Drighlington Bicycle Club
Information Pack – For New Members
Drighlington Bicycle Club
Information Pack – Contents
1. Introduction and welcome
2. Activities offered
3. Club structure and officials
4. Club clothing (range, sizes and prices)
5. A list of current members
6. Club requirements for members
7. Annual subscriptions
8. Young riders (under 18’s)
9. Sunday Club runs
10. Group riding
11. Open events (organised for all other clubs)
12. Club competitions and trophies
13. Club records
14. The Club’s Constitution
15. Social events
16. Annual calendar – example of Club events
17. Useful website and addresses
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1.Introduction and Welcome
Drighlington Bicycle Club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities to come and enjoy the range of cycling activities offered and improve their cycling skills and performance.
The Club draws from a wide area around west and south Leeds. Based in Drighlington, the Club has members from areas that include Pudsey, Bradford, Drighlington, Morley, Birkenshaw, Dewsbury and Osset.
The history of the Club dates back to 1925. Members are young and old, male and female. Total membership has doubled in the last 2 years to 60 on the back of the popularity of cycling in all its forms in Britain. The Club has recently broadened the range of cycling it offers to attract and support more members.
As a result the Club has created this information pack to make the entry of new members into the Club easier and provide guidance and further contact details. I do hope you will take time to read and absorb it.
Welcome to the Club
Mick Phillips
(Club Chairman)
2.Activities offered by the Club
The Club offers a range of cycling activities. An outline of each activity is provided below with the details of a Club member you can contact if you want more information or guidance in pursuing that activity.
Sunday Club runs – these are social rides that take place on a Sunday morning throughout the year. New and prospective members are encouraged to come along and try these out. They leave from the Drighlington cross roads (outside the Pasha Indian restaurant). You need nothing more than your road bike, appropriate clothing (short sleeves in summer, long sleeve in autumn and more layers in winter), a drink and something to eat. Most rides have a cafe stop. More details in section 9.
For more information please contact Dave Fitzpatrick on 07713166357 or at
Time trialling – these are racing events that take place on most weekends and weekday evenings between March and October. Usually over distances between 10 and 100 miles, each rider will set off at 1 minute intervals and ride against the clock. This is the event Bradley Wiggins excels at. Most Yorkshire courses are out towards Borough Bridge or Hull (where there is less traffic). You can use your road bike but the more experienced riders will be looking for all the aerodynamic advantages (lightweight frame, lower riding position, less air resistant bikes and helmets).
For more information please contact Ian Galbraith on 07764696079 or at
Track cycling – throughout the year the Club organises taster track sessions at the Manchester Velodrome. It also organises sessions for those more familiar with the track experience. Available dates will be made known to all members. You can hire the required equipment from the Velodrome centre (or use your own where you have it).
For more information please contact Dave Todd on 07767498902 or at
Cyclo-cross and mountain biking – there are a number of members also interested in mountain biking and will organise mountain bike rides during the week and on some Sundays. There are local cyclo-cross events that you can enter. Club support and advice can be provided.
For more information please contact David Todd on 07767498902 or at
Sportives – theseare becoming increasingly popular and many members are taking part in these throughout the year. These are mass start rides usually of distances from 30 to 100 miles (and more). You or your group ride at your own pace. They are usually advertised on the internet but regularly talked about in the Club. Many have challenging terrains.
For more information please contact Andrew Harley on 07841492917 or at
Ladies section – in recent years the Club has attracted a number of lady riders who have the comfort of knowing there are other lady riders in the Club. Most ladies find they can comfortably join all other cycling activities within the Club with all other members.
For more information please contact Maria Mulleady on 07751205157 or at
Senior section – a proportion of the Club’s riders are 50 years or above with some now 60 years and more. The Club wants to encourage members to continue riding for as long as they can. To that extent it is important that there is someone in the Club to look after their interests.
For more information please contact Mick Phillips on 07763717288 or at
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3.Club structure and officials
President and Chairman – Mick Phillips
General Secretary – Mark Woolley
Treasurer – Mike Willmetts
Racing Secretary – Dave Paul
Website Administration – Paul Leese
Publicity andClothing– Greg Kershaw
Sunday Club Runs – Dave Fitzpatrick
Social Secretary – Maria Mulleady
Club Welfare Officer – David Barrell
Club Welfare Officer – Tracey Rhodes
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4.Club clothing (range, sizes and prices)
The Club currently offers a choice of two kits; a white kit and a blue kit (see front cover of this Pack). The blue kit is largely worn by the first group and the white kit by the second group (see more about groups in Sunday Club Runs) but the choice is yours. The design of the white kit is currently under review and may well become a ‘white reversal’ of the blue kit.
