Bath area cycling clubs

proto

My daughter has enrolled at Bath Uni. She's ridden a few local 10m time trial this year and is keen to keep riding this winter (university hockey might take precedencet though!!) and take in some more events next year. Surprisingly Bath Uni cycling scene looks a bit inactive, so she's thinking of maybe a local non-uni club. Two obvious ones are VC Walcot and Bath CC. Anyone got any experience of either? Looking for something with regular Sunday rides and a TT league next season. Even better if there is a strong representation of women riders. Ta.

justridethedarnthing

Hi proto, I suppose the simple answer is for her to try a couple of rides with each club and go from there. That said, as a member of VC Walcot there's no guessing where my vote goes.

I think the Bath University cycling club is mainly mountain biking. Some of their riders are VC Walcot members as well and others occasionally join us on a Sunday etc.

There are a few VC Walcot members at Bath University, including 'women representatives'. One in particular loves her TT races and is a regular Sunday club rider. She will be able to give your daughter the load down on all the local TT events. If you want to PM me a contact I will pass it on. If not there is a contact link on our web site.

http://www.vc-walcot.com

VC Walcot is registered with British Cycling and Cycling Time Trials. We’re a young club, heading into our 4th year. We run a Saturday and Sunday club ride, and a summer club TT series and an autumn club hill climb.

This year we added two new dates to the yearly calendar. Back in February we organised a professional coaching session at Newport Velodrome which was great fun.

And last weekend we ran our first Open event, a hill climb up The Avenue (past the American Museum very close to Bath Uni). Pleased to say it went well with Anne Fisher (Max Gear RT) taking the fastest ladies title in a time that worried much of the men’s field. Chippenham Wheelers Robert Gough won the event, piping former national hill climb champ, James Dobbin (Arctic Premier RT), into 2nd.

Next year should see us add club registration with WTTA so club members can pick up points etc for the Hardrider Series.

http://www.wtta-hardriders.org.uk/

We are not a hardcore racing club; but some do race. The idea is to provide a club where people are comfortable to enjoy their cycling, be it a spin on a social club ride or company on Sportives. And if some, as they have, get the taste for TT’s, hill climbs, cyclecross, circuit racing or track riding that’s great as well.

We try to maintain our sense of humour; otherwise what’s the point!

From year one we have organised one of our spring club rides in honour of the Classics. Retro kit is encouraged as we go out in search of local cobbles and steep bits of road. And there’s a monthly social where a pint and pie is enjoyed at a local pub.

VC Walcot's Sunday club ride leaves from opposite the Guildhall (by the Corridor, next to the Running Shop) at 9:30am. Returns about 12:30pm having covered 40 to 50 miles (depending on terrain/weather), with coffee stop at the end of the ride for those who wish. There's a shorter Saturday club ride as well, which leaves from outside John's Bikes at 8:00am, returning approx 10:00am having covered about 25 miles (again, the distance varies at bit).

No need for your daughter to worry about membership at first. Come along for a couple of club rides to see what we are about (if any reading this are 16 or under and not accompanied by an adult then yes you are welcome, but best to contact us first just to make sure we know you and parent/guardian consent etc is in place). If she is happy then membership is £10 per year.

We don't have loads of rules like having to have mudguards in the rain etc, but a bit of common sense goes a long way so please dress for the time of year/weather, bring a bit of food/drink, be prepared to do the distance, check your bike over and if you have a pump and spare tubes then great.

Bath is quite hilly so club rides can break up on some of the longer climbs, but they are not races so the quicker ones wait/slow at the top. Likewise if someone punctures we wait/help out.

On the Sunday club ride the pace can pick up at times and the distance is further than Saturday, but it’s not a chain gang and no one is intentionally dropped and left to find their own way back.

The hills and local road network is a bit of a problem in finding a local/fast TT course, which makes having a league a bit of a hassle. That said we do run a club series about 5 miles east of Bath, once a month over late spring/summer/early autumn.

South of Bath near Frome, both Somer Valley (Tuesday night) and Frome & District Wheelers (Thursday night) run weekly club TT series (both have now stopped for the winter) that VC Walcot and Bath CC members ride as well.

North of Bath is Chippenham & District Wheelers. They host British Cycling races and weekly Tuesday night training rides (again, now stopped for the winter) at Castle Combe race circuit which attracts members from many different cycling and tri clubs.

Hope your daughter does well at University and good luck with the hockey.

proto

Thanks for the reply. PM sent.

beatsystem

Having been in both clubs,I would suggest Bath CC is better if your daughter is into time-trialing. I have never seen anyone from VC Walcot at anything other than very local events! Although the young lady mentioned in VC Walcot's blurb would probably like some more female company she seems to ride farther afield. Good luck which ever club she joins, its a great sport.

justridethedarnthing

This Sunday (18 Oct) is our club hill climb so we meet at 9:00am at Kindling Coffee, Widcombe. Back to the normal 9:30am opposite the Guildhall the week after.

proto

I've notified her of this event, she might turn up. Dunno. But she went out on the Uni Wedneday club run and was complaining about the hilly terrain

She's still doing Bathwick Hill every morning though, racing one of her flatmates (male) to the top. She beats him each time I believe.

Jeff Jones

proto wrote:

I've notified her of this event, she might turn up. Dunno. But she went out on the Uni Wedneday club run and was complaining about the hilly terrain

Hah, sounds like me when I first moved here from Belgium. She will get used to it.

Bath is a brilliant place to get fit on the bike. Two of the UK's top hill climbers live here: James Dobbin and Rob Gough.

adukeofkent

Im a member of bath CC. Joined this year but have ridden with them the year before.
The guys there are just a great bunch of guys with talk of a road race team being set up next year. Your daughter is very welcome. I think she can have 5 rides before membership is asked for so she can try before she buys.