Welcome to Berwick Wheelers
Berwick Wheelers was formed in 1988, giving the eastern Borders and north Northumerland area its first cycling club since the demise of the Tweedside Cycling and Athletic Club some 20 years previous. Berwick-Upon-Tweed is an ancient walled town with a history of violence perpetrated against it by both the Scots and the English, having changed hands no less than thirteen times between 1147 and 1482, when it finally became attached to the English crown. It is the most Northerly town in England lying farther north than the Scottish town of Lanark, and has a distinct air of independence about it.
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Several of the town’s sports clubs operate in leagues on the Scottish side of the border, notably Berwick Rangers football Club and Berwick Rugby Club. Berwick Wheelers likewise, is affiliated to the Scottish Cyclists’ Union, having joined in 1992, carrying on a tradition set by the old Tweedside Cycling and Athletic Club. Membership is drawn from both sides of the border. Club Time Trials are held on the quiet roads in Berwickshire and are ideal for safely introducing young riders to the sport. For those who like hills, there are plenty of short, stiff, climbs to be tackled in the nearby Lammermuirs and Cheviots hills.
Berwick Wheelers has a strong tradition of time trialling. Its members compete in open events throughout England and Scotland during the season. The club also operates its own Time Trial Series and league on thursday evenings from April to mid September. We try to organise an 'Open' Time Trial Event every year, and also have members that compete in APR’s and Road Races across the country. These are generally open events and are found on the SCU or BCF web sites.
For a small club, Berwick Wheelers has a good record in SCU championship events, having won two individual gold, eight silver, two bronze and three team gold medals as well as breaking SCU competition team records at 10, 25, and 50 miles time trial events.
Social rides within the club are generally organised via e-mail or by phone and can change from week to week. The rides are an important part of life in the club. They are organised, steady paced, and cover a distance between 30 & 50 miles (2 to 3 hours cycling time), depending on the group and weather conditions. They take place on Sunday mornings in the winter months and usually a Tuesday evening in the summer.
Club members meet up in Chirnside or Eyemouth. Members from visiting cycling clubs are always welcome on these runs. Numbers can change from week to week depending on the cycling calendar. Club Runs follow roads only, so it is advisable to use a road bike rather than a mountain bike. It is also advisable to be self-sufficient and carry the essentials for a 2 to 3 hour cycle ride.
It's what we do best...
You may have seen it on the TV and wonder what's it all about. So hear's a rough guide to one of the best and at times most competitive sports in the world.
An Indivdual Time Trial (ITT) is a road bicycle race in which the rider races over a given distance against the clock on their own. In french 'Contre la montre' literally means "against the watch". Time Trials are also referred to as "the race of truth" as the finishing time will only depend on the riders strenth, determination, and endurance, over the distance being raced.
The starting times are at equal intervals (just like a car rally), usually one minute apart. The starting sequence is useally based on the results of the previous races with the strongest riders starting last. The rider with the quickest time from the race is declared the winner.
The aim for all club races, is for each rider to beat their previous times an thus set a new personal best (or PB) for that distance. Most time trials are held on a fairly flat course, and there are also hilly/mountain time trials as well as uphill or climbing events.
Equipment:
It dose'nt matter what you ride as it's all about 'you' cycling against the clock!
Allthough a road bicycle is much better than a full-on mountain bike for these kind of events, there are specialized aerodynamic frames, bars, wheels, and helmets to suit all abilities and budgets. These are designed to make the most of the riders efforts in overcomming aerodynamic drag, all of which can be obtained from any good bike store.
Time Trials and road racing are a fantastic way to get and keep fit!
Not because it's one of the few sports that can exercise every muscle in your body, or the sense of achievement you can get at the end of a race, but in this age where most folk spend more and more time in front of computer or TV screens (be it at work or at home), it is a chance to get outside on your bike and ride it to the best of your ability.
Race Rules...
All riders must wear a safty helmet. Head fairings are not allowed.
In competitions, numbers shall be worn at all times and called out by the rider as he/she crosses the finish line.
Riders must obey the rules of the road at all times, and take extra care when making a U-turn in the road.
In a time trial competitors must ride alone and unassisted. A rider being overtaken must immediately drop back about 50 yards on being caught before attempting to re-pass. Riders must not ride side by side. Any offender will be disqualified from the event.
All riders who have finished must keep clear of the time keepers whilist the event is in progress.
And most important of all - Have fun and enjoy...
Membership Details.
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The annual membership fee is £16.
Membership forms can be picked up at Tweed Cycles on Bridge street, Berwick-upon-Tweed, or can be e-mailed to you by any one of the contacts below.
There is also an entry fee of £2 for every club event the rider choose to participate in.
Contacts.
For more information about Berwick Wheelers Cycling Club, please contact any of the following....jpg "Andrew Beeke (28/5/09)")
Ian Whightman- ightman.ian@btinternet.com
Alison Kerr- Alison.Kerr@ahlstrom.com
Andrew Beeke- AFBeeke@aol.com
Sunday morining runs
Sunday rides start running from mid September to March.
Meeting up at the east end car park in Chirnside at 9:30. We aim for a ride time of about 2.5 to 3 hours. The routes change every week, depending on the weather and the amount of riders taking part and will include hill climbs and sprints maybe the odd cafe stop as well, but the average pace is kept to about 14-17mph.
