Archive for Club News

Blaydon Awards & AGM 2018

On Saturday the 12th of January 2019 we held our AGM and club awards where we looked back on 2018, planned 2019 and celebrated and awarded the achievements of 2018’s season. Our venue was Tyne Amateur Rowing Club in Newburn.

Our Winners are as follows:

Club TT winners 
Vet Roadbike – Graham Mckinney
Senior Roadbike – Paul Wright
Women’s Roadbike – Rachel Galler
Vet TT – Justin Ramel
Women’s TT – Joanne Rea
Senior TT – Steven Craggs
Men’s HIll climb – Marcus Cram
Women’s Hill Climb – Angela McGurk

Club category winners
CX rider of the Year – James Hadfield
TT’er of the Year Male – Julian MacBride
TT’er of the Year Female – Joanne Rea
Road Racer of the Year Male – Marcus Cram
Road Racer of the Year Female – Gemma Hutchins

Mile Muncher – Corinne Black

Voted for by members

The Sergio Garcia (Surging award) – Del Fiddes 
Wheelsucker award – Darren McGurk
Pedal and Pint – George Russell
Wooden Sock – Paul Wright 
Crash Test Dummy – Paul Wright 
Best Newcomer Male – Marcus Cram
Best Newcomer Female – Rachel Galler
Most improved Male (Race) – Mark Whaley
Most Improved Female (Race) – Sara Cummings
Most improved Male (non Race) – Darren McGurk
Most improved Female (non Race) – Jane Aston
MTB Rider of the year – Sarah Pilkington
Club Run Rider of the Year – Richard Noble
Dev Rider of the year – Phil Conway
EW Rider of the year – Sophie Betts
Selfless Helper Award – Sharon Dyson

The club also rewarded Sharon, Frances Schultz, Peter Schultz and Jack Earl with Club branded jackets to thanks them for there amazing efforts over 2018 with stopwatches and cameras.

News: 2019 Ride Rota

Since The club was founded in 2013 we’ve adopted a ‘every other’ week schedule for the main club runs with the ‘Development Rides’ riding in the second week, Since our very humble beginnings we’ve grown in size and experience. 

From January 2019 we will be offering weekend  Club Runs every week on alternative Saturday and Sunday Mornings.  
The week that contains a Saturday Club Run will be the week with the Development Ride on The Sunday

New format of club rides

We hope that this will enable more people to attend club runs, we will have a ‘development ride’ pace on all of our club runs so everyone is included in the new plan. 

Club Run Photo

We are also dedicating 4 of the club run to “Away Days”  to go and experience new roads. These will be in the Lakes, North York moors and Yorkshire dales to name just a few, details of these rides will be published through the usual channels. 

2019 Membership OPEN

It gives us great pleasure to say that 2019 subscriptions are now open for renewal and for new members to join us!

Everyone new or renewing before 1/1/19 will get a free  Blaydon Cycle Club T-shirt designed by the brilliant guys over at band of climbers. (worth £23.99)

You can choose mens/womens and if you want a black or white or t-shirt.
even better news is that our membership prices have been frozen at £15 for individuals and £25 for couples. Membership to one of the reigons biggest clubs and a T-shirt, get signed up for another epic year with the club now!!

Click here for membership or head off to

http://bit.ly/subs2019

Merry Xmas and a Happy New year from all the Committee at Blaydon CC – here’s to another amazing year whatever your cycling goals!

Info: Winter Cycling Update – Winter 2018

Winter Rides: *Updated October 2018*

Please Read the below so you fully understand our intentions for winter club events.

It might only be October but we’ve already had a light dusting of snow (a little more substantial on higher ground) and the daily ritual of scraping the car windscreen clear has started, below is our winter rides information and policy, we want to run club activities as much as possible but we must ensure it’s safe to do so. Most importantly if you have any questions please read this and ask away.

General info.

Unfortunately living in the North of England we are at the mercy of mother nature. We just wish to to re-address the issue of winter rides.

