Below are some of the reports submitted at our Annual General Meeting in November.
Secretary's Report
Burnley and Pendle CTC, Member Group.
Report to Annual General Meeting 2nd November 2016.
Mr. Chairman, fellow members.
The club has enjoyed another successful year. The number of members listed for our member group has remained steady at just over 200, and our Short Sunday rides continue to be well attended, with another couple of new riders becoming regulars this year.
The Sunday rides each week have generally consisted of a Short & Medium ride, as there has been reduced interest in Long rides, although we did run a couple of challenge rides. In July 20 attended our 100km ride, with 8 completing our 100 mile ride in August. Our Extra Short Invitation rides, to encourage new riders, ran once a mouth throughout the year, on Saturday mornings. David Tinker led a monthly Bridleway Ride through the spring and summer. The Tuesday Evening rides followed by the social have continued throughout the year. The Saturday morning rides in conjunction with Barnoldswick Clarion, continue to attract 10 or more riders most weeks. Harry Taylor & Jim Duerden have liaised with Blackburn CTC, and have hosted a couple of invitational/joint rides.
Last year’s Christmas meal was again held at The Copy Nook, Bolton by Bowland. In February we were joined by members from other local cycling clubs for our quiz Night @ Boyce’s Barrel bar, Colne, with pie & pea supper, and questions from last year’s winners Blackburn CTC.
Jim Duerden organised an excellent long weekend, to The Isle of Man in April attended by 9 members, even staying in the same hotel as Team Raleigh who were there for a professional cycle race around the TT course. Matt Hargreaves organised an extremely successful 3 day coast to coast trip on W2W Roses route from Walney Island, Barrow to Wearmouth, Sunderland enjoyed by 8 riders in May. In June I represented our club @ The John Radford Memorial Ride from Spenborough, riding with Brian Robinson and the following day led our ride to York Rally.
The week-long National CTC Birthday Rides, in August returned to Framlingham College, Suffolk, were attended by 8 of our current members among the 450 fellow cyclists. We again met ex-members & friends from previous years in an enjoyable week. With a good variety of rides, and entertainment each evening including a quiz night, music, talks, films and pig racing.
We were again involved with the Pendle Bikefest, but only supplied 4 marshals for the Colne Grand Prix circuit race this year, attracting a £80 contribution to club funds and had a stall to distribute leaflets. We even had an interview on Radio Lancashire. We also had a stall at the Pedal Pendle Festal @ The Steven burke Sports Hub in September. Harry Taylor has been dealing with our new rider enquiries and again publicized the club distributing leaflets and posters around shops, sports centres, libraries and other public buildings as well as the regular announcements in the local newspapers. Mark Clegg has continued to develop our club web site and many members also keep in contact and post photo’s etc using Facebook & google groups.
We placed two bulk orders of our club clothing in May & September, with the kit remaining a useful publicity tool, prompting many conversations with other cyclists.
We had a slide night in March @ The Inn on the Wharf, Burnley and are holding another one on 23rd November 7:30pm @ The Hare and Hounds, Haggate, Burnley, £5 including pie & pea supper, please book your place with me or Jim Duerden.
Due to the closure of The Copy Nook, Bolton by Bowland, our President Ian Lowcock had very little notice to re-arrange but has managed to book The Rolls Royce Social Club, Barnoldswick for the same date Sunday 4th December but @ 3:00pm, with 3 course meal for £17. Please book your place as soon as possible so that we can confirm numbers for catering.
In closing I’d like to thank all members of the club & committee for their support during the year.
John Ramsden (Secretary.)
Webmasters Report
Group Website - 2016
Our group website continues to be a valuable resource, both for members and newcomers alike, showing that we are an active group, always happy to welcome new members.
This years tour reports has shown us conquering the Isle of Man Tramway from Ramsay to Douglas. An experience I’m sure Jim Duerden will never forget as his tram “eventually” pulled into Douglas Station.
You can also read about our week long adventures around Suffolk on the annual Birthday Rides based at the impressive Framlingham College, with its stunning grounds and views across to Framlingham Castle.
In our Ride Reports section, we have shown our underwater cycling skills after the terrible conditions around Christmas 2015 on the flooded lanes around Winterburn
We also covered the achievements of those riders taking part in our 100km and 100m challenge rides, and have regular reports from our weekly Sunday rides.
Now for a couple of boring statistics…
On average our ride and tour reports get read 40 times per month, surprisingly irrespective of the age of the article.
Runs lists are by far our most popular resources, each being downloaded around 350 times. Whether this is interest from new riders, or our regulars checking every Sunday – I can’t tell.
Other things we do...
Running alongside our Website, we also have a very active, and informal Facebook Group where photos and news are posted on a weekly basis, often kicking off amusing discussions.
All I can say, is stay clear of the video camera if you don’t do Facebook!
Sign up at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bpctc/
Google Groups
We have an active mailing list used to remind everybody of forthcoming events, and often send short ride reports out.
Let me know if you want adding to the group.
And Finally…
If anybody fancies themselves a budding author, feel free to write a ride report, and I’ll include it on the website. If you have photos to go with it, all the better (especially if I wasn’t on that ride).
Mark Clegg
Webmaster
Burnley & Pendle CTC