Bruton Cycling Club AGM 20/1/2024
Apologies – PL, Simon B, DB, MM
Present – LL, TW, KL, SB, NF, GH, AC, DC, MD, AF, SP, CP, SI, JM, RA, PT, PC, OT, OL, TB, HW, RH, PB, briefly SE.
1. Minutes from last AGM
Minutes were posted on BCC Website shortly after last AGM, no objections.
Actions from last year reviewed, majority completed, of those that weren’t KL to look at some 100mile rides for Summer 2024 for Saturday riders
KL ride planning and post on BCC Chat for Summer 24
2. Accounts
Current position around £1500 in credit, this is with £200 sponsorship money already received for 2024. We had subs from 43 members last year, majority paying £20. Subs to remain at £20 for 18-74yr olds, we do not have under 18’s due to safeguarding policy/registered officer requirements. Discussion about what to use some of our credit for – details later in minutes. Ongoing costs of British Cycling (BC) affiliation, website/domain costs covered by subs/sponsorship.
LL to post on BCC Chat details for payment of this years Subs
3. Sponsors
LL approached all 3 current sponsors – Bean Shot, Xpressofix, YellowBox – by email and all have agreed to continue with sponsorship on same terms as last yr – YellowBox have already paid £200. Keep Black kit as race kit reg with BC to keep affiliation costs down (£70/sponsor – only Bean Shot on black kit).
LL to invoice Bean Shot and Xpressofix for payment.
4. 10th Yr anniversary
The club will be 10yrs old on Friday 13th Sept 2024 – proposal to have a party at At the Chapel Bruton – hiring downstairs room on this date ideally with £500-750 of club funds to go towards the celebrations, and invite club sponsors.
a) New Kit – Paul Croom to work on new Kit design with Kalas – keep Blue and Black colourways on file with Kalas – all orders need min 5 items in any colourway. Once small working group has agreed new design, arrange order as early in the season as possible aiming for members to wear short sleeved jerseys THIS summer
b) Upgrades to website – consensus that photos are old and is looking a bit tired. LL asked for members to submit photos which can then be uploaded. Proposal to use some club funds (LL recommends max £150) to upgrade site using Tech support (e.g. Ben Baker or other local web page designers).
c) Instagram – there is a Bruton Cycling Club Instagram page in existence – BrutonCC – originally set up by Sam Burgess who formerly rode with the club. Would be good to get access to this account and find a tech savvy volunteer to post, and also link with our website feed.
LL to approach At the Chapel – once date confirmed hand over to Social Sec to progress planning the party
Paul Croom to liaise with Kalas, working group and Rosie H
ALL MEMBERS to submit photos to LL either by direct message or to BCC Chat for addition to website. Peter Tubb offered to work with LL and possibly Jess Padley (not present) on website updates
LL to message the Instagram page and try to contact Sam Burgess to arrange taking over this Instagram account.
5. Club Shop
Currently in stock we have BLUE colourway thick Arm Warmers £21/pair, and BLACK colourway buffs £10 each – several members interested in items.
Opening Kit Shop – Rosie will gather expressions of interest for colourways, and once 10yr blue kit design finalized, open kit shop for Kalas clothing. Note that minimum order for any colourway is 5 items.
LL will bring black buffs to club rides – please can members DM LL if they want a black buff so appropriate numbers are available.
Can members that want armwarmers DM Rosie H. Also
Rosie to invoice those who’ve already received armwarmers, then transfer funds back to LL for Club kitty.
6. Accidents
Can’t prevent them but could be more aware to look out for other club members, and ensure we all have emergency contact numbers on our mobile phones – LL showed how to reveal medical emergency info on more recent Iphone, there is similar capability for Android apparently
This also led to discussion about ensuring we’re all more aware of who’s riding that day – and proposal that at the start of each ride someone is nominated as ride leader for the group(s) out that day. All members to make ride leader aware if they’re leaving the ride/peeling home early etc. Ride leader should be someone who’s completing the whole route.
