Search found 20 matches

by hazychris
22 Apr 2017, 1:47pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Who ceased CTC membership after charity conversion, etc. ?
Replies: 46
Views: 38505

Re: Who ceased CTC membership after charity conversion, etc. ?

I'm afraid I left, partly as a result of the charitable status conversion, and partly because of the awful CUK rebranding, and partly because the member group I'd heavily invested effort in had become regressive.

British Cycling ticks the boxes for me now, seems better focused in campaigning, supports clubs better (yes - I set up a new club under BC) and despite the highly publicised "package-gate" is run efficiently, effectively and most importantly transparently.

It has been sad to see the "transformation" of CTC over the last 5+ years.
by hazychris
4 Dec 2016, 10:29pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

BTW, PH, the "traditional CTC club" Corallian split from did a "ride" yesterday, the pictures of which can be seen here: http://www.ctcwantage.org.uk/rides.php?id=2794

16 riders. 14 on road bikes. 1 on a flat barred hybrid with road tyres. 1 on a Chas Roberts traditional Audax bike.

The times are a-changing in some "traditional CTC clubs".
by hazychris
4 Dec 2016, 10:13pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

Good points PH - and spot on the money.

We found that the "CUK formula" did not really support a bunch of mates who want to ride together and maybe draw in like-minded riders, so we have consciously not applied it. Horses for courses, as you say.

The area has not lost out as there is an existing and successful club CTC Wantage, renaming to Cycling UK Wantage, that does cater for new and returning and gentle cyclists, but was struggling with numbers to appeal to all segments of the membership. One such segment has broken away to become Corallian. We intend to complement, not compete. Being independent, Corallian will be more accessible to people who didn't / don't want to join CUK.

The website (sadly for the greater good) is bespoke for the club, developed pretty much from the ground up, so isn't readily templateable or copied / adapted. We were clear exactly what we wanted, and the Chairman is a whizz at such things. Had we commercially developed it, there would have probably been 100 man-hours of coding, not to mention business analysis to get it to be the right thing in the first place. Previously we have found that the website can be the greatest asset a club has. It can also be the greatest cost. My advice to any club is to find a member who is a software developer and make something awesome. PH - if you want some insight as to what we have underpinning, let me know. If you're not an IT guy, it might hurt your head a bit though!

"Touring" is an interesting word. We're just really "riding" at the moment in the winter season, but rides during longer days will always have targets of places or scenery of interest, and diversity of location. Touring, riding, it's shades of the same thing. The same ride can be "touring" to some people and "just riding" to others!

As an example, three Corallians on a holiday in September did an awesome "ride" to go and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Navacelles, or was it "touring" - route and some pictures can be found here: https://www.strava.com/activities/718812462. We didn't have panniers, and we were all on slinky road bikes, but there was a bit of beardage going on....

Cheers,
Chris
by hazychris
4 Dec 2016, 9:57pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

Thanks for your wishes, landsurfer.

You raise some really important points, and ones that we considered when we decided what we wanted to be and how we were going to go about it.

1. Our new club needed to have a focused identity beyond the fuzziness of "something for everyone" - we found that to be too dilutive of effort.
2. The "traditional CTC club" didn't really inspire us, and the "new CUK" was too distant from what we want to do - be a riders club, not a charity supporter.
3. The tagline of "Sociable leisure rides for enthusiastic cyclists" was born - we didn't want to encourage non-riders, and we don't want to race - we want to be in that Goldilocks zone in the middle.
4. Above all else, we wanted to be able to make all the decisions about how the club was constituted and managed. We want to control our vision and destiny.

In all honesty it feels great to be freed from the shackles of an incoherent and badly out-of-date "Member Group Handbook" and a closed shop of membership that does not support members who are not aligned to the charitable aims and means of CUK.