We try our best to keep club activity to as near to as full time as we can, we were lucky in previous winters as we never really had any severe weather but we can’t promise this season will be the same. The newspapers have prophesied the ‘coldest winter in 5 years’ again! That may have us all saying  “they said that last year, and the year before that, and the one before that!”  but we have to prepare for all eventualities and have contingencies for the winter months.

Alterations to club activities.

Our club rides will be shorter than the summer months to ensure we are back to base before it gets too dark or the temperature drops during the hours of darkness.

Our development and easy wheeler rides may be altered to run into a merged ‘loop’ system where ‘loop 1’ will be the Easy Wheeler ride followed by the ‘loop 2’ being development ride. You are welcome to attend both but it is essential to remember you are asked to help the newer or less experienced riders on these rides, they are designed to develop members and gain experience and these rides will always be only as fast as the last rider.

We will also be running CX rides whilst the weather comes in, check our events for further details.

Safety of all members is our top concern and it may get to the point where for these reasons we call off a ride. If you don’t feel confident riding in the weather that has been forecast, there is no shame in dropping out of the ride if you think you won’t be to manage for whatever reason. If you have any doubts or question ask us, we have many seasoned riders in the club. The chat page and the event page itself are ideal for this.
However, the final decision to go out on your bike is down to you and any ride undertaken is at your own risk.

Safety & Legal Stuff.

We recommend lights for all rides during the winter months due to visibility being lower than the brighter summer months, especially for the ride to and from the club rides. For our week night training sessions they are mandatory (these rides take place in the hours of darkness, it’s also a legal requirement to be lit up at night (Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations)) – as a minimum, on a club ride a flashing rear light is suggested in daylight hours. (just think if there was an insurance claim, have you took reasonable precautions to aid your visibility) It is your responsibility to make yourself visible to others.

Please dress suitably for the conditions and temperature, we often ride in rural and isolated locations, especially on higher ground conditions can change within seconds. Please ensure you’re dressed for the weather (for example winter specific clothing,foul weather gear,  jackets, neckwear. gloves, thermal layers). On some rides you may be required to wait for others (especially development rides and easy wheelers) so bear this ‘waiting time’ in mind, equally if you have a mechanical issue you may need to stop to fix it or wait to be picked up.

Ride alterations and cancellations.

Regarding club rides and events, the decision to cancel or alter a ride will be made where we can, the evening before so during the winter please make sure for our events you check the social media channels.

On the occasion of a ride cancellation or alteration We will post a message on the main facebook page (facebook.com/blaydoncycling)

This decision will be made amongst the committee and/or a group of our regular riders from observing the current conditions, forecast and any weather warnings in place. Rides may be also subject to delay, cancellation or alteration (generally meaning cut short (by a ride leader)) on the day if we feel that it may not be safe to continue due to sudden weather or forecasts received. Please check the individual events and main page for any relevant messages before you leave the house that morning.

In the case of a ride cancellation the clubs decision is final.

January 2018 kit order

Do you want to look geet posh as owt when you’re out on your bike?
If the answer is yes, we’ve got some great news. Kit orders are available NOW until the end of January 2018.
Please order in this batch as it may very well be our only order (unless significant demand is there)
Those of you who’ve ordered kit in the past from Endura should have an email from them/us already reminding you of your login details. If you’re new, have not registered or for whatever reason don’t have an login or can’t get into it. Please contact us using the form at the bottom of this post and we’ll set you up on the system. Supply name and email and we’ll do the rest (please note this is a manual process so it won’t be instant)
Here’s the need to know stuff about ordering kit from us it might be the boring bit, but you have to give it a read:
  • We need a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of FIFTEEN items consisting of THREE large (main) items such as shorts / jerseys etc. Anything under the MOQ can result in excess payments. (Example: 7 male jersey, 3 female jersey, 5 bib shorts would qualify, but 8,2,5 in the same order would not)
  • You pay Endura direct, secure & online via card. When you are registered onto the system you will be given a unique link and login to get into the ordering system.
  • You can have the kit delivered direct to your door (additional fee applies) or to the club.
  • If there’s something you want from the catalouge (note: no, they don’t do ties for those who keep asking!) we don’t stock and you can meet MOQ’s ask and we’ll try and add it to our order. (This is by no mean a promise but if we can get the orders it will be given consideration)
  • Sizing information for Endura custom clothing can be found by clicking here alternative on club runs and events many of our members will be wearing the very kit you’re ordering so you can take a look.
To request a log in please contact us via facebook message to the club, Paul or Rob or use the form below. 
If you are messaging us via facebook we need name and email address.
[contact_bank form_id=4 show_title=false ]

