Archive for April 27, 2014

27th April Rides

A very rainy Sunday seen 2 rides head out, we’re now edging towards calling our ‘Beginners Rides’ Development Rides as that is a more accurate portrayal of what they are, a chance for everyone new, experienced or whatever your ability to learn now ways of riding, pick up tips and cheer each other on.

The first ‘big’ ride seen 6 head up towards Blanchland, over the tops into the North Pennines then loop back at around 50 miles, from what I heard the going was quite fast, and it too was a bit of a soaking wet ride.

The Second ride which was our ‘Beginner’/Development ride had 15 riders who joined us, unusually (due to a weeks break for Easter) both rides started at 9am at La Taverna.

The first loop into Newcastle was pretty uneventful in such a way everyone kept close, and we got there without incident, we got to our second lap and decided due to the rain to slightly reduce the remaining ride to around 30 miles, in that short 20 miles or so we had a broken spoke, and a bottle cage that managed to sheer from the frame of a bike, add that to a little set up error at the very start it may have been one of those rides where we had our most ‘mechanicals‘.

All in all feedback for the development rides is superb, we are getting our highest ridership and we do hope that within a short time those on our short rides can progress to the extra loop then soon the ‘main’ club rides.

as always we seek any feedback or comments, you can leave these below by simply using your twitter or facebook details (other services can be used as well). These rides are becoming a firm favourite and we’d like to improve on an already successful idea.

Beginners Ride 3

They say 3rd time lucky… We hope so! Building on the previous success of the past two rides we are offering another shorter ride. The first part is 10-11 miles of relatively flat riding, the second part is more like a ‘typical’ club run but with a few extra point to which we regroup.

We will ride the 1st 10-11 miles at a pace to suit everyone, we then return to start to drop off the first group then riders may continue onto the full ride.

for all rides you must wear a cycle helmet, no helmet, no ride. You should bring suitable water (or drinks) and snacks to keep you going on the ride.

Please inform us that you are coming by clicking bit.ly/AprilShortRide if you don’t use facebook please comment below with Name and number of people coming (Under 18’s must have an adult with them).
FULL RIDE DETAILS are on the above link and updates generally sent via facebook. For more general information on our introduction rides / Beginners rides please click here

On the longer loop there is a cake stop. please bring cash just in case there is no card facility.

Subs: An update

I’ve had a few emails, tweets, etc etc about new members paying subscriptions:

I thought it would be appropriate to update all on the status of subscribing for those already not ‘paid up’ members who have expressed an interest.

First of all on behalf of the club thanks very much for your support, the growing membership list is great!

We have raised the money initially need to cover set up costs for the club, so now there is no great urgency to ‘get cash off people’ if you want to join we are waiting for our bank to set up the account (could take a few weeks yet, to be honest I am amazed the British Cycling Affiliation took a matter of days, not weeks!)

When the bank account is set up you will be to ‘buy’ your BCC membership online, this is easier for us as:

  • It is automated
  • The money goes direct into the club account
  • Personal details are recorded on a central database for us (so we cna print out Emergency contact lists etc)
  • We can send out newsletters via British Cycling
  • There is less scope for error in subs paid.

When everything is set up a blog/twitter/Facebook message will be put up with how to join. once again thanks for your interest and your patience! This is all new to many of us and a huge learning curve, but slowly things are falling into place, and by the time the spring is in full swing we shall be an official, fully functioning club!