Kit is now provided by a local clothing company, EV2 of Morley. For samples and prices see their website EV2 also have an office and counter where members can visit and look at samples of the Club’s kit. Equally orders can be placed over the telephone or by email. The company will usually keep an order open for up to 2 weeks (so multiple orders can be processed together) and delivery times are currently 4 to 5 weeks.
For more information please contact Greg Kershaw on 07870218852 or at
5.A list of current members
As at June 2015 the Club has 65 members of varying age and ability, all riding either for social, fitness or competitive reasons. A full list of all current members (showing their Club role where they hold one) can be found on the Club’s website at Club Members
6.Club requirements of members
As a new member joining the Club there are a few things you will need to be aware of and commit to. Firstly you will need to take out suitable insurance cover. As a minimum this should be third party, to cover you for damage to other people’s property should you have a cycling accident. The Club prefers you have British Cycling (‘ride’ insurance is recommended) or the CTC (the national cycling charity) insurance.
For more information please contact Mark Woolley (Secretary) on 07944706947 or at
Secondly you will need to ride Club events in Club clothing (Sunday and Wednesday rides). As a new member this will not happen straight away but you will need to consider purchasing Club clothing.
And finally you will need to endeavour to marshal at least one of the Club’s 4 Open time trialling events it organises during the year. These events showcase the Club and raise valuable funds for social events and other things the club subsidies (like clothing). If a member marshals two events or more in the year, they receive a 50% discount on the cost of their Club dinner in the following January. The Club maintains a marshalling planner showing who has volunteered for each event.
7.Annual subscriptions
Subscriptions are due each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM normally takes place the first Monday in November. There are 4 categories of membership; junior, senior, second claim (someone who is also a member of another cycling club) and social member (someone who is not or is unable to ride at the moment). Subscription rates are reviewed annually at the AGM. From November 2014 the rates are as follows; junior £7.50, senior £15.00, second claim £7.50 and social £7.50.
Where a person joins the Club during the year they will be required to pay the full fee above. They will again have to pay the full fee in the following November but will receive a reduction based on the following;
- 50% reduction if they joined within the last 3 months
- 30% reduction if they joined within the last 6 months
8.Young riders (under 18’s)
The Club wants to encourage riders to join from an early age. However, it must be safe for both the rider and the Club to do so. For that reason the Club has a few rules around this.
Riders can join the Club from as young as 12 years if they are accompanied by a parent or carer on rides. Then, depending on how long a young rider has been with the Club, the Club may decide the rider is sufficiently competent to ride without a parent or carer subject to the parent or carer accepting he or she rides at their own risk (whilst being suitably insured) as in the case of all other riders.
As a result of taking young riders the Club is required by British Cycling regulations to nominate at least one Club Welfare Officer that any parent, carer, or other Club rider can report any concerns to. Club Welfare Officers are required to be appropriately checked (a disclosure and barring service check) and given appropriate child welfare training.
The Club’s Welfare Officers are David Barrell (who can be contacted on 07554050804 or at ) and Tracey Rhodes (who can be contacted on 07708287048 or at )
9.Sunday Club runs
The Club currently organises two Sunday Club run groups, both currently leave at 8.30 am (but this changes throughout the year (so please check Club website Sunday Club Runs). Both are social rides (riding and talking) and usually go to the same destinations, with typically up to 12 riders in each group. The first group is for those wanting a harder work out and the second group is for those recovering from racing or wanting a more moderate pace. The two groups may set off together and stay together for most of the ride. At other times, depending on the pace, the groups may at some point separate.
All Sunday Club runs leave from the Drighlington cross roads (outside the Pasha Indian restaurant). The destinations of rides are usually agreed in December for the year ahead. The rides for 2015 can be found on the Club website at Sunday Club Runs 2015. Most rides will usually have a café stop for refreshments (you can check with the group before you leave on the day). You need nothing more than your road bike, appropriate clothing (short sleeves in summer, long sleeve in autumn and more layers in winter), a drink and something to eat.
