Locally? They are people who have cycled all their lives, long and shorter, and love it. They turn out week after week, rain or shine, without fail, planning and advertising lovely routes, welcoming all and anyone who wants to turn up and ride with them. They make no comments about how you're dressed or what bike you ride, they are just genuinely glad to see you out on a bike. If there's something wrong with your bike they will cheerfully help you fix it and explain how it works if you're not sure. They cater for people whose average speeds are way beyond what I can achieve, and equally people who just want to pootle about on a shopping bike, and they manage to organise their rides every week so that both those groups, and the ones in between, meet up at lunchtime for a pint in the pub or a sandwich on a bench at the rec, whichever people choose.
Nationally, CTC has a bit of a problem with the recent debacles over charity status. And some of the rather cheap comments on here indicate they have a way to go, sure. But in my experience CTC people are invaluable, undervalued, and quietly continuing to share and enjoy their love of cycling.
Strongly agree with above.
I joined to "support the aims of the organisation" which I saw as promoting practical cycling and cyclists's interests rather than sport, nor pushing niche interests or (inapropriate) green / lefite agendas either. (For the record I am at least pale green and slightly leftie myself so my comment is on appropriatenss, rather than a disagreement with said agenda). We (cyclists) need constant vigilance to head off stupid legislation - helmet compulsion, must use cycle lanes, and whatever else - ctc does this.
i irather like the magazine, which I look forward to, but see as a bonus.
i also value the insurance - more for legal side to pursue a claim, though on my one colision with a motorist, the latter fu£&@ed off leaving me in the road, bruised and shaken but not seriously hurt luckily. Very bruised indeed it gradually emerged with 1/4 of my chest a yellowy blue colour but hey ho.
Gone on only 1 local club run - and a more delightfull and welcoming bunch you could not meet. It was advertised as slow, and it really was slow it must be said, but, and this is key, there was a good few very fit people on the ride, who could have cycled 4 times the distance in half the time, but didn't in order to cater for the slowest. There were a minority of very much non-athletes who were totally welcome, and not dropped nor ever made to feel like the slow ones. Espirit de corps and team ethos were fantastic. The club also run medium, and fast and very fast rides, so no-ones held back. Purely other commitments have curtailed joining them for other runs as I was vwry impressed.. This is the Bristol group for what it's worth.
So for me, very much "a good thing" which I'm happy to support with a modest bit of cash, especially as there's a nice magazine, and insurance - which I regard as a nice bonus.
