LFGSS CC - LFGSS Cycle Club

In general agreement with Colin (the numbers speak for themselves), I see LFGSS CC as a fun supplement to existing clubs, not necessarily an alternative or a substitute. Who knows, in time it might develop into something more serious. Moreover, I think you'll find that many LFGSS members support cycling in many different ways, including taking on less glamorous tasks at their local clubs.

Does London need more cycling clubs? Probably not.

Many clubs have an ageing membership and need new members to both race but also to help out in running the club and supporting cycle sport in London. That's what we really need.

I would agree that some clubs have not always been good at "attracting " new and younger members

All things, inc cycle clubs, have a natural life span. Nothing lives or has a right to live forever. I think it is a good and natural thing that clubs are born, live and die.

An advantage of this is there is a much greater degree of equality between members, with LFGSSCC we will all be new, won't remember the good old days and won't have to be deferential to the club racist / sexist bigot simply because he's been there sine 1981.

Peter carter, best to think of the forum cc as being a gateway club, and if you are interested in doing more racing, tting, cyclocross or whatever your cycling passion maybe, then you'll join and help out with whichever club suits your needs closest.

Oi, what's wrong with '81, I organised my first open TT then! I think the point is that 'traditional' cycling clubs don't necessarily cater for the needs of today's cyclists and LFGSS might well do so. Let's face it, the old club format was more than a little rigid. These clubs are still there for those who want to progress (or regress) in that direction, as are racing teams (I'm in one), there is no reason not to join LFGSS as well just for the fun element.

Negged for being against the spirit of the forum

Down among the weedy 3rds now.

feckcoff

I'm watching Strictly.

Actually, my club has been trying really hard to cater for "lfgss" types over the last year. Better, I think than many

We don't drop people, we don't look down on your bike and we wait at the top of hills for you. We teach you about how to ride in a bunch, we bring you into the culture of club cycling; and we always end up at the Tea Hut.
Some of the people who came on their 1st rides this time last year are riding in a 25 TT tomorrow. So yes, we do do " fuck it , let's try"

Oh, and we really want to build up the number of track riders.

I don't think that that what we do is incompatible with an LFGSS club, but I think your energies might be of more use in the London's clubs..

All things, inc cycle clubs, have a natural life span. Nothing lives or has a right to live forever. I think it is a good and natural thing that clubs are born, live and die.

An advantage of this is there is a much greater degree of equality between members, with LFGSSCC we will all be new, won't remember the good old days and won't have to be deferential to the club racist / sexist bigot simply because he's been there sine 1981.

Yes, I know about them... I won't say they don't exist. Personally,I think we will have cracked it when we have girls in hijabs riding with us.

Howver, I think there is a difference between unecessary deference and respect . One can learn

Those of us who already do those things will presumably continue. I wouldn't be too worried about a club with 300 members being able to pull their weight in that regard, save your concern for those people who get together 3 of their mates and call themselves a "Racing Team" without ever doing any organisational work.

There's an argument for cutting the number of cycling clubs in general (not just London), but one big new club might be the catalyst needed to finally put half a dozen old and moribund ones out of business. On the CTT side, that's one of the reasons why I have always argued for more of the Company revenue to come from club affiliation fees rather than event levies. Putting up the affiliation from £30 to £300 would be OK by us if it meant a cut in the £2000+ we submit in levies every year, but it might make poseurs who want to design their own kit think twice, and it might convince a few of the historic clubs who are now down into single figures of active members to give up the ghost.

Yes , BCF and CTT are in denial , as are their members , about quite how moribund some clubs are.

My fear is the loss of skills, knowledge and resource that will go with them. Take the huts out in Essex, a great resource for all of us, but they will decline with their clubs. We will miss them..

Peter, more good stuff has happened in British cycling in the last 10 years than in the preceding 100 years.

Yeah ! Lets respect failure and not set off on an exciting new course, lets do it like it's been done and not worked for years and years, for christ sake lets not make it sexy, trendy and fun !

Quick lets form a rules committee ! (not)

@Peter Carter

To some extent I do share your concern about the future of cycling, but I don't really think that the two - LFGSS CC in the making... and let's say more traditional clubs - are really a contradiction in terms. Only LFGSS seem to embrace literally anyone with an interest in cycling, be that commuting, recreational, educational, mtb, cx, fun, track, time trial, charity, trick, sportive, bmx, audax, road racing and so one, you name it.

Surely you're somewhat familiar with the variety of rides that are arranged by LFGSS individuals and/or groups of people. Name me one other club that would even want to accommodate this bunch. Or perhaps it could be, that grassroot clubs like LFGSS CC are the future?

Yeah ! Lets respect failure and not set off on an exciting new course, lets do it like it's been done and not worked for years and years, for christ sake lets not make it sexy, trendy and fun !

But let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Without traditional clubs, there would be essentially no competitive cycling for most people.

Totally agree tester... but then again, it's not one or the other.

Only LFGSS seem to embrace literally anyone with an interest in cycling, be that commuting, recreational, educational, mtb, cx, fun, track, time trial, charity, trick, sportive, bmx, audax, road racing and so one, you name it.

I don't think that's true. Apart from tricks and BMX, I think members of MDCC do all the items in your list, and consider that club membership enhances their experience of all of them. I'm sure the same could be said of a great many other substantial regional clubs.

My bad. Should have read, "...contradiction in terms, only LFGSS..."

Sure, a place for trad clubs, and honestly good luck to them. But there is a need for new as well.

The idea that there are just enough clubs right now, don't hold water.

Would anybody like to get us back on topic by breakin a list ?

This discussion is very much on topic... and surprisingly civil.

The idea that there are just enough clubs right now, don't hold water.

Correct, I think there are too many. New clubs, and old ones working in new ways, should drive out the worst of the old by attracting membership. Both of the clubs I've been in have had well over a century of existence, but there are clubs only a few years old which are already good and big, and others which lasted any duration from months to decades before folding. It's a free market with a negligible cost of entry to newcomers and very little limitation on transfer of customer allegiance, so the clubs which survive will be those who do a good job, whether they were formed in 2013 or 1881.

Quite frankly i'd probably have never joined a cycling club in my life until the boss came up with this great idea. Like he said it may well prove to be a bouncing board for potential talent. If not, at the very least it will be an awesome fun club with an equally rad jersey we could hang up in our rooms and show off to our grandchildren.... okay I may have taken that last one a bit too far.

^Bruce Springsteen, trampoline, the colour rad and 1000£children, mindblown.

no no. A bouncing board.

Now it all makes the sense :]

In any event, if 2-300 people sign up, and yes, initially (read initially) it might just be for a jersey, so what, what's wrong with that? If ever you cared about cycling, surely LFGSS CC can only be a good thing.

And if all the things which currently happen through lfgss.com happen through lfgss.cc, it will have a bigger programme than most 'traditional' clubs.

Only LFGSS seem to embrace literally anyone with an interest in cycling, be that commuting, recreational, educational, mtb, cx, fun, track, time trial, charity, trick, sportive, bmx, audax, road racing and so one, you name it.

I don't think that's true. Apart from tricks and BMX, I think members of MDCC do all the items in your list, and consider that club membership enhances their experience of all of them. I'm sure the same could be said of a great many other substantial regional clubs.

We don't embrace anyone who leans, though.

Read leans as learns... Sigh! Will I ever lean.