CYCLE OUT
LONDON
Autumn Newsletter Nov24
Dear CycleOut members,
Thank you for your unwavering support over the past year. As we reflect on the amazing rides and memories shared, we are excited to update you on our upcoming events and other announcements.
It was a wonderful 2024 with seventy-seven group rides, two overseas holidays, and ten social events. There were dedicated rides for new members and participation at big events including Ride London and Pride. The outlook for 2025 is as exciting as ever. The ride calendar will be regularly updated on Spond and it is great to see a full take-up for Mallorca in April. As always we rely on your help and commitment to make it happen.
Thank you once again to each of you. Our all-inclusive cycling club continues to grow as a safe place for the LGBTQIA+ community and friends.
Nasser
Chairperson
Member Survey
Calling all CycleOut members!
We wanted to hear from you to hear what you want from the club to get lots of you joining and enjoying our rides! Peter asked you to spare a few minutes for a short anonymous survey.
The survey was conducted on Nov 1st and 25 members responded. Thank you! There was a clear preference for weekend rides, and in particular ones moderately paced of 80-100km. Little appetite was expressed for more challenging rides, but there was a significant minority keen to do more relaxed rides. Not wanting to give up a whole day was one of the reasons given for wanting shorter rides.
If anyone has any feedback or would like to express some preferences please do get involved and write to us at info@cycleoutlondon.org.uk
Ypres and the Somme 2024
Chris W organised a fabulous five-day riding holiday in June to tour the Ypres and Somme battlefields of World War I. The group was informed by one of the UK’s most exciting military historians, Andy Robertshaw who revealed what life was like on the frontline of history.
Watch out for a similar trip in 2025!
PRIDE London 2024
Every year the club enters the London annual Pride Parade. It is a fantastic day full of excitement and joy. There are usually about 25 places to grab and the event is launched annually on Spond during May ready for the July parade itself.
Mallorca 2025
Following another hugely successful holiday to Mallorca in April, the 2025 annual trip (Sat 12th to 19th April) is live on Spond, and 29 members have already signed up. Our base, near Palma, is the Helios Hotel (10% discount code for CycleOut). Most riders will hire bikes locally but please bring your own if you prefer. For more details please write to info@cycleoutlondon.org.uk. Nasser will handle planning, logistics & registration and Mike will manage route planning.
The Majorca trip is an annual milestone for CycleOut. It kicks off our peak season,acts as a reunion, especially for members who are no longer residing in the UK and is a great team-building forum. It is also a great introduction for new members and an opportunity to meet the active members of the club. The trip is self-managed, run by volunteers at cost and at a fraction of what it would otherwise be in the open market. We rely on long-term established relationships with our hotel and bike shop. We will aim to reinvigorate the rides programme this year.
If these dates don't work for you, worry not, another trip led by Peter will head out to Pollensa Mallorca in the autumn. Stay tuned and watch Spond for more details.
The club always strives to ensure all members feel happy to participate in all activities. We welcome anyone regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or other beliefs.