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For a month prior to West Lothian Clarion‘s annual Santa Cyclo-Cross race, the club had been coaching adults and youngsters in the fun off-road discipline that’s a great grass-roots way to get into racing.

The plan worked! The 2021 event broke records with more folk than ever before taking part in the fancy-dress event. Over 150 Santas, elves, Christmas puddings, unicorns and reindeers of all ages rode around the course in the grounds of Xcite in Linlithgow, with over £1000 raised in the sale of merchandise and refreshments.

The event and proved that the best way to get people cycling is to develop a community spirit around a cycling hub and provide fun sessions to coach and build confidence in folk who may not have cycled for some time.

The coaching and racing took place where the West Lothian Cycle Circuit is planned and is a great template to develop and build upon once the 1km traffic free facility is constructed.

Photos by John Love with others provided