Mountain Biking in NE England
We had a pretty decent 2009 in terms of membership. Like most clubs whatever their ilk, we also relied on a solid core of members to maintain the friendly though occasionally competitive atmosphere. Curently we remain, almost uniquely, free!
Significant take-up of our new public Forum gave members and outsiders the opportunity to comment, raise issues, sometimes become controversial and even at times helpful!
The membership remained split about 50-50 between locals and imports (we prefer to call them "adopted Geordies") and there were almost 400 e-mail enquiries from prospective members, as well as a great many others from the commercial world. Many of these, of course, failed to make an appearance, and quick perusal of last year's ride reports offer some indication that maybe there's a general lack of appreciation of what we call "proper Mountain Biking" with Jo and Joe Public.
One of our more local imports, Gordon, managed to swing us a 10% Club Discount at The Bike Place, Cowgate in late 2008, and that was followed by most of the others in the Newcastle area offering similar deals in 2009, most recent being Betta Blast, Shiremoor. The Cycle Centre in Byker is soon to join our list thanks to recent new member Francis. Every little helps in this comparatively expensive hobby of ours, I'm sure you'll agree, and our thanks go to Gordon for the kickstart, and the shop owners.
We were soon spotted by national Bike/Sports outlet chain Wiggle in '08 and they continue their Associate deal with us providing a cash return on sales generated through this site.
We could even have taken a quarter page advert in the Times for a somewhat daunting fee! (I declined their kind offer).
So what does 2010 hold for us? More of the same I would guess, with a mixture of local day and night rides and away days to the Seven Stanes and the Lake District, with a fairly even spread over the months ahead. We'll likely begin with the one we had to cancel, to Glentress, as soon as we know the roads are safe and the trails properly rideable. Our very own Ian B has the insider knowledge we need to arrange this one, so we'll wait and be guided by him.
What's first?
The forecast for the first Sunday of the year, 3rd January, is pretty bleak, and we did sample how difficult conditions were on Wednesday night when five of us braved the elements, so currently our best chance for a full day would seem to be 10th January.
Hopefully we'll see a few more out for the next one. Hope you all had a great New Year (or Hogmanay, Stewart!).
