We’ve been approving the 2019 memberships since early December, and we’ve reached the monumental milestone of having 200 active members within our club.
Some of you may remember, have heard of or indeed might have been one of the “original 8” members who decided we’d pop £10 into the pot for British Cycling affiliation and would “just see what happens” – that was 2013, I remember doing the Great North Bike Ride a week or two before “BCC 1” a gentle ride to Corbridge, meeting at Newburn Riverside, at that stage it was just a group of like-minded cyclists using social media to meet up. A few months later we had a little meeting and took the plunge into official affiliation, the rest as they say, is history
In the coming months we designed and had custom kit made, and the ‘club rides’ became a litre more regular and as people developed the groups got bigger and current members invited their friends and we slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and took the decision to formalise the club and have a committee structure and open it to all.
We eventually formed a race team as a dip into The competitive side as we had been exclusively a ‘social ride’ club, after a period of bedding in and more interest flooding in we have formed a successful race team that’s regularly getting podium positions and as a club we’ve been lucky enough to host local and national level events.
We’re affiliated with both British Cycling and Cycling Time Trials so we can compete and host both Road Race and Time Trials, the fundamental social side of the club is still very much alive with our easy wheelers, development rides and club rides which have groups at all levels taking part.
We’re opening our horizons to cycle cross and off road (MTB) riding and in the future wish to expand on our abilities to be a club for all.
We’ve had members do many things, since our inception members past and present have took part in events both externally and organised by the club such as:
- Spanish training camps/holidays
- 200/300/600km self reliant Audax rides
- Club “in a day” challenges, c2c in a day & Edinburgh to Newcastle.
- Kielder Chiller 24 endurance ride
- Hill night sessions
- Newburn ‘loops’
- ‘Muddy Monday’ MTB/CX nights
- Countless sportives done as a club team
And many more that I can’t think of! Many of these are created and organised via our very active Facebook ‘members chat’ page where our members are encouraged to play and active part helping out other members and organising their own weekday events according to their ability, schedule and availability.
Everything that’s been done has not been possible without the hard work of both the committee and the clubs members, from the shortest of post-work rides right up the the organisation of national level events everyone’s desire to get stuck in and help, take part or volunteer is what makes the club what it is.
We’re 200 strong and 2019 could be an amazing year. We look forward to seeing our regular riders back, our newest members and those making a return to the saddle.
To join us if you’ve not already check out our 2019 membership information page.
On behalf of myself, the committee, all your other members and the local cycling community I want to say a huge thank you for being part of such a great club.
Rob
Club Secretary
#BlaydonCCWorks