Chief Executive’s statement on CTC’s new brand

Further to our extensive consultation last year with CTC members, member groups, partners and key stakeholders, I am writing in response to the various online posts and discussions to confirm that our charity has a new name.

Through the rebrand process we engaged with over 2000 members, supporters, partners and local and national government departments across the UK. Based on this comprehensive research, and listening to your views, we are confident that this change is one that reflects the pride that we all take in our charity, and that helps to magnify the great work that we do to inspire people into cycling, campaign to protect the gift of cycling, and help people to overcome personal barriers to cycling.
Our charity will still legally be registered as the Cyclists’ Touring Club with its charity and companies registrations unchanged. The Cyclists’ Touring Club is not being disbanded. In fact, part of the need for this change is because we hope the new brand will enhance our touring offering. The new name (as I’m sure many of you will now have seen) is ‘Cycling UK’ and the brand ‘we are Cycling UK’ will be adopted as ‘trading name’ of the charity. We are very proud of our heritage and history, and we know that a new name and brand will really help to make our charity even more attractive to many more people.

As planned, we will be officially launching our new name and brand in April, through Cycle magazine, our online communications channels and via the media. We will also be back in touch with you before then to provide you with new resources and guidance so that your group can maximise this opportunity to raise the profile of your group locally, to help to attract new members and to gain local media interest.

We hope that you are as excited as we are about this positive step for our charity. Together, We Are Cycling Uk!

Author: PaulKelly

A Group: Feb 17th

The A group was smaller than normal today - just 12 set off from Weybridge. Was it the weather forecast or my threat of muddy lanes?  The first part of the ride was straightforward heading out through Addlestone and Woodham Lane to West Byfleet and then through Pyrford and Poleden Lane to Send. From there it was Potter's Lane and the A3 to Burpham followed by some suburban ramblings through Merrow to minimise our time on the A25 and reach Tangier Road. Countryside returned in the shape of Halfpenny Lane to Chilworth and then on through Blackheath to the Bricklayers Arms at Shamley Green. Lunch was a bit slow and it was about 2.30 before we got away as the first spots of rain were falling. Never mind - a loop south to Run Common brought us back to the A281 for a few hundred yards and then left into Brookwell Lane, an access road and bridleway with a good surface leading to Gate Lane and Thorncombe Street. The latter tries to impersonate the Greensand Way in parts but it was drier than Sunday's recce and we were soon back on clear tarmac to Bramley. By now a steady but not heavy rain was falling and some had headed for the train. A climb up Echo Pit Road to Warwicks Bench behind Guildford Castle brought us to the A25 at the top of the town and the remaining 9 of us headed to Squires at West Horsley where 5 stopped for tea. The rain must have been moving eastwards very slowly because it was barely drizzling when I got back to Ashtead. 38 miles from Weybridge to tea.

Author: Brian

"A" Group 17 Feb 2016

Thank you Brian for a wonderful ride today through many interesting lanes that I had not been through before. If I recall there were 14 starters from Weybridge and we all had a good lunch at the Bricklayers Arms. Photo above shows 12 of the disciples as Dave V and Jed had left before the rain had started to make an early exit home. I found the ride hard but I am grateful to back marker Geoff  for nursing me all the way to tea at Squires West Horsley. Apologies for the early photo no doubt Brian's full report will follow! Approx 58 miles for me, no doubt well exceeded by many. I was quite bemused by the route via the back of Guildford resulting in a steep climb to avoid the cobbles up the high street!

Author: mike morley

B Group 17 February

This morning we avoided the usual confusion of a mixture of A & B riders all waiting for the call to be off, by leaving after the As.  Much easier for the leader and it gave us a clear run from the start.  There were 19 of us (including 3 cycling friends of Peter Tiller - Maggie & Bob Waller, John Morris).  With rain having been forecast for later in the day, we were pinning our hopes on a dry ride, especially since this particular one had had to be aborted back in August when the heavens opened just as we arrived at Virginia Water Lake!  Thankfully, all went well this time and we actually reached the planned pub for lunch, the Rose & Crown at Woodside.  Our route took us out through Addlestone, Lyne, Virginia Water to the Lake.  Here, even on a grey day, there were many families out with children in this Half-Term week.  In fact the rhododendron bushes by the side of the path beside the lake were 'alive with children' playing in them!  We came out at Blacknest Gate and continued, mostly uphill, on the road, arriving at the pub at approx. 12.45p.m.  There were three people behind the bar to take our orders and lunch was finished well within the hour.

Alas, it was just starting to rain when we came out of the pub!  Oh well, nothing for it - just cycle home in the rain by the most direct route, namely through Windsor Great Park, down Tite Hill, through Egham, to Staines, along the towpath to Laleham and so to Shepperton.  By now we had dropped off one or two people (Peter T. had had a puncture) and the general consensus of those remaining was to head on home and not bother with a tea stop - apart from Dave & Jane who expressed a wish to go to Cafe Mocha at the traffic lights in Shepperton, so Ed and I joined them.  Thanks to Terry for being Back-marker.  (Gill Finlay)   

Author: Terry

A ride - Weds 17th

Contrary to the runs list, its me this week and Hans next.

