Hertfordshire Wheelers
Area: STEVENAGE
Libby Ranzetta
8 High Street
Stanstead Abbotts,
Hertfordshire,
SG12 8AB
Phone: 01920 425052
Email Us
Website: http://www.herts-wheelers.org.uk
The Hertfordshire Wheelers is one of the longest-established cycling clubs in the county, being founded in Hertford in 1928. We have regularly had a membership in the past 20 years of around 80, of all ages. Our racing members are mainly interested in time trialling, but most other forms of the sport are followed and encouraged. We have a road and track racing co-ordinator and we have a club coach. We also have several mountain-bike members and have recently re-elected a MTB racing secretary. The Hertfordshire Wheelers has a full calendar of club events for its own members and promotes several open events, both racing and touring at various times of the year.
For the less competitive we have a regular Sunday club ride. There are sometimes two, run during the morning and afternoon during the longer daylight hours (April-October), but just one, usually longer ride, from morning to mid-afternoon, in the Winter months. The weather seldom stops us and there are rides arranged every week throughout the year and on additional days at Christmas and other public holidays.
We are a fairly easy-going crowd and are not hidebound by too many rules; enjoyment of Cycling is the main thing. Most of our rides start in East Herts. which suits the majority of the membership (although we do have members from all parts of Hertfordshire and further afield). We ride most frequently in the lanes of West or North Herts. and often ride into any of the surrounding counties, from Essex right around to Bucks. and occasionally further afield.
Our monthly newsletter and programme - the MUD FLAP includes on the back page details of our club-nights, racing events and Sunday club rides. The notes in brackets indicate the approx. overall mileage and the likely pace or terrain, ie. hard = average speed over 16 mph and / or very hilly
medium = average 12 to 15 mph - average terrain - some hills
easy = average less than 12 mph - not many hills
We normally ride at the pace of the slowest rider and always ensure that no one is lost or left behind. If you are not a particularly strong or experienced rider, we suggest you start with one of the easy rides (generally at least one in the month and a few more at holiday times), or with one of the 3 open Leisure Rides (see below). Or perhaps you would prefer the INVITATION RIDES that we run on the first Sunday of each of the spring and summer months - April to October - meeting 2.30pm at Broadmeads car park in Ware.
Three times a year the Hertfordshire Wheelers organise a LEISURE RIDE where anyone is welcome to take part. These are rides of 10, 20, 40 or 60 miles, ridden at your own pace, following a map and a careful route description, based on different routes each time.
One of our senior members, John Hession, has produced a book "Twenty Cycle Rides in Herts".
It costs around £5.00 and describes rides similar to the Leisure rides above. You should find it in most good book shops and tourist centres.
Or you could just come along to the Clubroom at St Margaretsbury (see sketch map on front of Mud Flap) on a Thursday evening 8.30 to 10.30 pm) and talk to us. You will not be pressed for a subscription (currently £15 for Seniors - 18 and over - £7.50 for Juniors) until you are elected. That simply involves you doing at least 3 Sunday club rides, or having had previous membership of another recognised cycling club, then being put forward for election by a senior member.
We are especially interested in recruiting younger riders (13 to 18 years of age). BUT please talk this over with your parents first and come along to the clubroom for a chat. Try our club rides before spending loads of money on expensive kit and getting into racing. It would be a good idea to encourage at least one or two of your pals of a similar age to come along as well.
Women are very welcome. We are about to introduce a new initiative next month for those ladies who are keen to maintain their New Year resolution to get/keep fit. We will have some shorter distance and easy-paced club-runs for women and less-experienced riders to explore the quieter and lesser-known lanes of our county.
Leisure off road, Leisure on road, Road, Track, Time Trials, MTB X-Country
Our category listings:
Cycling : 2 - Cycling Clubs and Associations