A Sunday Club run points competition is organised for the Club member out on most rides during the year. More details on how that competition works can be found in section12. Each month the Club’s website shows a league table of the contenders for the competition.
For more information please contact Dave Fitzpatrick on 07713166357 or at
10. Group riding
Many new members may not have ridden in a group before. This can be a little unsettling at first but you will quickly get used to it. You can prepare yourself by reading the British Cycling advice on group riding. Key to riding in a group is keeping your eyes and ears alert to ‘calls’ (like stopping, or braking) or ‘signals’ (like pot holes close by or a parked car in the way). All the ‘calls’ and ‘signals’ are included in this advice.
When out on Club runs, it is incumbent on the senior, more experienced riders of any of the groups, to ensure the safety and welfare of all other riders in the group. That includes riding safely in the group (riding together as a group, proper signalling, safe overtaking, observing traffic signs, traffic lights and other road users, and correct pacing) and ensuring all riders make it safely home.
Where a rider is clearly struggling, arrangements will be agreed that ensures that rider can comfortably get home which will include considering; reducing the pace; waiting at junctions or lights; agreeing another rider drops back and returns home with the struggling rider; or if all other options have been explored, allowing the rider to return home alone if they are comfortable doing so and know the way back.
11. Open Events (organised for all other clubs)
The Club organises 4 Open events during the year (plus a hill climb) for riders of all other cycling clubs. Where there are sufficient marshals, Drighlington BC riders can enter these events. All other cycling clubs organise similar Open events, that Drighlington BC riders can enter. This is an opportunity for clubs to promote themselves and raise funds to subsidise club activities, like club clothing and social events.
The Club’s Open events (and month) are; 25 mile time trial (May), 10 mile time trial (June), 10 mile time trial (July), 25 mile time trial (August); and a 0.8 mile hill climb (on Scotchman Lane, Batley in October). The time trials take place on Saturdays and the hill Climb is also on a Saturday in 2015. Exact dates are agreed at the September Club meeting for the forthcoming year. Each event has a Club event organiser. For 2015 these are; 9 May 25 mile TT is Ian Galbraith, 6 June 10 mile TT is Gary Rhodes, 11 July 10 mile TT is Richie Towers, 1 August 25 mile TT is Dave Fitzpatrick, and the Hill Climb 17 October is Wayne Fitch.
12. Club competitions and trophies
The Club organises a series of competitions throughout the year;
(a)Sunday Club runs – members compete for the Points Shield. The competition rewards 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. One point is provided for making each Sunday run and a second point is provided for completing the ride (or making at least 30 miles) The competition runs from November (Sunday following the AGM) until the following October. A further point is provided for attending each Club meeting. Accumulative points for each year are regularly updated and can be found at Sunday Club Run Points 2015
(b)Time trials – members compete for the Tingle 25 trophy (a 25 mile time trial in May), for the Radley 10 (a 10 mile time trial, also in May) and for the Arthur Smith trophy (a 25 mile time trial in October). There are awards for the fastest man and lady, and the fastest on handicap. These are a great opportunity to get involved.
(c)Reliability Rides – the Club organises a series of longer group rides during the year; 60 miles (York and back), 80 miles (Doncaster and back), and 100 miles (Retford and back).The dates of those rides are included in the list of Sunday Club runs referred to in section 9. Members need to complete these rides within a 15 mile per hour pace to receive a Club certificate (exact time allowances are set out in the Club’s Constitution referred to in section 14).
(d)A Hill Climb – the end of season hill climb is a local race (Scotchman Lane, Batley) that doubles as an Open event and a Club event. It is a good chance for all members to get together, with most choosing to compete and test themselves on this steep 0.8 mile course. Afterwards the Club organises a light buffet at the Needless Public House (where the car park is used as the event headquarters). A trophy awaits the winner, runner up and first lady.
13. Club records
The Club records the best time achieved in a time trial by any Club member for a range of distances (for both men and women). These include time trials by individual riders for distances of 10, 25, 30, 50 and 100 miles and for team rides of 10 and 25 miles. In addition there are endurance records for the most miles completed by a rider in 12 hours and in 24 hours. There is also a record for the Scotchman Lane hill climb.