Fundamentally though we've found that there's a better relationship between energy in and fun out!
by hazychris
4 Dec 2016, 9:28pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

A quick update on Corallian now we're two months in:
* We are now at 20 paid up members - half our first year (ending Oct 2017) target of 40 paid up members
* There have been 15 club rides since 1st October, and our weather record has been awesome :wink:
* Club members have covered over 4500km on club rides since 1st October
* Marketing plans are being drawn up to recruit new members when the Spring has sprung.
* A club discipline of riding has easily been established with the result that rides are safer and more sociable than most of us have experienced with other clubs.

It feels like the club has now got into a clear rhythm and we have established our identity and culture.

Starting a club up is never easy, but if you are clear what you want, and how you are going to get there, it's great to watch it develop a life of its' own.

http://corallian.cc
by hazychris
10 Oct 2016, 8:59pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

Thanks Rob - your club's change was an inspiration point for us, so we owe you... if you're ever down in South Oxfordshire and fancy a ride, I dare say we could extend you an honorary guest pass :wink:
by hazychris
10 Oct 2016, 6:56pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

No compulsory helmets. BC have been like a breath of fresh air - professional, organised and pragmatic.
by hazychris
10 Oct 2016, 6:43pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC
Replies: 56
Views: 27199

Re: Are CTC members happy with the direction of the CTC

My CTC membership runs out soon. It will stay run out.

Me and two kindred spirits have left (all three are current or past committee members, Secretary, Chair, Treasurer, Rides Secretary, Membership Secretary, Webmaster positions covered over 10 years) our current member group on the grounds that CUK has become a closed shop that is an expensive and irrelevant umbrella for participatory cycling clubs. In just 6 weeks we have:
* Decided to start up a new club
* Got banking facilities
* Become a British Cycling affiliated cub - insured officers and volunteers
* Designed ordered and received new club kit
* Been DBS-trained and certified to protect vulnerable members
* Made an excellent website
* Hit 10 members without any promotion or marketing
* Become solvent
* Started a calendar of club rides

It's easy folks - don't let anyone tell you it's too hard. We have control of our member lists, our rules, our future.

CTC / CUK is now irrelevant as a member organisation, and seems to be way behind British Cycling as a campaigning force. R.I.P.

Our new club is at http://www.corallian.cc - if anyone wants any insight or help on how easy it is to have exactly the club you want, let me know.
by hazychris
4 Mar 2016, 11:20pm
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: It's all in the name - Cyclists' TOURING club
Replies: 703
Views: 295813

Re: It's all in the name - Cyclists' TOURING club

We a r s e, I cling.

Sorry for being rather tongue in cheek, if you'll indulge the pun.
by hazychris
4 Jul 2014, 12:22am
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: "Spirited" riding
Replies: 2
Views: 32133

"Spirited" riding

Quick question to see how other member groups feel about this....

On regular evening rides with our "athletic" group, we often have one or two sections of the ride where, when safe to do so, a portion of the group might become quite "spirited", with the blessing and encouragement of the ride leader, who may or may not partake. These are definitely not "races" and there is no "winner" other than everyone who increases their fitness. The wider ride is OK with them too, as they are of limited duration (a hill or known stretch) and the group coalesces again at the regular points - the sections are never more than a couple of km, so the ride in reality is only spread over a minute or two on the road.

Do other groups condone, encourage or forbid such practise? What is the wider opinion? How does this tally with insurance and national policy?

Thanks for sharing,
Chris
by hazychris
2 Apr 2014, 8:25pm
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: Leading the CTC way
Replies: 16
Views: 55305

Re: Leading the CTC way

We have just been through the process of updating and training out our guidance at CTC Wantage. A motion at our last AGM (below) gave the mandate to do this, and we've had a generally good response from ride leaders, save the odd one or two who think they know it all ;-)

Our new volunteers list is based upon those who are either experienced and capable (and have had a refresher by briefing) and the newer ride leaders who have had little help in becoming ride leaders previously, but have now been trained.

Anyone who'd like to chew over our learning is very welcome to drop me a note.

