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With the increase in the rate of Covid infections and the new “Rule of 6” regulation being introduced by the UK Government from Monday 14 September, we have been looking at how to revise the approach to WSCC club rides. The key principles are:

• In the short term, we propose to limit all club rides to no more than 6 participants. This will require the larger club groups to arrange multiple rides (see further below), with non-overlapping start points and stops.
• As the rules and requirements surrounding the latest Government regulations become clearer, and Cycling UK develops its guidance, it might well become possible for us to benefit from the exceptions for organised sport and to increase ride groups to 15. If/when that occurs, we will consult with WSCC members to assess whether there is an appetite to do so.
• It is of course up to each individual to decide, based on their own circumstances, whether they feel comfortable participating in group rides.
• It is essential that we all adhere to good standards of hygiene and personal distancing and the wearing of face masks indoors (e.g. at coffee/lunch stops).
• Anyone who experiences, or who is living with someone who exhibits symptoms of Covid should stay at home and not participate in club rides.
• In order to meet track and trace requirements, we should maintain a register of all ride participants.

It will take some time for us to adapt to these new requirements, so the arrangements we are putting in place should be seen as a work in progress, subject to revision.

Our smaller ride groups should be able to work within these new restrictions using existing informal arrangements. For our larger groups (notably the Midweek Wayfarer groups) we plan to use the “Spond” smartphone app (click here) in order to advertise and administer ride attendance. Details of the new WSCC MW Spond group will be communicated to members of the google mail group shortly. Spond is used successfully by other local cycling groups including Dorking Cycling Club, and we believe it will provide the functionality we require, and be easy to use.

We will post further details in due course.

If you have any questions or comments on the above, please feel free to contact me or any other member of the committee.

Derek

Alison and Martin Dorsett are cycling 100 km on 27th September in the Yorkshire East Riding (part of the Tour de Yorkshire) for the charity Ataxia.  Click here for details of the event.

Anyone who wishes can donate to their JustGiving page by clicking here.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Ataxia UK, so it’s the most efficient way to give – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Surrey County Council has submitted a bid to the Department for Transport for £7.8 million Emergency Active Travel Fund to improve walking and cycling infrastructure.

Residents and cyclists know their local areas best so Surrey County Council created a tool https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/activetravelfund  for ideas on improving  cycling and walking infrastructure.

Press release at https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2020/08/10/boost-for-cleaner-greener-travel-in-surrey/

Pat and G-BUG

In 1968 a young Ian Price wrote down his record of his first two years of serious cycling – buying a bike, joining the CTC and W Surrey DA, and enthusiastically taking part in our activities. He recently unearthed this record, scanned it and emailed it to me. I have uploaded it to our History and Archives webpages here. Read how he and Russ rode the 100-mile standard ride in 5h 45m including a half-hour lunch break. Read half a dozen press cuttings, reports submitted weekly by our then President, Bill Inder, to the Woking News & Mail and the Surrey Advertiser. Read how Ian got himself into one of them by riding into Bucklebury ford at speed. Did he get through? Or did he fall in? Read …

Have you just got your old bike out of the shed?

Have you wanted to try it out on the much emptier roads whilst we are locked down? Build your confidence by joining one of our group rides. We will help you with any technical problems you may have and at the same time make sure you will never be left behind.

Now that lockdown has eased slightly, we have now started to arrange informal coffee meet-ups where members cycle solo or in small groups to prearranged open air meeting places where we can catch up and enjoy a drink before heading home again.

If you are interested in joining us please call one of our group leaders on this page who will be able to let you know where we planning to meet.

We are definitely not a “racing club”, we enjoy pottering around the lanes, visiting coffee shops and pubs on the way.

West Surrey Cycling Club (WSCC) is a branch of Cycling UK with over 200 active members who live in and around Guildford, Woking, Godalming, Farnham, Haslemere, and Camberley. You don’t have to be a member to join a ride, and we cater for all levels and ability in a way that is social, enjoyable and safe. Last year we organised 350 rides in the gorgeous scenery of Surrey and surrounding counties, led by experienced ride leaders.

Get in touch and we can let you know when our rides resume.