Restarting Matlock CC Activities

Matlock CC Statement on Restarting Activities March 2021

The recent Government route out of lockdown has given us all some hope that we may be able to ride our bikes together soon. We thought it was time for an update on our plans for 2021! First thing is a reminder that as decided by the Committee last year, 2020 membership has been rolled over into 2021 (hence why you won’t have received a membership renewal reminder in the post if you were a member in 2020) If you would like to join us this year, details of how you can are here: https://www.matlockcyclingclub.org.uk/join-us The recent Government plan confirmed that organised sport for children and adults, and potentially the ‘rule of six’ outdoors, can resume on Monday 29th March. Anything we plan here comes with the usual caveats about timings, changes in government policy, updated advice from British Cycling and the CTT (time trials). The online events calendar on the website will be kept up to date as changes occur but our club events of all types are already scheduled on there. The Calendar will be updated with other events (e.g. Whitworth Coaching, cyclo-cross and further coaching) once we know details.

Youth It’s been great to see our Youth riders continue to ride together on virtual world Zwift. Now we are planning to bring back our coaching sessions. We are looking to restart our popular Go Ride Whitworth Park Saturday morning sessions from our British Cycling qualified coaches from April with dates and details to be published on social media and website. As per the sessions we ran last year we anticipate some restrictions and may run them with the online entry system / number restrictions dependant on British Cycling guidance. We will also look to run some other coaching sessions at Darley Moor, for cyclocross and potentially Mountain Biking. We look forward to reintroducing the youngsters to some fun cycling activities while improving those skills. We do have some potential new and guest coaches (including experienced racers) who will be getting involved in these and other coaching sessions to assist and bring their valuable experience.

Racing Time Trials The first TT is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 6th with an Ashford 5 mile evening event followed by the popular Thursday evening hilly event. These are proving more popular with our youth riders and we hope to encourage more riders aged 12 and above to take part (with their parents!) If anyone wants to try we have riders able to ‘chaperone’ their first rides to keep them on course. From there we hope to run a full season of our club time trials. Our volunteer team is ready to go. Details will be published but we anticipate a similar system to the one we ran last year with online pre entry and social distancing rules until we are allowed to relax restrictions further.

Road Racing We have a series of monthly circuit races at Darley Moor planned from April to September. Further details of these will be published. Planned Dates: 18th Apr 9th May (BSCA RR event & GHS TT) 6th June 4th July 8th Aug 5th Sept We’ll look to bring back the BSCA regional events.

Cyclocross MCC were lucky enough to be the only club in the NDCXL to be able to run an event last season. Let’s hope that by September we will be in a position that a full season of events can be held and as usual we plan to hold an MCC event as part of the NDCXL League. We will work with NDCXL and our fellow clubs to bring back our local cyclocross league and the excellent grassroots racing for all it provides.

Track Derby Arena will be out of action until May. British Cycling are helping the East Midlands Cluster Clubs (including MCC) look at some possible track time at the National Cycle Centre Manchester, watch out for any news.

Social Rides: We will discuss with the riders the arrangements for bringing back our rides from April onwards based on Government and British Cycling guidelines. Even with the restrictions it’s been great to see riders using the virtual options to continue cycling together. Thanks to the riders involved in hosting those events.

If you want to get involved in helping with any of the above activities please get in touch with us. Keep safe and well and happy cycling! Andy Woolf Acting Club Chair on behalf of Matlock Cycling Club