Men David Heffernan (Ulverston) and David Hollingham (Endmoor) tied for first place with 304 points each, closely followed by Ben Oglesby who also visited all 30 controls but incurred time penalties for 298, five riders all tied for equal fourth place, with 270 points, Alan Goldsmith, Alan Hartley, Mike Taylor, Phil Morgan and Ray Morriss.

The first two riders who tied in first place both chose different routes and arrived inside 2 hours and within seconds of each other-
David Heffernan’s route:
1, 3, 24, 27, 5, 29, 10, 28, 17, 9, 25, 20, 19, 13, 6, 30, 7, 8 ,16, 26, 2, 12, 18, 11, 21, 4, 22, 23, 14, 15.

This includes the climb between 10 - 28, and also a delay of around 30 seconds at the level crossing.
David Hollingham’s route: 20,25,9,28,17,6,30,7,8,16,13,19,2,26,18,11,21,4,12,22,23,1,3,24,27,5,29,10,15,14, finish.

The main gain is avoiding having to go between 28 and 10, and so allowing 14 and 15 as a loop, so shorter and less climbing.

Some careful thought was needed with the various options to try to find an optimum route, which often seems to be more apparent the day after!

Anne Plant in the Solo Women scored 268, to win from in second, Jo Cleary 250, and Heather Milligan 230. The Juniors saw rising star, Bryony Halcrow score a winning 254, from Natalie and Carrie Beadle 168. The Generation Pairs saw a close competition between first placed Matt and Katie Woods, 256 points and in second Steve and Jake Mason 250 points, with third Richard Tiley and Angus Dobson 226. An impressive 270 from Mike Brooks/Andy Beck/Andy Douglas took first place, from Tony and Pauline Richardson 250, and third placed Toby Dalton and Matt Woods 240.

This year’s series of six events has raised more than £2,000 for charities, which means over the last 15 years the events have been able to give a total of around £14,000 to charities, as well as giving fun to lots of cyclists, of all ages.

During the ‘Winners Cut the Cake’ to announce the league winners, decided on the best four scores in the series, Carol McNeill, the series organiser, said the events had continued in popularity. Carol had a special mention for the heartening entries from the younger riders and all the junior riders at the presentation were given medals and certificates, and all the winners from the series were presented with WHEELBASE vouchers by Toby Dalton from WHEELBASE the series sponsors. Toby also confirmed that they would like to continue as sponsor for next year’s series of Lakeland Lanequests. Carol McNeill later announced that plans are under way for next year’s events and that she had already recruited some organisers. The first event of 2011 is to be organised by Dave Heffernan, and the second by Mike and Rachel Toyn, and so the series looks to be assured of another great year to come.

Click here for event photos

Event 5 of the 2010 Lakeland Lanequest series saw yet another glorious evening in sub-drenched Cumbria. The venue for this week’s event was the Derby Arms in Witherslack and yet again there was an excellent turnout of 150 riders.

Event organiser Neil Hazlehurst set an excellent route covering ground in and around Lindale, Cartmel, High Newton, Cartmel Fell and Witherslack. The course was a good deal shorter than the previous week in Fylde, to account for the extra hills which had to be negotiated.

David Heffernan was once again the leading rider in the Men’s solo, collecting all 30 controls with 4 minutes to space to score 308. Mike Toyn and David Hollingham also visited all 30 controls, Toyn finishing just inside the two hour time limit for a score of 300 points and Holligham a couple of minutes late for 296.

These three riders all followed similar routes. Heffernan and Hollingham visited 24 - 25 - 23 - 27 -26 -21 - 28 - 30 - 29 - 22 - 18 - 19 - 12 - 8 - 3 - 1 - 5 - 7 - 11- 20 - 15 - 10 - 9 -2 - 4 - 6 - 13 - 14 - 16 - 17. Toyn varied this slightly by taking control 1 after control 2. Please see David Heffernan’s note below with his later thoughts on a better route that everyone missed!

In the Women’s solo Anne Plant returned to winning ways scoring 270 points, just ahead of Rachel Toyn (252) and Jenny Stuart (240).

