Chris...last year in Belgium was 10th anniversary ...see shirt.....so 2000....sometime around June/July....check with Bob. He and I over coffee after coming back from a ride decided to open our rides to anyone interested....There were actually about 6in Ashwell who started riding with Bob around 16 years ago...Bob, Hugh Lewis, Andy Bartlett, Michael Sheldrick, Adrian Mallett and Myself.Bob was the only real cyclist...everyone else did it to get fit and have some fun. We thought we were doing well to ride 25-30 miles at anything from 13-15 mph. Initially we were cream crackered after the ride and slept in the afternoon. Andy got a bit stressed with me as I tried to get faster and everyone gradually dropped off leaving just Bob, Myself and Adrian to carry on for 2-3 years more every Sunday come rain or shine. We did the odd 100 mile as we progressed, but it was hard with just 3. We kept seeing odd cyclists and as their number gradually increased I said to Bob how there ought to be loads of like minded cyclists all doing their own thing who might like to join us.
We decided to give it a go and Bob put an article in the Village Magazine, Ashwell News. That was early in 2000 and in their ones and twos we gradually increased our numbers from 3 to 12 in the first year. year 2 saw a big rise in numbers and we grew to nearly 30..........the rest is history and I think we put on 10 members in the last 6 weeks. In truth, not everyone wanted the club to grow as it has, I take the main blame for that as it has always seemed the right thing to me that we shoulkd always encourage others to join. With more members we have more options on rides and suchlike. Seems that many others feel the same hence our rise in membership. Long may it continue.
Comments
We thought we were doing well to ride 25-30 miles at anything from 13-15 mph. Initially we were cream crackered after the ride and slept in the afternoon.
Andy got a bit stressed with me as I tried to get faster and everyone gradually dropped off leaving just Bob, Myself and Adrian to carry on for 2-3 years more every Sunday come rain or shine. We did the odd 100 mile as we progressed, but it was hard with just 3. We kept seeing odd cyclists and as their number gradually increased I said to Bob how there ought to be loads of like minded cyclists all doing their own thing who might like to join us.
We decided to give it a go and Bob put an article in the Village Magazine, Ashwell News.
That was early in 2000 and in their ones and twos we gradually increased our numbers from 3 to 12 in the first year. year 2 saw a big rise in numbers and we grew to nearly 30..........the rest is history and I think we put on 10 members in the last 6 weeks. In truth, not everyone wanted the club to grow as it has, I take the main blame for that as it has always seemed the right thing to me that we shoulkd always encourage others to join. With more members we have more options on rides and suchlike. Seems that many others feel the same hence our rise in membership. Long may it continue.
Nice one Geoff. We have come a long way in a short time, thanks to you guys.
I hear we may be looking for a Social Secretary.... I would like to stand for that at the AGM, and have some ideas...
See you tomo if you riding
The key role to fill is Chairman and we would like to have some volunteers for this an dother roles.
Come on Guys.....give it a whirl.