For those living in the more seriously Northerly reaches of this fair isle, there is only one place to be come January the 4th, 2015. Organisers David Hamill and John McComisky have set up this year’s Pedal Power Dig In at the Dock to be a carnival affair.
Before you even get to the racing details, there is the Sambalistic Samba Band, a collectable race programme with a free cowbell, face painting and the now traditional Raffle competition to finish the day off in style. For local cycling clubs, there are coaching prizes to be awarded for the ‘loudest most colourful cycling club that attends.’ You dont even need to miss out on the January sales as race sponsor Pedalpower in West Calder will be bringing down their full clothing range at January Sale prices and tyre kickers can see bikes from Giant, Cannondale and Ridley in the pro cycling arena zone. It sounds about right when the organsers say, ‘Come along and make some noise as well as enjoy a carnival atmosphere’.
But there will also be racing. Action starts from 11am on the shoreline, with the hour long race scheduled for 1pm and with 150 racers confirmed it looks set to be one of the largest cross races in Scotland this year. For the fourth year in a row, local ex Scottish cross champ and organizing committee memberm Jimmy Smellie has put up a prize for the best young rider in the race. Last year saw riders from all over Scotland attend. This year as well as riders from England, Scotland and Ireland, there will be riders from France and Sweden what some are calling “Scotland’s Favourite Bike Race”. This is what the organisers said about the pointy end of the confirmed field.
“The best riders already down to ride are top Scottish professional riders and previous winners James McCallum (whatsyourmeta.com) and Rab Wardell (Orange Monkey Pro Team) with popular local Falkirk racer David Lines (Velosure-Starley-Primal) sure to me in the mix for a result, as well as former Scottish Champion and Olympic Development rider Iain Paton (Scott/Pioneer/Syncross). The top pro riders will take on Ridley Scottish Cyclocross Series Veteran Champion Stevie Jackson (Glasgow United), and hot to trot Women’s series winner and Scottish Champion Isla Short, who will announce on the day the name of her new team before she embarks on the U.C.I World Cup Mountain Bike circuit for the season. With 25 female riders in the Morning Glass Designs supported class you have an incredibly diverse field for spectators to cheer on, something the organisers have always championed since the inception of the race.”
For more info on the race, check out the Dig In at the Dock Facebook page.
The Organisers wish to thank its event partners: Pedal Power West Calder, Falkirk Community Trust, Falkirk Council and Grounds Department, Ridley, Lazer, Dirt School, The Grange Kitchen, Giant, Cannondale, Mark Young, Jammy Johnstone, Scottish Cyclocross, East Kilbride Cycling Club, Craig Hardie, Jimmy Smellie, Alan Anderson, Chris Feltham.
All Images courtesy of: DIATD – Velo Sportive, Pressroom
