Rebranding of Cycling Uk

[wiggydiggy]

That's not touring - touring must use panniers ..🍿🍿🍿

Carradice only please....

 

[simongt]

A recent e-mail from Cycle UK tells me that due to 'an error' the newly issued membership cards has been issued with the date in American format, so they will be re-issued with the UK date format.
So who at the printers didn't check to pre run proofs and who at Cycle UK didn't check the pre confirmation proofs I wonder - ?
Just sayin'.
And yes, the rebranding was a waste of time and money simply to believe that it would improve their image and get more members.

 

[DCLane]

That's not touring - touring must use panniers ..🍿🍿🍿

My Scottish tour had a seatpost bag (the large Altura Arran I use for audaxes) and a small rucksack (clothes which were disposed of as I went / paperwork). No panniers

 

[Jameshow]

My Scottish tour had a seatpost bag (the large Altura Arran I use for audaxes) and a small rucksack (clothes which were disposed of as I went / paperwork). No panniers

View attachment 758091

No canti brakes either!!

My rapide is very similar but in steel👍

 

[DCLane]

@Jameshow - I have a pair of very lovely blingtastic Velo Orange Gran Gru long-reach brake calipers.

The Ridgeback Platinum was due an upgrade from 10 to 11 speed over Christmas; I've a Dura-Ace/Ultegra mixed set ready and waiting to go on which will give me a 32 tooth bottom gear rather than the 28 it currently has. It's a perfectly capable touring bike and has served me well for both PBP and LEL - https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/bikes/touring-bikes/ridgeback-platinum-review

 

[PhilipBenstead007]

I see some people on here disagreed with the name change from CTC to CyclingUK. I don't.

These days Cycling UK spend a lot of their resources on campaigning to make cycling an easy first choice for running errands, like taking kids to school, going to the shops, work and so on.

I go on cycle tours/bike packing trips myself. Making cycling safer for utilitarian trips is far more important for social justice and the climate crisis than anything I could want as a holidaying cyclist. I'm so glad they've taken up the mantle of being the advocate for the every day cyclist, rather than what is, let's face it, the very niche pursuit of going on cycle touring holidays.

Anyone who's read their magazine knows they still talk a lot about cycling holidays, but I think "Cycling UK" as a name reflects their most important work better.

I have a story for you.

I went to buy a pair of shoes at Cotswold Outdoor London – Piccadilly.

I was served by a male who look a bit like a young version of Maurice Gibb https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7075769/maurice-gibb of the Bee Gees.
He was around 25 to 30 years of age.

In addition, to working in the shop he also works in a sports outdoor centre.

I told him I was a CTC member because the shop gave a CTC discount, but I added that you might know it as Cycling UK.

He replies he knew about the name change but thought the new name was awful, it meant nothing.

IMHO He was the sort of person we need in the CTC young and outdoors type.

IMHO We fell into the trap of thinking we know what young people think.

 

[Boopop]

I have a story for you.

I went to buy a pair of shoes at Cotswold Outdoor London – Piccadilly.

I was served by a male who look a bit like a young version of Maurice Gibb https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7075769/maurice-gibb of the Bee Gees.
He was around 25 to 30 years of age.

In addition, to working in the shop he also works in a sports outdoor centre.

I told him I was a CTC member because the shop gave a CTC discount, but I added that you might know it as Cycling UK.

He replies he knew about the name change but thought the new name was awful, it meant nothing.

IMHO He was the sort of person we need in the CTC young and outdoors type.

IMHO We fell into the trap of thinking we know what young people think.

I've never heard anyone in person say "Cycle Touring Club" in person, they'll always say "CTC". If nothing else, Cycling UK isn't an acronym that needs explaining.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've never heard anyone in person say "Cycle Touring Club" in person,

That's because CTC stood for "Cyclists' Touring Club"

But point taken

 

[postman]

Carradice only please....

Not forgetting a certain saddle that takes a bit of time to bed in .

 

[PaulSB]

I only use cycling UK for the insurance and I dislike some of the members on their forum, it seems it is very clicky and if you ain't in the click your posts get deleted..........mine you the same happens on here too

Thank you. I've been reluctant to say this. I joined years ago. I also joined the forum and was bullied by some members of the forum. I left and never rejoined as I didn't want to belong to an organisation populated by such people.

 

[mjr]

Thank you. I've been reluctant to say this. I joined years ago. I also joined the forum and was bullied by some members of the forum. I left and never rejoined as I didn't want to belong to an organisation populated by such people.

If I remember correctly, a lot of your early posts there were on its helmet board. That tends not to be a board where it's easy to form friendships, no matter your view, and I think there is understandable suspicion of people who seem to be there mainly to post on it, more than discuss tours or bikes or campaigns. I'd made over 150 posts before daring to post there!

Not that it excuses bullying. The mods on there tend to be fairly right/libertarian/laissez faire IMO and used to be more so a decade ago. It has a board that's a talking shop for the Tea Party, for heaven's sake! Currently telling us who will win the 2029 election(!)

 

[PaulSB]

If I remember correctly, a lot of your early posts there were on its helmet board. That tends not to be a board where it's easy to form friendships, no matter your view, and I think there is understandable suspicion of people who seem to be there mainly to post on it, more than discuss tours or bikes or campaigns. I'd made over 150 posts before daring to post there!

Not that it excuses bullying. The mods on there tend to be fairly right/libertarian/laissez faire IMO and used to be more so a decade ago. It has a board that's a talking shop for the Tea Party, for heaven's sake! Currently telling us who will win the 2029 election(!)

I'm not at all sure what to make of this.

Yes, I joined a discussion about helmets. I did not make a lot of posts on the subject but innocently entered a discussion. From what I recall three individuals rounded on me and treated me in the most appalling fashion. I have, in the past, noticed similar behaviour on here.

Reading around the CTC board/forums suggested this wasn't unusual behaviour if an individual didn't conform to a particular view. I should say at this point I did nothing more than explain why I feel helmets are a benefit to cyclists. It was around the time I had crashed, through no fault of my own, smashing a one week old helmet in four places.

The behaviour of some individuals on the forums was so appalling it coloured my view of CTC as an organisation. The moderators apply, or should, the organisation's standards. If this behaviour was acceptable to CTC moderators then it was obviously acceptable to CTC.

I wouldn't go near CTC or CUK as a result. Such members ruin an organisation for the majority.

 

[PaulSB]

I should emphasise I'm sure anyone posting in here whether or not a CUK member is a decent person. Knowing there is a minority within CUK of that ilk means I will never go near it again for fear of encountering such people.

 

[mjr]

The moderators apply, or should, the organisation's standards. If this behaviour was acceptable to CTC moderators then it was obviously acceptable to CTC.

I agree. I do wonder whether the Online Safety Act might encourage the host organisation to take more interest in their forum, given they'd be on the hook for a sizeable fine if it all goes wrong. I only recall one membership manager and a few elected members making brief appearances on it, apart from the OP and a former technical officer.

 

[abcd efg]

Never. What they want to do is make they world a better place in their eyes at least by getting people who don't now ride a bike onto a bike. What arogant claptrap. Most of us joined because we already rode bikes and wanted to share ourselves experiences, not save the world using cycling as a tool to do so.