Junior riders Bryony Halcrow and Joseph Oglesby both scored a very fine 250 points in the Junior class. In the very hotly contested Generation Pairs, Steve & Jake Mason scored 260, to lead from Matt & Katie Woods (250) and Tom & Matthew Phillips (240).

The Adult Pairs class saw Andy & Sarah Crozier win again with a fine score of 270 from Mike Brooks & Andy Beck (250) and the super fit veterans Tony & Pauline Richardson (236).

The final event of the series takes place next Tuesday at the traditional venue of Wilf’s Café in Staveley. The overall league positions are quite finely balanced in some of the classes. In the Men’s solo the competition for the title appears to be between Toyn and Heffernan. Toyn currently holds the upper hand but since he is the organiser of the final event he cannot improve his score. Heffernan would tie Toyn’s score with a result of 302 points so it is really in the balance.

Anne Plant has already enough points to claim the Women’s Solo title once again but there is a close battle between Rachel Toyn, Mary Ockenden, Jenny Stuart and Lorna Hewitt for the minor places.

In the Junior class Bryony Halcrow’s commendable consistency through the series makes her strong favourite going into the final event. The Generation Pairs appears to be between Steve & Jake Mason and Matt & Katie Woods. Finally, in the adult Pairs, Andy & Sarah Crozier have a comfortable lead over Tony & Pauline Richardson.

Multi World Champion starters! – At the start of the Lakeland Lanequest event from the Derby Arms, Witherslack – (left) Anne Plant who has been the U.C.I. World Masters Road Race Champion in the years 1998, 99,2001,02,03,07 and 2008 and currently the holder of the World Cup. On the right Charlotte Somers Cocks the 2010 - W50 World Champion won at the recent World Masters MTBO Championships, she has also previously won the World Masters Orienteering.

The final event of the series of six 2010 Lakeland Lanequests, is on Tuesday 6th July with the traditional “Winners Cut The Cake” event from Wilf’s Cafe, Staveley.

Finally; a very special thanks to the excellent team of helpers who made the event possible and coped admirably with the 150 riders that took part - one of the helpers at the start /finish was the 2010 - W50 World Champion won at the recent World Masters MTBO Championships -congratulations Charlie - (Charlotte Somers Cocks W50 World Champion. See the report on the BMBO web site.

On Sunday, families hunted down clues on their bikes, cycling along the quiet lanes of Kentmere and Bowston as part of the Wheelbase Kentmere Konundrum, assisted by volulunteers from the Staveley Green Travel Initiative (GTi). Kids and adults answered 25 questions about the local area on a race around the 7 mile course, in a bid to win some fun prizes from the UK’s largest cycle store.

Jake Rushton, aged 5, was the youngest participant to complete the circuit on his own bike, making it around in 1 hour and 21 minutes. “This was a good event for families” enthused Sharon Jebb, who’s 15 month old daughter Millie won the prize for the youngest competitor. “We live in Staveley and this event helped us discover more of the local area that we live in”.

Kentmere Konundrum, now in it’s fourth year, was scheduled on the final day of Bike Week, a national celebration of cycling held between 19-27th June. Volunteers from the GTi also ran an after school ‘Dr Bike’ session at St Oswald’s School in Burneside, to help pupils prepare for masses of cycling during Bike Week. The BikeTrains, promoting commuting to work by bicycle, also coincided with Bike Week this month. See www.biketrain.org.uk

Families out enjoying the sunshine on the Kentmere Konundrum

Kentmere Konundrum is part of a series of events being promoted by the Staveley Green Travel Initiative, making sustainable transport and cycling easy and enjoyable in the South Lakeland area. See www.staveley-gti.co.uk for the full calendars of events.

The winners:
Under 10 Thomas Ruston (8) 25/26 1hr 21mins
Under 8 Toby Middleton (6) 25/26 1hr 21mins
Under 6 Jake Ruston (5) 25/26 1hr 21mins
Under 4 Theo Middleton (3) 25/26 1hr 21mins
Under 3 Charlotte Brierley (2) 23/26 1hr 12mins

Youngest Competitor - Millie Jebb (15 months) - 1hr 12mins 21.5 / 26

Just completed Question 21 on the Kentmere Konundrum

The flat event area south of Garstang, and to the west of the A6, included some very picturesque quiet roads and villages, around St Michael’s on Wyre, Woodplumpton, Great Eccleson and Catforth. On the lovely sunny evening the riders may not have had chance to notice, as Rod Carter has mentioned, “the lanes of the Fylde were resplendent with Elder blossom and the heady scents of Honeysuckle”.