Blaydon Cycle Club – Awards Night

Join us from 7pm at Tyne Amateur rowing club for an evening in celebration of the clubs past year, we’re celebrating the clubs great year as well as handing out a few awards:

Mile muncher
Longest ride
Most Epic ride
Best Tester (TT’er) – M/F
Best Road racer – M/F
Best CX Rider
Selfless helper award
Most improved rider
Easy wheeler rider of the year
Development rider of the year
Club rider of the year
Best Newcomer Male/Female

We will also be presenting the club TT/HC awards

Join us for a few drinks and a great chance to catch up with your clubmates.

Tickets will be £5 per person, £8 for Couples or £10 for a family ticket (up to 2 adults and 2 Children) This is to be paid into the Club account s/c :- 30-95-91 acc :- 35208560 Please ref this Awards (Name) – Please notify us when you have done this. 

Cancelled: Blaydon M12 Charity TT

It is with regret we inform you that our Charity TT (from 11am 17/12/17) has been CANCELLED due to the road conditions and sub zero temperatures, for the last few days the temperature has floated around 0 and large patches of frost and ice have formed on most roads in the area, we conducted an assessment lap of the course and conditions were deemed to hazardous for riders.

Club chairman Paul stated on Saturday evening : “I have just been up to check m12 for tomorrow’s charity TT and the course is too dangerous as it stands with another sub zero night due I have made the difficult decision to cancel the event! Riders have a choice of a refund or continue to give entry fee to the charity! This was a very hard decision as I know many had costumes and bikes ready but the course is simply not safe as it stands”

Safety is our number one concern and as organisers of the event we have to occasionally make tough calls, as much as we’d love to see everyone in their fancy dress and bikes on the M12 tomorrow we simply just don’t want to put people at risk!

As always any questions or concerns if there is any get in touch, and we’ll see you out there soon, thanks for your understanding in this matter.

 

2018 Club Membership

Here’s the information on how to join us for 2018. Please ensure you’ve read our members terms (here) before you sign up.

Pay Club Fees

NEW Members:
£15 Individual – This covers a single membership aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec
£25 Couples – This covers two persons members aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec

Early Renewal – Existing/Returning Members*: Valid Until 7/1/18
£10 Individual – This covers a single membership aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec
£17.50 Couples – This covers two persons members aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec

head over to http://bit.ly/bccmembership to sign up

Membership will be under the same conditions as 2017 and prospective, new and existing members are respectfully requested to take time to read the membership rules which cover the clubs code of conduct and are a condition of entry/membership.
These can be found at blaydoncycling.co.uk/join-us/memberterms/

 

 

 

* to take advantage of the the ‘existing/returning membership you must have held a 2017 full / half year membership or a couples membership, the couple’s membership is also available if one existing member wishes to introduce a partner to the club for 2018 Membership application must be submitted to us via British Cycling by 7th January 2018 to take advantage of the reduced rate. After this period standard membership rates will apply. Members are requested to make sure all emergency / ICE information is up to date.

Press Release: 2017 Christmas Charity Time Trial

[START]
CLUB CHARITY TIME TRIAL TO HELP TWO LITTLE GIRLS

Blaydon Cycle Club will host their second annual Charity Time Trial this December to raise funds for two little girls with rare Batten disease.

Nicole and Jessica Rich were both diagnosed with the terminal illness within months of one another, striking a blow no family should have to endure. Since receiving the news, family and friends have tirelessly raised funds so the girls get the support and treatment they need.

