As On Yer Bike continues to expand its presence in the road and gravel cycling scene, we believe it’s important to invest in the local racing scene. For 2026, we’re proud to build on our commitment to racing by sponsoring two local criterium racing leagues that sit right on the doorstep of our three stores. Many of our staff are active racers themselves, both on and off road, analogue and electrically assisted, so supporting the scene isn’t just a business decision, it’s something we’re personally invested in. It also means the advice and service you get in our shops comes from genuine passionate enthusiasts who understand the demands of racing and riding first-hand.
Grassroots racing is the backbone of the domestic road scene. It provides accessible competition for riders of all abilities while creating a welcoming environment for those taking their first steps into racing. It also gives local riders the opportunity to mix it up with some of the biggest names in domestic cycling, who often turn up for a hard training session. That opportunity to line up against riders of a higher level is one of the foundations of the sport we love; road cycling is one of the few sports where there’s so much opportunity to truly “race up” and learn.
Supporting these leagues allows us to help keep the criterium racing scene alive while strengthening our connection with the riders and clubs who make the sport so special. We often hear about the importance of grassroots racing being overlooked, so we’re putting our money where our mouth is by backing the races with podium prizes, rather than just British Cycling points up for grabs. We’re helping organisers keep entry fees down and making the leagues more accessible as the organisers don’t need to worry about the prize money. These vouchers can be spent in store or online with no minimum spend.
Salt Ayre Cycling Association Crit League – Lancaster
One of the leagues we’re supporting this season is the crit series coordinated by the Salt Ayre Cycling Association in Lancaster. Held at the Salt Ayre circuit and hosted by an assortment of local clubs throughout the year, the series offers racing for a wide range of categories including staggered start racing. A great opportunity for lower category riders to mix it up with the big hitters, if they make the catch!
As the organisers put it:
“Salt Ayre Cycling Association are excited to have On Yer Bike as partners for our 2026 series of races at grassroots level, for all categories of junior and senior riders. We try to keep the cost of riders to a minimum to encourage more to compete and On Yer Bike’s support is a great help with this.”
The series will run on Tuesday evenings throughout spring and summer, starting in April, you can enter here.
Cycling Development Pendle Partnership Crit League – Barrowford
We’re also continuing our involvement with the criterium racing at the Steven Burke Sports Hub in Barrowford, organised by the Cycling Development Pendle Partnership.
This Thursday evening league has become a staple of the local racing calendar, offering fast, competitive racing in a controlled environment. With a weekly 3/4 and E/1/2 race available, it provides opportunities for everyone from newer racers to experienced riders looking for high-level competition.
The races take place most Thursday evenings from April through the summer months, making it one of the most consistent racing fixtures in the region. You can enter here.
Entering the Races
All races in both leagues are run under British Cycling regulations and must be entered in advance through the British Cycling website.
To keep things simple for organisers and avoid administrative delays on race nights, there will be no entry on the line, so make sure you enter ahead of time if you’re planning to race. Entry for the Barrowford league will close approximately a week in advance with the Salt Ayre league closing the Sunday night prior to the race.
With categories catering for a wide range of abilities, these leagues are ideal whether you’re new to racing or sharpening your form for bigger events later in the season. After all, racing is far more enjoyable than solo interval sessions. Get involved, test yourself, and support the domestic racing scene because if we don’t use it, we risk losing it. Also, with a few vouchers up for grabs each week, they can soon stack up into a pretty worthwhile prize by the end of the season.
If bunch racing isn’t your thing, Lancaster Cycling Club also runs competitive time trials at the Salt Ayre circuit, as well as higher-level open road events, both offering a great benchmark to test yourself against.
Building Local Cycling Communities
Supporting these leagues is part of a broader commitment from On Yer Bike to strengthen the local cycling scene around our stores.
While we’re well known for our mountain bike and e-bike offering, we’re continuing to grow our reputation as a hub for road and gravel riders across Lancashire and the wider North West.
Alongside sponsoring local competition, we’ve also committed to working more closely with cycling clubs in the areas surrounding our three shops. From supporting club activity to helping promote local events, we want to play an active role in building a stronger cycling community and getting more people out on bikes.
If you’re local to any of our stores and looking for a friendly group to ride with then you should consider joining your local cycling club. Pendle Forest Cycling Club offers rides for all levels of road cyclist throughout the year, including winter training sessions at the Barrowford circuit and regular club runs. Lune Cycling Club runs weekly rides in close proximity to our Lancaster store.
Our supported local clubs also benefit from access to exclusive deals through On Yer Bike.
To get involved in our on and off road rides, you can stay up to date by joining our Strava club or one of our various Facebook groups.
Supporting Events Beyond Racing
Racing isn’t the only part of the cycling calendar we’re excited about. We’re also working with our clothing partner Tactic Sport to help promote local sportive events throughout the year – watch this space!
Sportives provide another fantastic way for riders to challenge themselves, meet other cyclists, and experience some of the best roads the region has to offer. By supporting both competitive racing and participation events, we hope to encourage more people to get involved in cycling at every level.
At On Yer Bike, we believe that bike shops should do more than simply sell bikes. Cycling is built on communities, volunteers, organisers and passionate riders who keep events running week after week. By sponsoring local racing leagues, supporting clubs and promoting events, we’re aiming to give something back to the sport that supports us.
Most importantly, we want to help create a thriving local cycling scene; whether that’s someone pinning on their first race number at a Tuesday night crit, lining up for a Thursday evening race as preparation for a National A road race at the weekend, a new face on the club run, or taking on their first sportive.
Browse our range of crit-ready race bikes here.
