Welcome to Jo Blakeley to the Maxgearettes!

Take a look at Jo's first blog with her goals and aspirations for 2013.  We think you'll have no problem going under the hour Jo!   
Jo Blakeley's blog: My Bike and I

Top 5 for Nicola in first ever UK indoor criterium

At the Rapha Women's Elite Indoor Nocturne at the London Excel this weekend, the first ever indoor criterium race,  Nicola placed 5th, their group lapping the rest of the field.
The race was flat out from the start, with Clemence Copie attacking from the whistle and staying away the whole race. The chasing group of 4 including Alice Barnes and Louise Mahe tried to bring back the leader but it was difficult with the twisty nature of the circuit. The gap came down to ten seconds at one point during the race,but the group couldn't quite make it  leaving the four to contest a sprint for second place.

Nicola's impressive result is a sign of better things to come for her and the rest of the team in 2013. Click the link below to read Nicola's blog.

Nicola Soden's Blog: London Bike Show Rapha Elite Women’s Indoor London...:

Rider blog: Frankie White reflects on 2012

Frankie reflects on her 2012 season and the difficulties of juggling work and racing - Frankie White's Blog: The bike life balance

Meet the team!

Following the release of the details of the exciting new line up for next year, the girls were contacted by the lovely Heather Bamforth (cycling shorts) for their thoughts on the new team members, targets for next season and the development of Women's cycling in the North West. Some of the development races have been included on our new 2013 race calendar, which will be updated as more information becomes available.

Click here to see the interview.

TEAM NEWS - New riders for 2013

We are proud to announce two new riders for next season Lauryn Theryn and Joanne Blakeley who will join current riders Eve Dixon, Frankie White, Melissa Bury and Nicola Soden.



Lauryn and Nicola Minichiello

Lauryn has a wildly varying but successful sporting career to date. Athletics was her main sport up until the age of 20 when she became thrower who competed in the Javelin and Discus at World Youth Games and Commonwealth Games. She then turned to Bobsleigh in 2006 where she competed for Great Britain on the Europa Cup Circuit, World Cup Circuit and at the World Championships, ranking 6th in the World. 

Lauryn collecting her silver medal in
the team sprint

Lauryn took up cycling in 2011 after attending a talent transfer programme run by UK Sport called Girls 4 Gold. She joined the Cardiff Jif Cycling Club winning Welsh National medals in road and track. She has also played Rugby and was selected for the England 7's Development Squad.

Jo goes for an attack at the Women's
National Road Race - the Surf & Turf
2 day (stage 1), thanks edrollasonphotography!

Jo is relatively new to cycling after coming from a running background. She was shortlisted for the Girls 4 Gold programme and rode with local club Seamons CC this year in her first 'proper' road season. She won the TLI National Road Race Championship and has finished top twenty in National Women's Road Race Series Races. She is also a very strong time trialist with several wins and podium places and 5^th at the National Hill Climb Championships this year.

We are really proud of what the team has achieved this year with top tens and podiums in the National Women’s Road Race Series, National Women’s Team Series and races in Belgium and Holland. There have also been top National Championship performances, with Nicola placing 10^th in the National Scratch Race Championship, Melissa winning Rollapoluza National Championship and coming second in the Grass Track 800m National Championship and most recently hill climbs with Eve winning the National Junior Women’s title for the second year running. 
With the new team members, we are confident we can achieve even more next year!

The team would like to thank all the sponsors for their continued support.

Our 2013 line up
Eve Dixon
Frankie White
Joanne Blakeley
Lauryn Therin
Melissa Bury
Nicola Soden

Rider blog - Eve Dixon on her 2012 season

Picture by edrollasonphotography.co.uk

Eve Dixon's Blog: The ups and downs of bike racing: Eve writes about her 2012 season, which has had plenty of ups and downs. She is a smashing rider and we're proud to have her on the team.

Onwards and upwards for 2013, we've got a feeling its going to be your year Eve!

National Hill Climb Championships 2012

Eve climbing the toughest section of the
Rake into a headwind

Well done to Eve this weekend for succesfully defending her as National Junior Women's Hill Climb Champion. Brilliant ride by Nicola too who, after working really hard in the build up to the championships, crashed into the barrier at the start but still managed a more than respectable time of 3:36 and 6th woman in the competition - click here to read Nicola's blog. The weather was a bit to be desired, but a fantastic competition and a tough climb. Thanks to Stuart, Richard, Ian, Jo, Mick and everyone else who helped out.