Father, Matthew Rich, is a member of Blaydon CC who have pledged their support to the family. Their first fundraising time trial took place in December 2016 raising £1000 and proving a huge success not only in raising money, but for everyone involved.
Club Chairman, Paul Wright, said, “We planned last year as a one-off but it was immediately obvious it would make a worthwhile annual event.”
The time trial is held on the 12 mile ‘M12’ course in Stamfordham Village, Northumberland.

Despite being a regular racing route, the expectations on the day are more in keeping with the charity angle, with prizes given not only for best times but also for the craziest costumes and outlandish bikes.

[See attached image: ‘Adam Jarps of Manilla Cycling as The Grinch’]
The 2016 event saw cyclists of all abilities mixing it together, from national racers to social club riders, most of whom choosing to abandon their usually aerodynamic style for one that really gets into the Christmas Spirit dressing as The Grinch and, of course, Santa!
[See attached image: ‘Michael Todd of Derwentside CC – Christmas Tree Tamdem’]

Paul Wright said, “It was a fantastic day which far exceeded what we’d hoped for the Rich family! The enthusiasm was amazing and the effort everyone went to was overwhelming. It would be great to repeat that again this year.”

The 2017 event again takes place in Stamfordham Village, Northumberland on 17th December and is open to all CTT affiliated clubs and riders.
[END]

NOTES TO THE EDITOR
More information and entry details can be found here:
www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/16148

You can read more about the Rich family’s story here:
www.thenicolerichfoundation.org.uk

 The Nicole Rich Foundation was set up in 2016 by the family, only weeks before
their second daughter, Jessica, was diagnosed with the same disease. Both
daughters are undergoing extensive, pioneering treatment to slow progress and
hopefully find a cure for the disease.
 Nicole is five years old and Jessica is two.
 Battens disease is a rare genetic disorder which causes progressive deterioration of
the brain and nervous system. Sufferers may lose their sight, speech, ability to walk
and develop epilepsy before the disease ultimatly claims their lives.
 Blaydon Cycle Club was set up in September 2013 and has grown to 180 members. The club caters for all abilities with various group rides from beginner to development through to a successful team of racers.

Featured Photos – click to download .zip file.

2018 Subs: Black White & Red Friday

Subs are now open for 2018  and we thought we’d get in with the ‘Black Friday‘ spirit as we launch the new membership season with our take on things, we’re calling it ‘Black White and Red Friday‘.
As promised reduced early renewal rates that were discussed at our AGM earlier in November are available.

We are back for 2018 bigger, and stronger. We are delighted to announce that 2018 subscriptions for Blaydon Cycle Club are open.

First of all, the important bit the prices:

NEW Members:
£15 Individual – This covers a single membership aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec
£25 Couples – This covers two persons members aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec

Early Renewal – Existing/Returning Members*: Valid Until 7/1/18
£10 Individual – This covers a single membership aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec
£17.50 Couples – This covers two persons members aged 18+ for the year Jan-Dec

head over to http://bit.ly/bccmembership to sign up

* to take advantage of the the ‘existing/returning membership you must have held a 2017 full / half year membership or a couples membership, the couple’s membership is also available if one existing member wishes to introduce a partner to the club for 2018 Membership application must be submitted to us via British Cycling by 7th January 2018 to take advantage of the reduced rate. After this period standard membership rates will apply. Members are requested to make sure all emergency / ICE information is up to date.

Membership will be under the same conditions as 2017 and prospective, new and existing members are respectfully requested to take time to read the membership rules which cover the clubs code of conduct and are a condition of entry/membership.
These can be found at blaydoncycling.co.uk/join-us/memberterms/

2017 has seen the club grow and at the time of our AGM we had 180 members, grown from an initial 8 in summer 2013 we’ve come a long way. We have dipped our toes into racing and hosting ‘open’ events with more of these planned for 2018.

We’re hosting a Christmas TT in December with the emphasis on fun as opposed to speed, from the race team, to club rides and across the board to Development Rides and Easy Wheelers we are catering for a large and diverse group of cyclists.

We look forward to seeing you and continuing our cycling journey in 2018. If you have any questions please ask us in person, over our social media or via the contact section of the club website.

Thanks for your continued support from both myself and on behalf of the BCC Committee.

Rob – Club Secretary