Welcome
We are a friendly diverse Cycling UK member club with active members ranging from family members with accompanying young children to riders in their 80s. We take part in many of the various disciplines of cycling including cycle-touring, cycle racing (time-trialling, road racing, track racing on the velodrome), cycle commuting and also mountain biking. Several of our members have undertaken some very broad ranging cycle tours covering all continents, some taking more than a year to complete. Our enthusiasm for the many aspects of the sport of cycling has also contributed to several of our members becoming extremely fit and winning cycle racing medals at National level in recent years.
Given our rides programme, our social programme and our depth of experience of the sport of cycling we have a great deal to offer to any prospective new members. Sunday club rides are always relaxed and sociable and new members are always given a very warm welcome, plus plenty of support and encouragement. In addition to our Sunday rides programme, several of our members also run other ad-hoc rides of varying intensity levels throughout each week, which are generally organised on club runs or by email or text message.
Our membership districts are defined by the postcodes BB1 - BB7 inclusive, and by the towns of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley (Mellor, Langho, Billington, Whalley and Clitheroe). Cycling UK members outside of this area are still eligible to ride with us. We usually cycle beyond this area, on Sundays, to the Yorkshire Dales, the Pennine Moors or to the Lancashire Coast.
New Members
This club welcomes anyone who would like to try out our various activities. These include regular Sunday club rides, touring weekends and a clubroom with a social programme from September to March.
Prior membership of Cycling UK is not essential for new members but it does provide insurance cover and is necessary for anyone participating in club competitions. Full membership should be taken out after a trial period of approx. one month and prior to participating in any club tours, standard rides, time trials and club competition events.
Riders under 16 may participate in club rides provided they are accompanied by an adult or have the committee’s permission to ride with the club. All riders under 18 need to have their parent’s permission before participating in any club activities. A disclaimer will be required by the committee as proof of this. These can be obtained from the club secretary.
Introduction to group riding
The first Sunday of each month, from April to October, we are having quite short rides for those who’d like to try group riding. They start at Whalley bus station and last about 4 hours and include a cafe break along the way. This month saw the group leave Whalley and head towards Ribblesdale, taking in an easy bit of rough stuff and a stop at Gardenmakers, near Wigglesworth. Not only did we have some come along for the first time but a few old hands joined in to share their cycling wisdom!