An efficient route choice presented quite a challenge, as the joint organisers Graham Almonde and Peter Knott had placed the controls around the area so that some very careful thought was needed to find a way, to link them in an effective way, within their capabilities. Despite the flat roads many riders found they had to rethink and revise their planned route during the second hour of the competition.

David Heffernan of Ulverston triumphed in the Solo Men with an impressive 290 points, from Mike Toyn (Staveley) 280 points, and in third David Hollingham (Endmoor) who visited 29 controls but incurred time penalties for a score of 275 points.

The Solo Women saw Lorna Hewitt (Morecambe) score 220 points to win from second placed Rachel Toyn (Staveley) who visited 23 controls but gained time penalties for a final score of 215, and an unusual equal third place for Anne Plant from Pennington near Ulverston and Mary Ockenden (Lancaster) both with 212 points after time penalties.

The Juniors saw Bryony Halcrow from Kendal, win with a very impressive 232, a score that would have been good enough to gain her 1st in the Solo Womens class!

Matt & Katie Woods - Kendal, in the Generation pairs, won again with an outstanding 240 points from second placed Tom & Matthew Phillips (Lancaster) 210 points. The Adult pairs/ 3’s, saw a win for Andy and Sarah Crozier (Lytham) with 260 points, from close second Mike Brooks and Andy Beck (Kirkby Lonsdale) 254 points, and third placed Tony and Pauline Richardson (Kendal).

The general conclusion from competitors was that it was challenging to plan a route with loops that worked well, and although it was a bit of a distance to travel, had been very worthwhile. The inclusion of a toll bridge, was surely a Lanequest first, which could have presented a new test for riders, had not the organisers arranged an exemption for them.

Here is what David Heffernan said about his choice of route and the event -I thought it was an excellent event. It was really tricky to join up the controls to the south of the map. I ended up missing control 13. I believe I couldn’t have got a better route for 29 controls. I did 3 4 20 23 24 25 27 30 29 28 26 22 21 18 19 17 16 15 14 12 8 7 11 10 2 1 6 5 9. Mike Toyn dropped 15 and 14. He planned to do so and the route marked on his map did not visit them. I planned a route for all 30 that went 3 4 … (same as above) …. 14 12 13 5 6 7 8 11 10 2 1 9 and then improvised en route when I decided that I needed to drop a control. I think that getting 30 was quite a bit longer than getting 29, possibly 7-8 minutes because the loops didn’t work as well.
The overall league positions are starting to become clearer after four events; in the Solo Men Mike Toyn has now edged ahead of David Heffernan, and they are closely followed by Henry Syska. In the Solo Women, the positions are unchanged with Anne Plant is still comfortably leading, from Rachel Toyn, and Lisa Whetter (Levens). In the Juniors Bryony Halcrow, leads from Joseph Oglesby, impressively Bryony’s score in the league would also place her second in the Solo Women. Matt and Katie Woods continue to maintain their lead in the Generation pairs from Steve and Jake Mason.

The Adults pairs/3’s sees a change with Tony & Pauline Richardson taking the lead with four events, from Andy /Sarah Crozier, and Mike Brooks / Andy Beck / Andy Douglas, but these teams have both only competed in three events up to now. With two events to go the league positions could well see some more changes before the final at Staveley.

The next event of the series of six 2010 Lakeland Lanequests, is on Tuesday 29th June from The Derby Arms, Witherslack. By the A590. SD 442 829
Lanequests are 2 hour bike orienteering events on country roads, suitable for all bikes, and with a choice of classes to enter; they are ideal for leisure and also more competitive cyclists alike. Starts are from 5.30 - 7pm, a pre-marked, A4 colour OS map around 1:50,000 is provided, but don’t forget your helmet, food is also available after all events. More details and entry form, visit: www.wheelbase.co.uk or email: carolmcneill@tiscali.co.uk Tel: 01229 861507