“A ‘life saver’ facility, maintaining my physical and mental well-being”

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Angus (left) after a cycle on the circuit

Angus Gallie, the president of the Linlithgow Athletic Club has been cycling on the circuit to help him recover from brain surgery

The West Lothian Cycle Circuit is a fantastic facility providing a safe, traffic free environment for cycling and other sports. For example, Linlithgow Athletic Club sponsors a weekly junior parkrun and a regular evening slot for coached adult running sessions.

I was a very keen club cyclist and runner for fifty years until brain surgery in 2021 significantly curtailed these activities for me. Although I still manage to do a fair amount of walking, due to restrictions in my gait, running is currently impossible for me.

In order to maintain my cardio-respiratory fitness, I have used the gym. I was so used to obtaining my cardio fitness through outdoor activity such as running and cycling, that this has been a big miss for me. Some months after surgery, I did manage to ride a two-wheel bike although mounting and dismounting was difficult. Practice was limited to car parks and very quiet sections of country roads!

I still do not have the confidence to go cycling on the open road and in this respect the Cycle Circuit has been of immense benefit to me as I build up my fitness, stamina, and confidence. I try to do an hour’s session every week accompanied by a friend. The competitive instinct is still there and I even recorded a time for the ‘twelve laps of Christmas’ organised by the West Lothian Clarion Cycle Club!

The feeling I have after my ride, in company, on the circuit is like ‘I’ve been on a bike ride.’ We then chain up our bikes and we spend nearly two hours in the Xcite café just chatting! The circuit has been an amazing facility for me as I can do an hour of outdoor cardio-respiratory work on the bike. A ‘life saver’ facility, maintaining my physical and mental well-being!

Angus Gallie
President
Linlithgow Athletic Club

“An excellent asset” says Maree Todd MSP

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This video was filmed at our wonderful opening ceremony in May. The day included coach led racing, free coaching for women and mixed groups, a full programme of crit racing, a challenge ride, and a mass cycle on the circuit as part of the ceremony led by the Linlithgow Reed Band and Cycling without Age

As one young contributor summed up the day “It’s great for People who are learning how to ride, or race, or just getting into cycling, because there are no cars, pot holes, no gravel, there’s nothing to worry about part from you and the bike and learning skills and everything on a bike”

Were now open for public (£4/£2 concessions) and group sessions, call Xcite Linlithgow to check availability 01506 237960

Not worrying about traffic is a game changer

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Alison Fulton has been attending Women’s Hour at the West Lothian Cycle Circuit, and after a summer of coaching at the circuit she’s got the confidence to venture further afield with her son Rhuairdh

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With a bike mad family, I’ve always dabbled with riding; but I’ve struggled with the confidence and the fitness. With the West Lothian Cycle Circuit (WLCC) opening earlier in the year and road wheels on my trusty gravel bike I decided to give women’s hour a shot and to my surprise fell in love with the tarmac.

WLCC has been a game changer, not having to worry about traffic was huge and having a set time and knowing exactly what I was riding gave me the confidence to put in more effort in each week.

With the coaching I learnt how to corner faster and spend less time hitting the breaks. With newfound confidence I flippantly mentioned I would be keen to try the 2 bridges routing around the forth, and last Sunday with my 13 year old navigator and mechanic we completed a 75km route starting at WLCC and finishing near Livingston.

2022 me would never have believed 2023 me would have the road riding skills or the fitness to undertake the challenge and I’m now looking forward to continuing riding at WLCC over the winter to see what I can challenge myself to in 2024.

Women’s Hour at West Lothian Cycle Circuit, Mondays

Aim: continue to develop a community of women cyclists.
Sessions are designed to develop a skill, have fun, get a workout.
Sessions led by fully qualified cycling coaches
No need to be a member of Clarion, please share with friends and family or come along yourself.
Book (and pay if appropriate) via Spond https://group.spond.com/VSVTM

Group 1 – 6:30pm to 7:30pm, arrival time 6:15pm. Free session to boost confidence and encourage women onto bikes. Funded by UCI Cycling World Champs & Community Cycling Fund, via Eventscotland
Group 2 – 7:30pm to 8:30pm, arrival time 7:15pm. £4 per session. Focused on developing group riding skills
Group 3 – 7:30pm to 8:30pm, arrival time 7:15pm. £4 per session. A bit like an outdoor spin class, for those who can confidently ride in a group