Island Wheelers Cycling Club, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland Official website for the Island Wheelers Cycling Club
Island Wheeler Cycling Club
Any cyclists first thought is why join a cycling club and we hope these reasons will give you an insight in too being part of a well-established club, has credibility in the local and cycling community. Our club has an abundance of knowledge that can only benefit you as a new member.
Island Wheelers is a family-based club with members of all ages.
Firstly, we would like to confirm that Island Wheelers is not a racing club. Yes, we do have members who do race, but we are far more than that. We have several groups within the club to suit cyclists of all abilities.
All our groups are leader based where routes are pre planned and members are made aware in advance. We also have members who are in to off road cycling if that’s something of interest to you as it’s a great alternative in the winter months.
With more people taking up cycling lately Island Wheelers would like to invite everyone wishing to join a club to take the jump and join our club. Now is a good time to get prepared and benefit from the following 10 points.
1 Knowledge.
The first and most obvious reason is that you’ll have someone who knows the area to tell you where to go – even if you can just download a route from Strava or other websites, it’s not the same as having someone alongside you pointing out places of interest, finding the best places for coffee, avoiding hazardous junctions and tricky terrain, and assisting with discovering great scenery. There will be greater variety to your riding with someone else’s ideas and perhaps you’ll even find yourself exploring much further afield than you would on your own.
2 Making friends.
Secondly are the companions you’ll meet through our club, who may often turn into lifelong friends. Experiencing something on your own is great but having someone else to share it with is a basic human need and means that the cycling memories you make can be resurrected whenever you are together. Have you ever laughed at something when by yourself? Perhaps, but laughing with someone else is easier and much more fun – and less likely to attract funny looks!
3 Safety in numbers.
And on that note, some people feel embarrassed to be seen on a bike and therefore never cycle. But if you’re in a group, you will feel a lot less nervous about riding in public – we are, after all, pack animals at heart – and any attention won’t be just on you.
4 A sense of belonging.
Our club is very active in the area, and you’ll also be an integral part of the wider local community. Plus, with our club jersey or other branded items, you’ll have a distinct identity and can feel a sense of pride at belonging to a successful club. And, even better with a Cycling Ireland membership/licence, you’ll be part of a member club ensuring rides are run in a safe, legal and welcoming way.
5 Shared learning.
You’ll also become more confident with your cycling skills after riding with our groups – if you’re a novice rider, we’ll show you all sorts of tips and techniques from what to take on a cycle, what’s good to wear in different weather conditions and more importantly, how to keep your bike roadworthy. We can even be able to help with bike handling and road positioning skills.
6 Get matched.
Most of our groups have rides suitable for all levels so if you’re unsure of your fitness and ability, contact the club first to chat over what we can offer you. We have a policy of never leaving anyone behind! Our group leaders make this clear, while our guidance for riding in a group tells you what you might expect on a group ride.
7 Competitive.
If you’ve got a more competitive side, some of our groups are a great place to show your prowess on a bike. Some of our competitions give you another reason to go on a ride and the kudos you’ll get from real people will be much more satisfying than any virtual praise.
8 Cycle chat.
Our Club often runs social evenings where you can talk about cycling and other topics and generally catch up with those riders who you may not see much at other times.
9 Give back.
As a member of our club, there are a wide range of volunteering options open to you, from just washing up the teacups at an event to running the club itself as Secretary or Chair or making use of your numerical skills by being a Treasurer – it’s not only an opportunity to give back but also another way to make friends and have some fun at the same time. And if you offer your services as a ride leader, you can enjoy taking people to the places you want to go at a time and pace that suits you.
10 Feel great.
Finally, and more importantly cycling with a group is also brilliant for improving your mental health and wellbeing – knowing you are doing something meaningful with your spare time by enabling others to enjoy the huge benefits of cycling is a very powerful feeling.
Feel free to email us at islandwheelerscc@gmail.com or contact club Chairperson Jim Kelly 07508375811 or club Secretary Robbie Silcock 07792950893 if you have any questions.
Alternatively have a look at Cycling Ireland website on how to join our club and the member benefits they offer
