Ask not what your club can do for you

As a club we are part of the South East cyclesport scene. We are affiliated to eleven separate organisations which give us both benefits and obligations. Additionally we run several “open” events where any member of an affiliated club can participate. Here are a few:

British Cycling

The big beast of racing in the UK. The organisation that sends team GB out to do battle on the track and the road. They also run the licensing and ranking system for most races in the UK. As you can see from last year we could do with a few more people scoring points.

BC also give us club insurance and discounted membership – which comes with individual insurance of the type required to ride with the club (other insurers are available). British Cycling South East are also organising some group sessions at the Olympic Velodrome (in addition to our own club booking which I’ll talk about in a later post) which ACC members will be able to attend.

Cycling Time Trials

This is the governing body of time trialling in the UK. As a member of an affiliated club you can enter any open event. Time trialling is a historically British way of racing, pushing yourself purely against the clock. We put on two open events a year – the 25 mile in April (still need a couple of volunteers) and the 10 mile in August.

Surrey Cycle Racing League

This is a local group started by ex-pro Keith Butler who you may have seen at Joyce’s table at the Pine Café. Our own Steve Broomfield has won their handicap competition for three years in a row.

London Cyclo Cross Association

For those that find the roads of Surrey and Kent too clean and smooth, cyclocross is the traditional muddy winter training for roadies. Last year we promoted an event at Penshurst which was very popular (we had riders in the Youth and Not So Youth categories). We are doing the same this year in September.

Upcoming Events

British cycling has had huge success is the past years. Rupert Murdoch and National Lottery money would be useless without volunteers to run the grass-roots level sport. Here’s where help is needed in the next few months:

Open 25 mile time trial

27th April, 6:00am at Broadbridge Heath Village Centre. Helpers needed for marshalling and canteen. Contact me for details.

Open track meeting

3rd May, 1pm at Herne Hill Velodrome. Helpers needed for signing on, finish line spotting and general marshalling. Contact Mark Leedham for details.

Surrey League Road Race

4th May, 9:00am at Bletchingly Golf Club. Helpers needed for marshalling. Contact Paul Tunnell for details.

Handicap race

15th May, 6:00pm at Newchapel. Helpers needed for marshalling. Contact Keith Lea for details.

Crystal Palace Crit Race

10th June, 6:00pm at Crystal Palace Park. Helpers needed for marshalling and signing on. Contact Bridget Malarkey for details

More information and discussion in the forum. More events and information can be found on the calendar.