Chris Walters
Secretary, CTC Wantage

Materials are here:
http://www.ctcwantage.org.uk/blog/wp-co ... -03-17.pdf
http://www.ctcwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=210
http://www.ctcwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=404

Training syllabus:
1. What do we expect from riders – a walk through the rider guidelines (pre-read)
2. What do expect from leaders – a walk through ride leader guidelines (pre-read)
3. The role of the sweep
4. Planning rides
a. Ride descriptions and how they relate to your ride
b. Route planning websites
c. Updating the club website
5. Leading the ride
a. Registering riders and dealing with minors
b. Briefing
c. What could possibly go wrong?
d. Dealing with poor riding standards
6. After the ride
a. Website write-up
b. Dealing with issues


AGM Mandate:
‘This motion recognises the effort and dedication that CTC Wantage ride leaders willingly give. Not all ride leaders are adequately supported in their development, and this motion calls on the Committee to formally put measures in place to support ride leaders and assure the standards of ride leadership such that rides are safe and enjoyable for all riders:
(i) That a formal register of ride leaders be put in place, including types of ride that a leader is experienced in leading
(ii) That simple training sessions for new and inexperienced ride leaders are organised, covering topics as listed in the "How We Ride" on the CTC Wantage website: http://www.ctcwantage.org.uk/blog.php?p=210
(iii) That a process of recruiting ride new ride leaders is put in place to ensure that the club can grow sustainably by having sufficient experienced ride leaders to cover a comprehensive ride calendar without relying on just a few leaders.’
by hazychris
14 Jul 2013, 10:25am
Forum: Stolen, Lost, Found, etc.
Topic: Lost - Garmin 800 - 13/07/2013 - Cotswolds, Daglingworth
Replies: 0
Views: 55852

Lost - Garmin 800 - 13/07/2013 - Cotswolds, Daglingworth

Lost - Garmin 800 - 13/07/2013 09:30 - 10:30 - Cotswolds, between Kemble and Daglingworth

Blue Garmin 800, in black silicone case, lost (looks like it came off the mount (quietly).

Please reply if you have found it. Owners details on startup splash screen, or DM / reply here if you have found it and want to return it.

Thanks,
Chris
by hazychris
26 Apr 2010, 9:11am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?
Replies: 17
Views: 1886

Re: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?

DougieB wrote:do people really pursue litigation if they crash while on a group ride ? (amazing)

There was a case recently, which got thrown out, effectively on the basis that drafting or close riding is contra the highway code, which states something along the lines of "you must always have enough space in front of you to be able to stop safely" and clearly, bunch riding would not work if we kept so far apart. Might as well go time trialling at that point :wink:

For drsquirrel, yes we do require CTC membership after a few tryout rides, which includes 3rd party insurance. I'm personally in the camp of accident prevention though rather than post-accident litigation.
by hazychris
25 Apr 2010, 10:11pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?
Replies: 17
Views: 1886

Re: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?

DougieB wrote:can't you just do what you feel like? I doubt you really need someone else to tell you what to do. if you don't want them, disallow them. if you don't mind, then let them ride. it's fairly simple, no ?

there's far too many rules in this life...


Thanks for the constructive (?) input. The thing I'm trying to understand is whether a whole bunch of other clubs consider it a safe or unsafe practise, and therefore whether our club might be alone (and scarily incorrect) in allowing or encouraging tri-bars in group ride - this would therefore (in the worst case of an accident and follow-up litigation) put the committee in poor light in terms of competence. As I say, it's not a scenario that has happened at our club before and we're looking to gain experience of what other groups do before we decide either way - there's pros and cons in the discussion.

It's absolutely not simple (and we definitely don't want to make rules for rules sake) or I wouldn't be asking this venerable forum for some input and constructive thought. Thanks to everyone who has replied so far!

Thanks,
Chris
by hazychris
25 Apr 2010, 8:46pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?
Replies: 17
Views: 1886

Re: Tri-bars and TT bikes on club rides?

Thanks meic! Our group tends to ride as a "bunch" rather than a "string of riders going the same way" - makes it imperative that you know which riders to give a wide berth :twisted:

To your last point I was looking for input in either direction, as we need to have some experienced views both for and against, so we can make an informed decision.

Thanks,
Chris