The latest and one previous Club Members Newsletters are available here. Please contact us with any news or articles. See the contact details below.
2025 cycle sport season is now in full swing
Club kit ordering – from Jean Brownsword
The better weather has seen plenty of the 2025 Solihull kit on show.
The Kalas SCC store is OPEN for new orders until 28 May, for delivery in July.
https://258405d0-c525-f011-9af7-6045bdd1599b.myshop.kalas.cc/en/
You can order custom kit in both the traditional race design, or the new recreational kit. If you intend to race in BC events, you need to wear the registered race jersey.
Please ensure you make the right choice when putting your order through - custom kit is made to order and is non-refundable and non-returnable. If you are unsure about the kit (styles, sizing, etc.), please ensure you contact Kalas and get advice before you place your order.
If you choose the ‘deliver to the branch’ option at the checkout, your order will be delivered to me. You must be willing to collect it from me in Northfield (B31) if you choose this option.
Club Rides – from Cliff Dobson
https://solihullcc.org.uk/club-runs
The summer programme is almost ready to appear on the website. On 1 June we are suspending the club runs so members can support our flagship open road race. Our memorial rides in June and the charity Cream Tea run in August will offer a chance for a social gathering combined with a good bike ride.
Here’s a plea to try and “tighten up” the ride discipline on our club rides. I have seen myself, and heard anecdotally that in recent months some of the recreational club rides have become a bit ragged, with the group being strung out instead of riding as a tight group. It’s good practice to spread out on faster descents for safety, and inevitably gaps will open up on climbs. However whenever possible the riders should ride together. Please will all riders support the ride leader by avoiding creating splits, and helping the ride to regroup when things have got strung out.
No Frills evening races – from Ian Cowan
The rescheduled No Frills races start on Wednesday 4 June at 7:00PM at Tudor Grange and continue each Wednesday evening until 18 June.
I need some help with these races please. We need 6 – 7 people each night to help with setup, marshalling and sign on. If you can help for an hour or so on Wednesday evening.
….and British Masters National Championship road race
I am also organising the 2024 BMCR Solihull Cycling Club Road Race on Sunday 1st June at Bearley. The races start at 10:00AM with setup and signing on from 8:30. There won’t be any organised club rides on that Sunday so that club members can help with running the race. Lunch will be provided for any helpers, but I do need 6 cars and drivers plus 30 volunteers to help with setup, signing on, food and marshalling.
If you can help with any of these events, please let me know on 07977 237 040 (call, text or WhatsApp). It would be nice to meet some fellows club members off the bike, hopefully on warm sunny days in early summer!
Forward Look -
Sun 1 June – BMCR road races, Snitterfield **Volunteers required**
Wed 4,11 and 18 June – rescheduled No Frills circuit races – Tudor Grange
Sun 8 June – SCC Youth circuit races – Tudor Grange (provisional)
Wed 11 June – Old Sols lunch
Sun 29 June – Club Memorial Rides – 9am – 9:30 start from Woodbourne, Earlswood
Sun 13 July – Tour d’Ilmington
Clocks gone forward – mudguards requested on club runs on wet days, but not mandatory as we look forward to a summer of great cycling. After a grim February, March and early April have seen a great improvement.
Newsletter distribution from Cliff Dobson
This is the last edition distributed using the 2024 membership list. If you have changed your e-mail address, please let us know on membership@solihullcc.org.uk
Club Runs – from Cliff Dobson
The Saturday morning fixed route training bash has returned to the pre-covid start time of 9am still from Dorridge Station
Club Time Trials – from Dave Fellows
This year for the TTs there’s a few changes
All the club championships we organise as a club (5mi & 10mi this year) will be road bike only - in other words to win a trophy whether that be school boys or school girls, men or women you will have to be riding a road bike in order to win the trophy.
As there is no women’s specific TT championship trophy the club TT champion trophy will now be awarded to the highest placed Solihull CC rider in the Bas Francis Road Bike Cup which is a road bike only series of 10 TT events in which your 8 best results go towards your overall placing - pre entry is open for this competition at a reduced price of £35 on the website where you’ll find all the courses and dates - there’s pretty much one every week for 11 weeks with a break for the 2up Tony TTT.
Finally anyone wishing to win a 25, 50, 100 or 12 hour TT trophy at the dinner will need to compete in an event of this distance either an open or a club event and submit their time for consideration to me via email - djohnfellows@gmail.com you can ride a TT bike to win these trophies - and the fastest time overall for men and women will be the new holder of their respective trophy.
PS - you can ride a TT bike in any of our club events this year; they just won’t count towards the league in which they are a part of.
Dates for your Diary
7, 14, 21, 28 May No Frills races at Tudor Grange
17 May Tony Satterthwaite Memorial Cycle Event, Fen End
1 June BMCR Road Race - Bearley
8 June Youth Circuit Races – Tudor Grange
19 June 2up TT Anthony Satterthwaite Memorial
29 June Memorial Rides, Woodbourne Sports Club