Rossendale Tri Preparation

Many club members have started their first events of the year and/or are preparing for their next one. The Rossendale Triathlon is on the last Sunday in May and it is part of our Grand Prix competition.

The bike route is hilly and worth practicing before you attempt it. Having completed it again this weekend, I think that it's worth passing on some advice and information on about the route. You don't need Strava or GPS to find your way round, it's pretty straightforward.

The route starts at Marl Pits Leisure Centre in Rawtenstall (marlpits.co.uk) where there is plenty of parking and at the RU club next door. When you leave the leisure centre car park turn left and keep climbing until your reach a road called The Bridleway and turn left. Follow this to the end and turn left.

You now follow this road for about 4.5 miles just shy of a T-junction above Burnley. (You will pass the Hargreaves Arms and there are currently some road-works which may still be there). When you see the T-junction you turn sharply left and diagonally onto Crown Point Road. This road is a rolling set of 4 hills with some steep bits and some poor surfaces at the edges. There are 2 cattle grids at the top of two of the hills-the first is in good condition and has space to pass on the left; the second is currently in poor shape and you may need to dismount to get over it. I've reported it to the race organisers as they may be able to put boards over on the day.

At the end of CPR there is another left and another climb before a 3-4 mile descent back into Rawtenstall. On the day you will dismount before the lights in the town centre before the leisure centre turn and wheel your bike round the corner. If you are doing a recce turn left and climb back up to the leisure centre.