About Ludlow Cycling Club

THE HISTORY

Around 1986 Janice and Duncan Forsyth came to live in Ludlow, and Janice had a job with the local Council, as a Welfare Officer looking after the needs of the youth of the town. Having done some cycling at their previous location, she thought that forming a local cycling club for her “charges” would be a good idea to give them occupation and an interest.

The club officials were teachers, with an interest in cycling. She took her charges on summer cycle-camping holidays in France (using Council tents and equipment), a Sunday morning club run for a few hours, evening 10’s, and a weekly club night at the Bishop Mascal Centre. Thus the Club was formed, largely as an extension to Janice’s employment.

From 1988 onwards, “real” cyclists started to arrive, and Janice’s charges diminished.  Also the mountain bike revolution took off, and the Club had more mountain bikers than road riders. Evening MTB races were held in Mortimer Forest (in addition to evening 10’s) under the guidance of Pearce Cycles.

From around 1994, the MTB riders gradually took up road time trials, and preferred it to off-road riding. The balance of riders then swung from off-road to on-road, to maintain the ratio seen today.

More road riders joined the Club, mainly those in their 30’s and 40’s, to swell the membership to its present nominal sixty.

For a relatively remote area, with a low population, this is an exceptionally high membership. In summary, from a most unusual beginning in life, the baby has grown quite big.

THE MEMBERS

One thing can be said of all cycling clubs, and we are no different:  cycling is the pleasure and pastime of people in all walks of life, every discipline, every occupation. We can marry you, make you better if you are ill, arrange a divorce for you, and bury you when you die. Your pet is ill; you fancy a holiday; the road needs patching on your training run; your computer has crashed; need a gun to shoot; want a new car; how about a statue for your garden, and a watering system to make it grow. We can offer help, advice (cheap rates) and services, to assist with all your troubles in life.

You can’t afford not to be a Member as well! As a very mixed lot, the comradeship and companionship shows no bounds. The friendly rivalry in time trials, is only exceeded by the bon ami of our social activities. We are all typical cyclists.

THE ACTIVITIES

We don’t keep all our eggs in one basket. The scope of our activities is staggering, there really is something for everybody:

• From April to September there is a full club time trial programme, with 23 events from 10 to 25 miles.
• Winter MTB runs are held on Sunday mornings, over forest or high hills.
• Sunday winter club/training rides leave at 9-00 am from Ludlow leisure centre, ride at the speed of the slowest, and get home for a late lunch, having squeezed in a café stop.  We
• Longer distance weekend away MTB rides are arranged.
• Car assisted MTB rides in the Welsh hills.
• Visits, to ride the Manchester Track, ride in the Bromsgrove Track League with fellow club mates, overseas to see the Continental 6 Day Track Meetings, and ride the local countryside by day.
• Club nights are held, the first Wednesday in the month, during the winter “off season”.
• We take part in sponsored charity rides.
• The Club BBQ is a hoot.
• We promote an Open 10 time trial in July (won last year by Stuart Dangerfield).
• A growing interest in having a go at Vets Age Related Road Racing with the LVRC.
• Summer Wednesday evenings see club rides at Cleobury Mortimer.
• Last, but far from least, the Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation.

We promote an activity to suit every taste and requirement. You can be assured of joining a helpful, happy and friendly bunch, who all share the love of just cycling. We are not just unique, we are perfectly normal.

by Michael Davey

Club Constitution

Click here for the current club constitution.