Ilkley Cycling Club has celebrated its first birthday at the Ilkley Moor Vaults, exactly one year to the day when founding members Paul O'Looney and George Siatos called a meeting in the bar to discuss reforming Ilkley Cycling Club after a lapse of over 50 years. More than 80 people turned up at the inaugural meeting to lend support to the idea. In the last 12 months club has gone from strength to strength with over 700 members from across the region, and is now recognised as the largest cycling club in the country.

Here Richard Hartley, of the club, charts its success The aims of the club remain simple – to promote and encourage cycling in our area for all ages and abilities, to encourage youngsters and families into the sport, and to develop a programme of safe and enjoyable club rides and races for all to enjoy.

There are club rides every Sunday morning at 8.30am, and also on a Thursday evening at 7pm. Monday mornings also see a more leisurely ladies-specific ride led by committee member Stephanie Millward at 9.30am. Stephanie says: “Our ladies’ ride is always great fun. We ride at a gentle pace and usually stop for a coffee on the way. It’s a great opportunity for women to ride out and get some exercise as well as making new friends. We welcome women of all ages and abilities and would love to see more ladies on our ride.”

There are always three rides of differing lengths and difficulty heading out on a club run, catering for all levels and experience. All rides leave from the Old Bridge in Ilkley and new members are always welcome. Rides are led by an experienced member who ensures that group members don’t get left behind. The ride routes are posted in advance on the Ilkley Cycling Club website at ilkley cyclingclub.org.uk. Last year the club ran a number of family rides which proved so popular there is a series of family rides planned throughout the 2012 summer season starting soon.

Ilkley Cycling Club is funded by subscription, membership fees are £10 for individual membership or £15 for a family. The club is affiliated to British Cycling and complies with their guidelines. The club has been successful in a bid for funding from Sport England and along with a generous grant from llkley Round Table, they have been able to fund an ambitious Youth Development Programme – a fundamental aim when setting up the club was to cater for younger riders.

“We are in the process of buying bikes for local children to use for coaching sessions, which will be held at Ilkley Rugby Club,” said Youth Development Officer, John Hunt. So far Ilkley Cycling Club has trained 11 members to act as level 2 coaches for young people and they expect shortly to announce a coaching programme, which will be available to all local youngsters.

Ilkley Cycling Club is also determined to promote local events for riders to enjoy. In February they held a Cyclo Cross Race at Nell Bank, attracting riders from across the region. Local professional cyclist and club member, Scott Thwaite lent his support and handed out the prizes. A grant from Ilkley Parish Council enabled the purchase of equipment to help ensure the event was a huge success.

The club has a core of riders who are keen to test their endurance by racing in time trials and road race events across the country in the resurrected Ilkley colours. This year, Ilkley Cycling Club members who are new to competing have been well placed in some challenging events. Five Ilkley Cycling Club members rode the Circuit of the Dales hilly 50-mile time trial on Sunday 1st April. Ged Millward came in first of the Ilkley riders and was placed 13th overall; Katherine Pimlott, club chairperson, was the second lady overall. The club also claimed the team victory in the Otley Hill Climb event at the end of last year.

The club has a summer programme of ten-mile time trails starting and finishing in Addingham which run every Wednesday evening in the spring and summer months from 6.30pm.

Leanne Farrow is the social officer on the Committee and she has series of social events lined up for members and their families including a ‘Tour de France’ barbeque at the Rugby Club. The club also organises trips to the Velodrome in Manchester where members receive coaching on track riding and then try their hand at track racing round the velodrome at high speed.

Ilkley Cycling Club is very proud to be promoting the ‘White Rose Classic Sportive’ on June 17, 2012. Riders challenge themselves against the clock on a hilly course starting in Ilkley and heading out through the Dales before finishing with a steep climb up Langbar before dropping down Carters Lane and back to the Rugby Club in Ilkley. There are three distances for riders to choose from: the short route is 50 miles, the medium is 84 and the long is a gruelling 110 miles. Ilkley Cycling Club expects 1,000 competitors for the event and it promises to be a very popular one. There will be plenty for families to do while they wait for the riders to come home, with a bike skills area and a family fun zone as well as food and drinks stalls provided by local businesses.

To help celebrate its first anniversary, 24 cyclists from the club set off from the Old Bridge to ride the ‘White Rose Classic - Short Route’ on the first Sunday in April.

The future looks very rosy for this local club that has risen out of the ashes of the former Ilkley Cycling Club. They have a dynamic committee that is determined to provide a base for local people of all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling in a safe and secure environment. For more details look at their website: ilkleycyclingclub.org.uk.