Not the Chair’s Chatter

2

Well after a painfully slow biking start to 2025, with many Tatsfield and Banstead meets, Members, Associates and Social rides all cancelled due to icy conditions, the pace started to pick up around mid-March and suddenly we now find ourselves hurtling towards July and my turn to jump into The Chair for a quick chatter!

I joined the Committee after the AGM in the autumn, and took on the role of Events Co-Ordinator. I was tasked with expanding what we have on offer in the Tracker diary, looking for a variety of more lovely rides and some new special events to tickle the taste buds of the LAM membership.  Luckily I had a framework of traditional LAM ‘regulars’ to work around – Norfolk and Wales training weekends, the Cider Run, start and end of summer rides and so on. However, I have always felt we could do with some more All Members events - opportunities for Associates to meet and ride with Full Members outside of the OR training. So thanks to our brilliant Ride Leaders (and some new volunteers who have recently stepped forward), there have been many more social rides for all available to sign up to, along with some social mid-week rides on offer most months. These have proved really popular with people who work irregular hours and are not always available at the weekends as well as those who are lucky enough to be free all of the time but just prefer to avoid the weekend traffic and cyclists!  It has been really rewarding to hear back from Associates saying that they learn so much from these rides by following a full member …. but not too closely if course!

Also on offer have been a load more Full Members rides often lead by Andy Torrie, and more recently Tim Watson has also been offering rides most months as well. Remember to regularly check Tracker for new rides which can go up at any time, sometimes at short notice.

Other special events –

The Christmas get together at The Bike Shed in town, where everyone is welcomed with a free drink (or two!) on LAM, is great social event. Two wheels are generally left at home and it's a great opportunity to spend time chatting, meeting new faces, getting to know recent joiners and a time to start making exciting biking plans for the coming year!

The Suffolk ride and BBQ weekend has just taken place. For the second year running we had beautifully warm, dry weather for the occasion which helped to make it a great success with many more people joining this year. News of Johni Q’s fabulous burgers and sausages must have spread! Some came just for the ride up and BBQ, whilst others stayed for the whole weekend either in local pubs or adventurously camped in the garden. Those staying over spent the evening relaxing in the garden, telling stories (Eddie!) and enjoying some cold beers. The following morning, after a hearty breakfast at the house, everyone kindly mucked in helping to tidy up and pack away before setting off on a ride to the seaside town of Southwold for fish ‘n’ chips.

Plans are currently underway for a new event in early September – it will involve a medieval town, an overnight bag, riding in some broadleaved forests and a clothes peg! More clues coming soon……..

In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions, requests or ideas of rides/events you’d like to see in the calendar, then do let me know!   And if you're up for leading a ride from time to time or possibly organising an event … you'll be my friend forever!

Kathy Balmain