Response to the Toast to the Club 2004 - by Tony Bradford

Response to the Toast to the Club from Tony Bradford

Annual Club Dinner November 12th 2005

On behalf of the North Road Cycling Club I must thank Geoff Cooke for an entertaining talk – and in the words of Tommy Simpson, he has given me “something to aim at” with my response.

It is interesting how sport and the people who encourage others to participate can affect people’s lives – Geoff is involved with D.A.R.E. UK making a difference in young people’s lives by providing sport as a distraction away from criminality and drug misuse. He has been having this sort of impact for some time. Recently, through work, I met the officer responsible for Parks in North Hertfordshire. As we walking around one of the District’s Local Nature Reserves I mentioned my interest in cycling. He told me that his interest in Recreation Management had grown out of participation in sport and in particular through cycling as a youngster. I know this is beginning to sound a bit like “This is Your Life” but bear with me.  Without my prompting he told me that the person responsible for this inspiration was Geoff. His name is Andrew Mills and whilst Geoff might not remember him he said you might remember his Dad, with whom you didn’t quite see eye to eye.

June has very kindly asked me to respond on behalf of the club and I want to use the time I have been given to take you through a quick review of the club year from my point of view. I am going to use power point because a picture is worth a 1000 words and I haven’t got time for more than 500 before Ruth starts to kick me under the table. For those of you left behind by today’s technology (Jim) see this as a modern day “magic lantern show”.

For me nothing marks the end of the cycling year more clearly than the Club Hill Climb. A bit like the way your tax return marks the end of the Tax Year. In fact there are several similarities. They both seem to take longer than you planned, cause a great deal of pain and leave you feeling slightly nauseous.

I think that this year has been truly noteworthy for the club for a number of reasons. The winter training rides on a Saturday attracted a growing number of new riders to the point where two groups were necessitated not just by the difference in pace but also the sheer number of riders. Several of these have joined the “fast boys” having gained their legs on the Sunday club runs. Of course, this step up requires the learning of a whole new language.  Gone are comforting phrases like “tea stop”, “steady” and “can I get you another slice of cake”; replaced by the more menacing “through and off”, “on the rivet” and “toasted” (the latter having nothing to do with tea cakes). Fortunately the club’s Dictionary of Roadie Slang placed on the web site by Richard Somerset is a great help and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The racing calendar as always begins with the Hardriders. This year the club has hosted 37 club and open events. Members have participated in League of Veteran Racing Cyclists, Eastern Road Race League and National BC mass start events as well as competing on the track in league, open and National events. The Hartham Grass Track is always a highlight of the year, fairly run, without any hint of biased judging (more’s the pity). In 2005 the Hartham event became world-class with the presence of Victoria Pendleton. In fact so keen was she to ride Nigel’s event that she forgot to pack her world champion’s jersey – she remembered the mitts though. 

We have already heard that Welwyn Track in its newly resurfaced condition is a fantastic resource for B list celebrities and it is the same for local cycle clubs too. Nigel Cameron organized a track taster session for the club this summer. 37 members, partners and kids learned the joys of fixed wheel riding. Through this several more club riders were encouraged to begin riding the Welwyn Friday League. Something that I hope will continue in 2006.

Participation in challenge rides is popular. The Tour of Flanders and the Etape de Tour were entered by a good number of the fitter/braver/more reckless (delete as appropriate) riders from the club. The high point of my year was rolling in to Pau for the Etape finish 10 minutes ahead of my club mates. I had to remind myself of the club’s other motto “Its not the winning that counts, it is taking your mates apart”.

To me being in a cycling club is about being out on a bike with people with a similar interest and like a lot of things in life, communication. New technology is supposed to enhance the way we communicate and I feel that the internet, despite all of its problems, has added something quite special to my experience of being a member of the North Road.  We have an excellent web site that keeps us up to date with club activities and like the Gazette it can always benefit from new contributors.  (Advert sponsored by Paul Groves and Richard Somerset)

A new addition for the club in the last 12 months has been the introduction of a web chat room hosted by the Eastern Road Race League. My cycling sits in amongst my commitments as a hubby and a dad, my job, DIY and a whole host of other stuff. I am sure I am no different to many others in the club. For me the chat room has kept me in touch with what races others are planning to ride, how their training is going, what performances they have achieved or kit they have bought.

Along the way I have also learned a few nuances of French Grammar from James McAleese and the calorific value of a Malt Loaf from Roger Bishop.  And yes I am concerned that the topic of discussion with the greatest number of comments has been about leg shaving. This evening I wish to instigate a new, one-off award to the man with the most posts on the chat room, North Road Cycling Club’s Webmaster, Richard Somerset.
 
If you have a computer, registering to join the chat room couldn’t be easier.  If you want to enter into the spirit of things you can choose a nickname and a picture to accompany your comments. But a word of warning, think long and hard before asking for suggestions from club mates. Henceforth I am known as Sam the Eagle – I thought mature, leadership qualities…. But no; apparently the two characteristics chosen were balding and big nose.
 
However, above all of the other clubs in the Eastern Road Race League the North Road chat room has the greatest number of contributions. So, whilst we haven’t won the ERRL championships this year we have chatted more than any other club in the league. Now that’s a club I want to toast. So, if you will raise your glasses, I give you The North Road Cycling Club.

 

The Highway Code

Know the rules of the road

Your safety is dependent on everyone on the road knowing and obeying the rules, so get the low down and don't get mown down!

Group Riding

If you're new to riding in a group, read our handy guide on how to stay safe.