We are off to Shamley Green and some rare lanes to follow. Prompt start please just in case the rain comes early. No "off" road as such except the depth of crud which separates your tyres from the tarmac. My 25s were a bit skittish on the worst bit so be warned.

Author: Brian

New club for Touring Cyclists : TCC

Wayfarers may be interested in the following:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/911322558887222/
Post by Denis Snape

Further to my recent posts about setting up a new resource for Touring Cyclists a new website is being launched today. Early days in the thinking process but the plan is to create an online community for like-minded cycle tourists - not another Facebook but a website full of resources for a wide variety of touring and technical matters.
Please go to the new Touring Cyclist Club website and help shape the direction it takes and, if you want, offer your assistance to run it. As it is new the site won’t appear in Google search for a few days but the link is below. On the site you will be able to add your thoughts on the site's direction through the discussion Forum and I'm interested form links.
Together we can build a new resource and, if people want it, even a new Touring Cyclist Club.

HOME

Club for cycling tourists

TOURINGCYCLISTCLUB.ORG.UK|BY SUPER USER

http://www.touringcyclistclub.org.uk/index.php/2016-02-11-17-09-01

Author: PaulKelly

CTC Tri-ennial Vets 100 Mile Ride

Every three years since 1928, the Cyclists’ Touring Club has organised a challenge ride for members over 50. As many of the Wayfarers would just about squeak over the age limit, on 15th June we will be organising a CTC Tri-Vets ride, starting and finishing at the Cricket Pavilion in Brockham. We will offer a 100 mile ride, which will qualify for the CTC Tri-Vets Badge, and we will offer a 100 km ride, for those who want a good day out but don’t fancy the full distance. We will also be offering a 50 km ride suitable for any member who chooses it. The shorter distance rides do not qualify for the badge.  Of course, if you’re lucky enough to look under 50, as the signs say in pubs, you can still ride 100 miles but you can’t have a badge. Something for the youngsters to look forward to.

All rides will be largely on the Surrey Cycleway, which is a network of pretty lanes with little traffic. It is not flat - Surrey isn’t - but it’s certainly not a hilly route, as none of Surrey’s famous hills is included. 

To earn your badge, which you will have to order from CTC at a cost of £4, you will need to complete your 100 miles in twelve hours. For many Wayfarers eight hours riding and an hour for stops will be plenty; some may choose a slower pace, some may choose a shorter distance. Every finisher, at every distance, will get a Finisher’s Certificate. 

Based on the Cricket Pavilion at Brockham, the first riders will leave at 0800. For each distance, there will be led rides of small groups, with the normal leader/back marker/corner marker arrangements. Times for these led rides are as follows:

0800:  100 miles, 12.5 mph

0830:  100 miles, 13.0 mph

0900:  100 miles, 13.5 mph

0930:  100 kms, 12.0 mph

1000:  100 kms, 12.5 mph

1030:  100 kms,  13.0 mph

1100:  50 kms,  10.0 mph

To join the event you do not have to participate in a led ride - you can ride by yourself, or with a couple of friends, if you prefer. There will be route cards and GPS files for those who want them. Every rider will have an Audax-style ‘Brevet Card’, that is stamped as proof of passage. This will serve as evidence for CTC Badge Claims, but it is not meant to be a rigorous thing. It’s a ride with friends and clubmates - claims are made on trust. 

As an illustration of how it works, here is the 100 mile route. It’s a figure of eight, almost all on the Cycleway, that starts at Brockham, returns to the Pavilion for lunch and then finishes there for tea and cakes. The 100 km and 50 km routes will be similar, taking shorter loops away from Brockham.

The Pavilion will be open from 0730, serving teas, coffees and biscuits to riders before they set off. Sandwich lunches will be available there from 1100 to 1500, with teas starting after that until the last rider is accounted for.

The rules are that twelve hours are allowed for the 100 mile ride. The first riders will leave at 0800, and the finish control will close at about 2030, depending on who’s still out on the course. It may be that for some, the finish control is one of the pubs on Brockham Green ...

The Wayfarers will charge £5 for the CTC Tri-vets ride, which is well below CTC’s recommended charge. For this you get teas and coffees, a sandwich lunch, cake at tea- time, a certificate, the organisation of the event and the use of the hall.

The event will be advertised on the CTC Web Site. As other CTC groups are doing, we plan to cap the number of riders at 80, as we can’t really cope with much more than that. Being close to London, the event may be very popular, so if you are interested you would be well advised to get your name on the list early. Speak to Simon, or drop him an email, to secure your place. 

Mark

Author: Mark G

3 Comments:

mike morley 15 February 2016 at 12:31 GMT

Well done Mark sounds like a great day out. I will put my name down with Simon,it will be good training for the SCCU 50 TT on Sunday 26 June.

Unknown 15 February 2016 at 16:17 GMT

Simon's e-mail address is?

Mark G 15 February 2016 at 19:09 GMT

It's on the Wayfarers contact list, John. I've kept the email address off the public blog because of the tedious spammers