This year’s Watt Bike training programme starts at Rotherham Leisure Complex at 8:00pm Thursday 28 November.  The initial course of 6 one hour coached sessions will cost around £60 and this fee includes unlimited access to all facilities at RLC at other times.  Subject to demand the course is likely to be followed by a further course of 6 sessions.

Eight Wheelers members have so far signed up for the initial course and there are 2 more places available to Rotherham Wheelers members or members of other local clubs.

Anyone fancying building or maintaining cycling fitness over the winter months is welcome to join us on a first come, first served basis and can sign up by contacting me by email (rotherhamlad1@hotmail.com) or phoning 07751 518488.

THIS IS A REPEAT REQUEST. Last week I asked members to indicate whether they intend to purchase a centenary jersey and if so what size they require. I AM NOT asking for your money, this information is only required to assist JE James Ltd with ordering sufficient stock. The response has been disappointing so far with only 7 members responding. I can’t believe that this is the extent of interest.

Your committee and the centenary working group continue to work tirelessly to make our centenary year successful and enjoyable for all members, but we do need your support!

This is the final design of the Wheelers centenary jersey which was agreed at a recent committee meeting.

Our brief was to design a jersey which was instantly recognisable as Rotherham Wheelers, compatible with our existing kit, suitable for club rides and competition wear and distinctly reflected a big milestone in the history of our club. I hope it meets with member’s approval.

The jersey will be available through JE James Ltd in the near future.

This year’s Christmas function and presentation evening is at 7:00pm for 7:30pm Friday 13 December at The Hind public house, East Bawtry Road, Rotherham.

The type of fare on offer will be dictated by the numbers attending and will either be a sit down meal from a seasonal menu with a choice of starters, mains and desserts including vegetarian options if numbers attending are 32 or less, or if numbers exceed 32 we will eat from a seasonal buffet menu.

In the first instance we are planning for a sit down meal.

Members should already have received an email from me which included details of the sit down menu and are asked to notify me of your menu choices by Friday 29 November.  I require a deposit of £11.50 per head with your order, payable by cash, cheque (payable to Rotherham Wheelers) or BACS to the club account.  The balance will be payable on the night.

In the event of numbers attending exceeding 32, we will eat from a seasonal buffet menu at a cost of £11.50 per head.

If anyone is unclear about these proposals, please contact me directly.

It is hoped that as many members as possible will attend this event and make it an evening to remember as our club enters its centenary year.

Below are details of both the sit down and buffet menus:

Sit down menu:

STARTERS

SOUP OF THE DAY (V)

Served with ciabatta bread and butter. Vegan option available (VE)

KING PRAWN COCKTAIL

Succulent prawns in a rich Marie Rose sauce, served on crisp lettuce with wholemeal  bloomer bread and butter

DUCK LIVER AND PORT PARFAIT*

Perfectly toasted ciabatta bread served with Ember Inns’ moreish Pale Ale chutney

PARSLEY-BREADED MUSHROOMS (V)

Crispy coated button mushrooms, served with cool sour cream dip

MAINS

HAND-CARVED ROAST TURKEY WITH FESTIVE TRIMMINGS

Served with seasonal […]

The recce. of the 100 mile centenary sportive has been re-arranged for Saturday 17 August.  We will meet at Wickersley Library at 08:30, picking up at Wentworth War Memorial at 09:00.  This will be a demanding ride with about 6800 feet of ascent and will include two cafe stops.  I anticipate we will return to Wickersley at around 16:00.

Everyone who has previously expressed interest in this ride will be notified of arrangements by email.

Journey along the river Rhine, June and July 2019

The height of the Summer in late June and early July seemed a sensible time of year for a sedate journey along the whole length of the river Rhine. A downhill beginning from the source of the Rhine high up in the Swiss Alps would conclude – after a full two weeks of cycling – with an amble along the sea front at the Hook of Holland, where the river flows out into the North Sea. Plenty of sunshine to look forward to, although mountainous regions are prone to dramatic thunder storms and the seaside .. well, who would dare to predict a weather forecast for the seaside ?

Four intrepid, albeit ageing travellers will journey (in the first place by plane to Zurich) by the comfort of touring bicycles along what is known as EuroVelo 15. This very flat pathway manages to avoid the highways and the motor vehicles and provides a tranquil route alongside one of Europe’s major rivers, a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (principally, the visually dramatic Rhine gorge) and through six European countries : Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Having reached the source by climbing an Alpine pass, cyclists face very few uphill gradients after that, the final one being in Holland as the route dips a few metres below sea level.

EuroVelo 15 is acknowledged to be a high quality path, available for use by people walking/rambling, on cycles of all shapes and sizes and also by people on horseback. The route has the benefit of many cafés, restaurants and sundry other watering holes, as well as cycle shops providing spares and repairs. The four of us intend making fulsome use of the former, whilst seldom needing the latter. Even the sign posts are […]

For the past two years we’ve all been waiting for 29 March and wondering whether or not we will crash out of the EU without an agreement which may be why some members have forgotten that another deadline is fast approaching. I’m talking of course about the 31 March deadline for payment of subscriptions.

A massive thank you to the 80% of members who have already renewed their subscriptions and a (further) reminder to the few who haven’t yet done so already that club rules stipulate that membership of individuals who have not paid their subscriptions by 31 March will be regarded as lapsed.

Not only are Rotherham Wheelers keen to recruit new members, we also value and are keen to retain existing members. Even if they are unable to ride with us very often, members, new and old will always be made welcome.

If you are an existing member and wish to renew your membership please do so now.

If you have online banking you may pay by BACS to the club account or if you prefer you may pay me by cash or cheque (payable to Rotherham Wheelers CC).

In addition to this post this information I have made a similar post on Facebook and I will write individually to the members concerned.

Many thanks to the 65% of members who have paid their 2019 club subscriptions, you have made my job as treasurer and membership secretary much easier!

I appreciate that winter weather and member’s personal commitments can prevent members attending club rides as often and therefore they do not have the opportunity to pay me in person, but members are reminded that subscriptions MUST be paid before 31 March. Membership of persons not renewing by this date will be regarded as lapsed.

The club is keen to retain members and I ask all members who have not already done so to arrange to pay your subscriptions without further delay.

For your convenience you may pay online to the club account or by cash or cheque (payable to Rotherham Wheelers Cycling Club) to me either in person or to my home address.

I will send personal emails to affected members which will include details of the club bank account.