Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle, Spalding’s own Cycling Club celebrates its 90th year in May.
Founded in 1927, the club has grown considerably and has a current membership of almost 70, aged from 8-78.
On Saturday, club members – wearing a fresh new kit design – marked the birthday and the start of their 2017 season with a photo shoot outside Ayscoughfee Hall.
Plans are underway for a number of events throughout the year to celebrate the 90th year milestone appropriately.
In particular, the club would like to invite all ex-members of the club to join them for the celebrations to hear their stories and see some photographs too – as one of the plans is to create a permanent record of the club’s activities over the years.
Spalding CC is fortunate to have a number of extremely talented athletes who have represented the club at national level. But, just as importantly, it also caters for the needs of those just starting out in cycling as young people or adults, either new to or returning to cycling.
For children aged from 5-16, they offer “Go Ride” sessions to help develop safe bike handling skills. A helmet and roadworthy bike are all that is needed.
The sessions are being held at Spalding Rugby Club from 6-7pm on the second and fourth Friday evening of each month through till September, starting on March 24.
For adults, the club offers a Saturday morning steady-paced ride of about 40 miles, with a stop for coffee.
Currently starting at 9am from Gibbons cycle shop, these rides are a great introduction to cycling, or for those coming back into cycling, the opportunity to refresh the skills is there too.
Off the bike – but still an essential part of cycling as it is with any other sport – a strong committee devotes considerable time to managing the club, while others take on the role of coaching.
One of Spalding’s younger members Megan Kendall has excelled with that role and was recently rewarded for her work by British Cycling as East Midlands Go-Ride Volunteer of the Year.
Also on the horizon is the popular time trial season, which starts on April 5 at the Fisherman’s Arms in Pode Hole (6.45pm).
Visit www.spaldingcc.org.uk or simply ‘like’ Spalding CC’s Facebook page for contact details and event information ahead of their new season.
