Endura launch as 2012 domestic season draws near

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Endura Racing launched a strengthened team for the 2012 season last Saturday as part of the London Bike Show held at the capital's Excel Exhibition Centre.

The 2012 is team made up of 16 road riders, including the recently-departed Sky rider Russell Downing, and one mountain biker, Oli Beckingsale.

Other new recruits include ex-Motorpoint duo Jonny McEvoy and Ian Bibby, winner of the Premier Calendar Series last season and consistently one of the best riders on the British domestic scene.

Former British Academy rider, Erick Rowsell, Tour of Britain King of the Mountains winner Jon Tiernan-Locke and Aussie pair of Dean Windsor and Zak Dempster also bolster the team.

The team, who fly to a training camp in Majorca next week, are aiming are for success both domestically and internationally, with big targets including the National Championships and the Tour of Britain. Abroad, races such as the Tour of Majorca and Tour of The Med are on their radar.

Online entries for the GP Eddie Soens (March 3), the traditional curtain-raiser held at the Aintree motor racing circuit, can be made via the British Cycling website.

Fan favourite Ian Wilkinson remains on the team for 2012

MuleBar Girl, the women's team sponsored by the nutritional food producer, is running weekly women's sessions on London's Herne Hill velodrome.

Cycling Weekly's Rebecca Charlton has been on hand at the sessions and explains in this video why the team think it's so important to promote participation at grass roots level.

(Video produced by Edurne Bargueno)

Despite the weather being too gloomy of late to run the Sunday sessions, action will resume in February. Any ladies wishing to take part can find out more information at hernehillvelodrome.com (external link) or by visiting the Team Mule Bar Girl Facebook page (external link) for regular weather updates.

Last weekend (January 14-15) saw the running of a number of winter series races in and around London. Redbridge Cycling Centre hosted the first event of the East London Velo Winter series, with the E1/2 race being won with a solo attack by Phil Hersey (Eagle RC). Meanwhile Chris Short (I-Cycles) walked away with the spoils in the 3/4 event.

Southeast of London, the new Cyclopark at Gravesend welcomed the fifth round of the SERRL series, in which a three-up sprint saw Norwood Paragon's Ben Moore take the win in the E1/2 race. Mark McCullagh (Dulwich Paragon) triumphed in the 3/4 race.

Kent's Cyclopark has proved popular with riders who have visited - it opens to the public in the spring

Hillingdon's Imperial Winter Series is now in full flow, as is Jamie Pine, who took his fifth victory of the eight rounds held thus far. There were also wins for Peter Hudson and Matthew Bone.

LVYCC hosted the first round of their youth series as well, with racing from under-8s to under-16s, all taking place at Redbridge Cycling Centre. Riders were also out in force for the Calshot winter track league.

An embarrassing video showing heated exchanges between a Policeman and cyclist has gone viral.

In the clip posted on YouTube, the officer referred to as PC Stout attempts to hand out a fine to  cyclist Danny Shine, who had allegedly jumped a red light on Londons' Edgware Road.

The video, recorded on the cyclist's helmet last summer, shows the policeman getting more and more frustrated as the cyclist refuses to give his details, claiming he is not obliged to do so. A lively debate then follows!

Mr Shine has since apologised for his behaviour, saying his tone was "not loving and compassionate".

British Cycling have announced the GB teams, for next month's Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Koksijde, Belgium (28-29 January).

Fourteen riders make up the team, including Helen Wyman, Ian Field, Steve James and Hugo Robinson, meaning that four of the recently crowned national champions have made the selection.

Hugo Robinson took victory in Sunday's National Trophy support race in Shrewsbury

After two cycling related deaths in the space of three weeks, Transport for London has released plans to change the controversial Bow Roundabout.

The proposed changes are not yet clear but modify to the layout and operation of this now notorious junction are being considered.

With this being one of the main routes to the Olympic site in Stratford this summer, TfL director Ben Plowden has advised cyclists to "avoid using this junction until changes are made".

Flashpoint: The "dangerous" Bow Roundabout

Also, around 100 cyclists bought Kings Cross to a standstill in the middle of the rush hour last Monday (January 9) as part of a series of protests around London.

The aim of this peaceful protest, dubbed 'Bikes Alive,' is to highlight the issues over deaths and injuries sustained to cyclists within London.

Elswhere, London Cycling Campaign have called on the mayoral candidates to "pledge to make London a more liveable city for everyone by making our streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland".

For more information please see this weeks Cycling Weekly magazine.

The John Ibbotson fund has announced that the two riders it will support young talents Jack Kirk and Dominic Jelfs through 2012.

Both have previous experience of racing abroad and will compete in France throughout the year.

They will be sharing their experiences of the forthcoming the season on the fund's website (external link).

>>>We want to hear what's happening in your area - from racing results to sportives, recreational cycling to commuting. To submit your stories for CW's British news round-up, please email Nick Bull or Richard Abraham>>>

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