How successful is your local CTC/CUK group?

[Philip Benstead]

Given the average age of CTC/CUK members:

CTC /CUK local group rides/events, what is the average age of the participants?

Does any group have unaccompanied under-18-year-olds on their rides/events?

Over the last year, how many new members have attended your CTC /CUK local group?

What was their age?

Male/Female?

[geomannie]

In a word, the average age of our active riding membership is old, almost all retired. Active riders only make up about 5% of the total membership in our area. I think most join for the insurance and because they broadly support the aims of Cycling UK.

We do get new riders, but almost all are older.

[Philip Benstead]

In a word, the average age of our active riding membership is old, almost all retired. Active riders only make up about 5% of the total membership in our area. I think most join for the insurance and because they broadly support the aims of Cycling UK.

We do get new riders, but almost all are older.

what is your area?

[geomannie]

Glasgow

[Tinkerbell]

Bit late to the party, but in case it’s helpful:

Sussex area

Our group is growing fairly well in terms of active riders , but almost all are retired. We have never had an unaccompanied under 18 (we avoid unaccompanied under 16 anyway due to lack of child protection facilities).

Roughly 1/3 female and 2/3 male amongst our active riders which can depend significantly on the length of/ type of ride (our easy 20 miler is far more popular with female riders than our all-day 60 miler).

We run 3 rides a week: Sunday long, Tuesday mid length and Thursday easy. Our Tuesday ride is by far the most popular but is generally more heavily weighted with male riders.

[Halla]

I am very interested to find out where in Sussex, Tinkerbell's group is.

East Sussex CTC, Seaford Newhaven section, have no formal Sunday rides, but meet in different cafes, it is usually car assisted for most, who no longer ride. The meet up lasts for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. There are riders some weeks who often decamp to the nearest pub or just go home.

Eastbourne/Hailsham colapsed many years ago and there seems to be a small group who regularly meet up from the Hastings area.

The Midweek group no longer has a formal structure, but there is a cafe meet- up, from where some small groups, known to each other do some sort of ride.

Anyone who turns up for the midweek, who is new, is usually ignored and they are not seen again - not very friendly, it has happened to a number of people.

Most people who do turn up are older and retired, there have been no new young members riding for many years.

One thing that happens with many "old pals" these days is weekday coffee and chat meetup on an informal basis.

There is a group called Cycle Seahaven based in Seaford which seem to be very well organised, however when I met 4 of them this morning, they were all retired males. But I believe they do organise a variety of different rides including women only.

With all the effort put in by CUK to train people to ride bikes, if once they are trained, do they get disillusioned having no groups to join and encourage them. How many of the newly trained riders actually continue, if enthusiasm declines.

How much effect does the lack of "club/group" set up, have on getting people to ride more, and longer distances, for example reliability rides and randonnees. It can be hard to get people to ride formal events if the weather is inclement.

Is the whole set up of CUK now detremental to the future of leisure riding and our groups?

Did the tourist competion, (which I understand no longer exists) encourage more people to participate and therefore ride more regularly.

I do know that some Audax rides are not as populaer or well attended as they were when CTC groups were stronger, and where riders would graduate to longer distances and harder riding.

In short "Is there a future for CTC Groups"?

[fatmac]

I don't see any club runs these days, not that I'm fit enough now, but I've tried in my area, but they wanted to be back for lunch, so it was mainly the same old routes, of about 40 miles.

I think keen cyclists want more variety, so end up going solo.

[mattheus]

With all the effort put in by CUK to train people to ride bikes, if once they are trained, do they get disillusioned having no groups to join and encourage them. How many of the newly trained riders actually continue, if enthusiasm declines.

How much effect does the lack of "club/group" set up, have on getting people to ride more, and longer distances, for example reliability rides and randonnees. It can be hard to get people to ride formal events if the weather is inclement.

Is the whole set up of CUK now detremental to the future of leisure riding and our groups?

Did the tourist competion, (which I understand no longer exists) encourage more people to participate and therefore ride more regularly.

I do know that some Audax rides are not as populaer or well attended as they were when CTC groups were stronger, and where riders would graduate to longer distances and harder riding.

In short "Is there a future for CTC Groups"?

I'll just respond to the two points in bold:

CUK training is not currently aimed at creating the next generation of group/long-distance rider. If it gets people commuting by bike, or riding with their kids, they've done their job.

