Category: Blog

Our WHEELBASE CabTech Castelli rider Lewis Craven took the win and the National Champs Jersey at this weekends National CycloCross Championships in the Vet40 class.

This weekend sees the final big event on the UK Cyclocross calendar. The UK National Cyclocross Championships takes place in Shrewsbury over Saturday and Sunday with competitors from all over the  country heading to the infamously demanding (usually very muddy!) Shrewsbury course to compete in a wide range of age categories.

The Wheelbase Cyclocross team are heading to Shrewsbury with high hopes following a successful season racing at the highest level in the National Trophy Cyclocross series. Lewis Craven will be doubling up again, competing in both the Vet’s race on the Saturday and the Senior race on the Sunday. Lewis has shown some cracking form recently with a fantastic win in the Vet’s race at the last National Trophy round in York just before Christmas. Known for his technical skills in the muddiest conditions we’re all doing a rain dance for him in the hope he has similar conditions to contend with on Saturday!

Giles Drake our talented Senior racer has once again dominated his local North West Cyclocross Series as well as achieving some very consistent top 10 placings in the National Trophies so fingers crossed lady luck stays on his side for the most important race of the season in the final race of the weekend when he goes up against some of the most talented International racers around including Tom Pidcock who has raced a full season in Belgium. Lewis Craven will go again in the Senior race, being one of the few riders to take on multiple races during the weekend. Lewis has podiumed before in the Senior National Championships and will be sure to up there in the results for this race too.

Tom Martin has the potential to go well in the Under 23 Championships, however, after a slow return to racing following a small injury we are unsure at this time whether he’ll make the start line. Behind the team there is a hard-working pit-crew ready to take on multiple bike changes during the race to keep our riders going regardless of conditions. We wish all of our riders and support staff the best of luck for this weekend! See you there!

British pro-continental rider Rob Scott of Team Wiggins Le Col has kindly donated his signed King of the Mountain jersey from this year’s Tour de Yorkshire to raise money for the Candlelighters charity in Leeds. The jersey is currently on display in our Wheelbase Yorkshire store in Ilkley and is being raffled off as part of the Road to Ventoux challenge being undertaken by our head mechanic Ben, pictured alongside Rob in store.

Tickets for the raffle can be bought from our Wheelbase Yorkshire store on Skipton Road or you can donate online and be entered into the draw at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/roadtoventoux. Rob Scott took the KOM jersey on stage 3 of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire and his signed jersey will be on display at the shop until the last stage of the Tour de France at the end of July when the raffle winner will be announced.

That was some DEMO! Thanks to everyone for rocking up in horrendous conditions, and all the brands, guides and store staff for making it happen – 162 of the world’s best mountain bikes, 12 brands, 16 guides and over 500 bike washes.

This year’s Big Demo Weekend was wet and wild. When Saturday morning rolled around we were geared up for some hostile Lake District weather and fully prepared for a challenging day ahead. Despite the relentless rain and wind we had over 100 keen demo riders heading out onto the trails of the Kentmere valley to test some of the world’s best mountain bikes, expertly guided by CycleActive.

We were in luck on Sunday as the rain disappeared and the winds eased for a clear day of riding. The trails were still pretty wet from the day before but that didn’t stop more demo riders turning up and taking on the challenging terrain.

Photos below from Cadence Images. Check out the full gallery on our Facebook page.