We have several first aid trained members, discussion around having other members attend a first aid cycling specific course, using some funding from BCC kitty
ALL MEMBERS to ensure next of kin/emergency medical info is stored on their phone and they know how to access it – then tell a buddy/share with other riders
ALL Members – to take turns being ride leader – ensuring that all riders are accounted for at café/end of ride. If large attendance and likely to split into groups – one leader/group
Nick Forster and Graham Hey offered to organize group session for several club members – funded by BCC
7. Weekend Rides
Discussion about splitting into groups – the previous formal arrangement of all together for first 10k then split into different pace groups not really bedded in. Small club trying to cater for breadth of paces is difficult – naturally splitting into groups of max 10 riders is sensible for safety, but ensure you know who you’re riding with and if riders dropping off the back that it’s with their agreement/ideally in a pair at least.
ALL Members – be mindful of who you’re riding with, ideally holding to pace posted on Website for the ride, and ensuring new riders are welcomed and buddied up with
8. Mid-week Peloton
Rides were being posted on website but this has ceased as no longer needed – the group communicate well through their dedicated WhatsApp group, and the rides are well organised with good cohesion.
Members who can’t often make mid-week rides noted they’d like to attend multiday trips organized by MWP – this year there is a trip to Exmoor – cycling from Bruton, staying overnight (2 nights) and returning back to Bruton 11-13/6/24
MWP/Peter Tubb to advertise the Exmoor trip to all club members
9. Chaingang
Consensus is to keep this going – on the Short Route (Cary – Ditcheat – Wraxall – Baltonsborough – Keinton – Cary) on Thursday evenings in the summer. In high summer also consider doing the longer “original” The Bridge to The Bridge route from Bruton to Cary. Accept that it’s HARD and will hurt, but there is beer after.
TW will post to BCC Chat when this will restart (late April/Early May)
10. Gravel Rides
Managed one organized BCC Gravel ride in 2023 – thanks to Rob A for route planning and leading. Enjoyed by all who went on it (generous 10 of us). Interest expressed by AC, OT, RA, SB, PB, LL, TW for further rides in 2024.
Rob Angel and any other member that want to please message LL with ride proposals/routes/dates
11. Socials
Current Social Sec (HW) and Deputy (PB) did sterling work in 2023 – but due to work pressures they will swop places for 2024 with Paul Briggs becoming Social Secretary and Helen Wilmshurst the deputy.
Paul and Helen to liaise re any socials for early part of 2024, but also focus on 10yr celebration in Sept 24
12. Events
Somerset 100 (19/5/24), Alternative Somerset 100 late April (From B&W showground), Isle of Wight Randonee (5/5/24), discussion advising riders to look at Audax UK also as events substantially cheaper than the above listed
Re AUDAX riding – you don’t have to be a member of Audax UK – so if any members identify an Audax they’re thinking of doing – share with other members on BCC Chat and see if you can get a group together.
LL to post info about Somerset 100 and IoW Randonee on Website soon – Ferry crossing/parking/randonee places get filled rapidly – we need to sign up early Feb ideally
13. UK and Overseas Trips
Paul Croom proposing Autumn 24 trip to Mallorca – would need organizing, so liaising via BCC Chat would be a start to see if there is interest.
Paul Croom to put post on BCC Chat
14. Promoting the club
In a hope of increasing membership, we need to become more visible – and thus also increase the visibility of our sponsors. Discussed how to do this – via The Dove (Bruton circulation), but also spread the message wider by making up some small cards e.g. 1/6th of A4 size on firm paper with info about club and sponsors to be handed out/placed on notice boards in local sports centres, at spin classes, in local cafes.
Stephen Ingram to work on design and liaise with LL re printing and distribution.
LL will pass to members who attend sports centres
AOB
Massive thanks to Jane and Keith Lunn for welcoming the club into their beautiful home – hope we didn’t trash it, and that you might allow us to come again next year.