I think it's true that CTC groups are contributing a little less to the AUK scene (compared to say 30 years ago), but AUK is alive and growing. New organisers, groups and riders appear every year.

[PH]

I do know that some Audax rides are not as populaer or well attended as they were when CTC groups were stronger, and where riders would graduate to longer distances and harder riding.

I think it's true that CTC groups are contributing a little less to the AUK scene (compared to say 30 years ago), but AUK is alive and growing. New organisers, groups and riders appear every year.

Audax has moved away from being dominated by the CTC, both in terms of the program and the participants, I did my first few thinking it was a part of the CTC! The idea that it's less popular is clearly incorrect, though there may be some exceptions. It used to be almost universal that you could turn up on the day and get a place, now many are full weeks before.

[mattheus]

It used to be almost universal that you could turn up on the day and get a place, now many are full weeks before.

You clearly didn't try to enter Will's Bristol-Plymouth 600 the other week.
Less than 20 started, 6* finished in time!

(*no, I was not one of them!)

/threadDiversion

[Halla]

I think we should return to the original question.

I would be interested to find out how successful local CTC/CUK groups are?

Do younger riders join CTC/CUK groups?

Members do work to keep our CTC/CUK group going despite large reductions in rides and riders in our area.

In our local area a lot of riders are elderly, many on electric bikes and riding alone or with friends groups or U3A but not CTC/CUK.

I would guess that younger riders would not want to join with those of us in out 70's and older just plodding along. Again I accept that a lot of older riders can still ride good distances and at good speed.

My comments about Audax were based on a local situation where in the past, events were run most of the year at all distances. I believe that the organisers have retired and the events as yet, have not been taken on by others or replaced with new routes. But some organisers are trying to keep things going.

I am very aware that Audax UK membership has increased which is good news, but may have reduced locally. Also that there are new organisers.

I am sure that in some parts of the country Audax events can be well attended.

There is also a lot of choice of Audax and non Audax long distance cycling.

Rather like life itself!!---- Cycling life is also changing !!

[Tinkerbell]

I am very interested to find out where in Sussex, Tinkerbell's group is.

East Sussex CTC, Seaford Newhaven section, have no formal Sunday rides, but meet in different cafes, it is usually car assisted for most, who no longer ride. The meet up lasts for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. There are riders some weeks who often decamp to the nearest pub or just go home.

Eastbourne/Hailsham colapsed many years ago and there seems to be a small group who regularly meet up from the Hastings area.

The Midweek group no longer has a formal structure, but there is a cafe meet- up, from where some small groups, known to each other do some sort of ride.

Anyone who turns up for the midweek, who is new, is usually ignored and they are not seen again - not very friendly, it has happened to a number of people.

Most people who do turn up are older and retired, there have been no new young members riding for many years.

One thing that happens with many "old pals" these days is weekday coffee and chat meetup on an informal basis.

There is a group called Cycle Seahaven based in Seaford which seem to be very well organised, however when I met 4 of them this morning, they were all retired males. But I believe they do organise a variety of different rides including women only.

…..

We’re in West Sussex Arun-Adur to be precise

Edit - Brighton and Hove have an active Sunday group with (I understand) some informal weekday rides. Horsham and Crawley also have an active Sunday ride. Both attract a mixed age range.

[drossall]

Stevenage have seemed pretty active over the years. I'm not involved, as I'm already in my local cycling club, and I don't do as much with that club as I might. But they've done beginner rides, Audax events and various other things.

[st599_uk]

Bit late to the party, but in case it’s helpful:

Sussex area

Our group is growing fairly well in terms of active riders , but almost all are retired. We have never had an unaccompanied under 18 (we avoid unaccompanied under 16 anyway due to lack of child protection facilities).

I'm not sure why you're separating out Under-18 and Under-16, legally they're both children and have the same protection requirements.

I've stopped organising events in this or my other hobby, sailing, because work is no longer reliably 9-5 Mon-Fri. I can get last minute requirements to work weekends and have to cancel last minute. It's even worse for our younger staff who now have to make last minute decisions when a free spot in their diary appears. Club membership is of little interest to many younger workers because they can't guarantee they'll get value for money.

[Tinkerbell]

I'm not sure why you're separating out Under-18 and Under-16, legally they're both children and have the same protection

I separated them because the OP asked a specific question about under 18s

I suspect this is because of those legal protections