Ladies evening

Stephanie WheatleyDevelopment Secretary

• Background of Verulam CC• Club activities • Other Club activities• Future topics/sessions• Refreshments

Introduction

Background• Verulam Cycling Club

– St Albans Bicycle Club founded c1878.

– Verulam CC Founded in 1890, refounded after WW1 in 1927.

– Currently has c280 members – one of the largest clubs in the region

– Club constitution:• “The purpose of the Club

shall be to encourage cycling as a sport and pastime.”

– A very broad, inclusive purpose – almost anyone on a bike is welcome.

Club Activities (1)

– Weekly Sunday club runs – 5-6 groups of different abilities

– Time trial series, ladies 10, 25, 50 and 100 mile trophies, ladies Seabird trophy, Stokes trophy, ladies BAR trophy

– Open 25 miles time trial 22nd July– Ride4aReason (24 June) – community

cycling event; aimed at encouraging cycling

– Group participation in Cycletta sportive

– Weekly clubroom – talks and social events

Other club activities

– Monthly mountain bike rides.– Club coach – fully qualified coach available to

members at modest cost: (Rachel McKay, 07754 654724)

– Social events and trips– Annual dinner- November.– Training trips abroad – Mallorca, Alps– Website forum

Other club activities• Not organised by the club – but going on

‘beneath the surface’ between members.• … a big benefit from being in a cycling club,

being part of a community.– Trips to UK sportives (ie, White Horse

Challenge)• www.cyclosport.org

– Trips to continental sportives (ie La Marmotte)

• www.cyclosport.com – Mountain bike weekends (ie, Afan in

November).

Other club activites• Occasional Audax rides (non competitive, cyclo-orienteering type event –

good fun); 100km, 160km, 200km, 300km, 400km, 600km,…. www.aukweb.net

• Annual trips to the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites etc.– Experience to tap into; mistakes to avoid, knowledge of routes etc

• Trips to Mallorca – – At much lower cost than going through a commercial venture

• Commute to central London group (it’s not as bad as you think!)– Weekly coordination email.– 10 – 15 riders who commute(although not all at one time).

Two more events

• Mountain Biking at Afan in South Wales

• Just 4 hours from St Albans

• Mountain Biking racing in Black Park (nr M40)

My choice for VCC ladies• Various Sportives – Magnificat, Ups & Downs, French Revolution, South Downs• Club 10 mile time trial – Tuesdays near Codicote• 25 and 50 mile time trials • Challenging events, such as the John O’Groats to Land’s End ride• VCC Hill climb - Preston• Age group participants in both Ironman and 70.3 Triathlons

Future topics/sessionsFuture topics for ladies evenings could include

• Basic maintenance, practical sessions on how to change an inner tube.

• Training to succeed – where do I start

• Nutrition

Summary

• You’ve joined a club you can get involved in!

• We have many Club activities, so try some

• Your cycling interests are maybe others too

• Future session you would like to see covered

Thank you for listening

Any questions?