Cowley Road Condors have been proud supporters of Bike Oxford since its inception in 2014. Joining forces with the aptly named Richard Best of Iconic Cycling Events, we’ve been volunteering, riding and cheering this fantastic event on for over 5 years. Here we look back on some of our Condor highlights!
September 2014 The very first ride and a job well done making sure the beer was looked after. A tradition of sitting around and chillaxing was quickly established.
September 2015 The ladies start to come out in force and eating delicious cheese becomes the next tradition.
September 2016 Our beloved gazebo got it’s first outing, volunteers took signage duties very seriously and footballer socks were briefly back in fashion. Some riders couldn’t quite keep up with their wives and needed a little lie down.
May 2017 Paul Boden dressed up as a safety conscious banana. We then sat around some more.
This was also the year some Condors took flight and enjoyed the sister ride at Bike Bath!
May 2018 Friends and family joined us as we basked in the sunshine and the reflective glare of high vis arm warmers.
Bike Bath was another resounding success, though if you look closely some are suffering more than others.
May 2019 Come join us this Sunday and find out! We promise you will have a fun day out and bring home lots of memories. Sign up online or register on the day for the 25, 50 or 80 mile routes. Condors get 15% off with discount code CRCBO201915
Happy New Year 🙂 We hope you had a fantastic Christmas and all your cycling themed present wishes came true.
The recent Condors Board meeting, the first of the new season, was a chance for board members to discuss in detail what we felt were the main aims and objectives for the Cowley Road Condors in 2019. We’re writing to you all to bring you up to speed on what was agreed should be our primary objectives and direction over the coming year, and beyond.
We have always greatly valued the thoughts, and views, of our members and it’s hugely helpful to receive your feedback – so, to this end, please do get in touch with any comments or input you may have on the below items. Please know that the board’s door is always open – and until we have an actual door the best way to reach us is via [email protected] or directly via any board member.
In addition, throughout this season and prior to each meeting of the Condors Board, we will be asking members to submit questions or put forward items they’d like discussed – you will have seen this on the December newsflash.
Club Aims 2018/19
These aims reflect what we perceive our strengths as a cycling club to be and the great input provided by members in our annual survey:
To be a fun, friendly and inclusive cycling club
To empower members through training & skills development across multiple cycling disciplines, and promote personal cycling safety
To offer people the chance to try new things and stretch themselves, enabling members to reach their goals
To promote equal opportunities and be a constant champion for women’s cycling, aiming for a 50:50 male/female split
To be an active, visible, participant in the Oxford community, and an advocate of cycling initiatives across the city recognised as valuable to our members.
Now, the eagle(condor?)-eyed amongst you have probably noticed the above is very similar to last season’s stated aims. Having reviewed and discussed each as a group we felt these aims still best represent where we want to be as a cycling club. Also, we see it as a positive to have longstanding aims the club is dedicated to make happen, and know are achievable.
Condors Racing
We’ve been delighted to see Condor members do well at racing and progress to dedicated racing teams such as zeroBC and Team Vision over the last couple of years. They can offer the training, support and financial subsidies needed to take racing seriously. We see ourselves as an amateur cycling club, that excels at getting new people into group riding, encouraging them into racing, and developing their skills. Building and retaining talent is important to us, and our doors are always open for riders who want to return or have membership with multiple clubs. Arguably we could go down the road of developing our own official race team, with sponsors and all the organisation that goes along with it. But that would be a sizeable piece of work for the benefit of very few. Given that other teams in the area are doing such an excellent job already, it doesn’t make sense for us to reinvent the wheel, when we can act as a feeder-club for talented individuals that want to move on. We would rather put time and energy into another area which needs much more attention in Oxford. This brings us onto…
Condors Kids
We’re a large established club these days and creating a secure environment where families can share the love of cycling seems a logical next step – especially as increasing numbers of members are having children of their own.
It’s our intention to start small with this, taking time to fully explore all that’s required to run safe, secure events for children and their parents. A Condors family day at South Park with a summer BBQ bolted on is the sort of initial offering we’re thinking. Any approach will be fully communicated with members and we’d welcome any input from anyone who has had experience in this area. For those of you worried about having to chaperone teenagers on rides, please rest assured that provision for under 18s will be separate from the mainstay of Condor rides. We are also keen to stay off-road as much as possible.
Current youth provision in Oxford is limited and geared heavily towards racing – current president Cheryl is especially keen that Condor kids have opportunities to ride socially, just for fun, and to enjoy all the wonderful experiences cycling can bring.
Condors CX race
A group of Condors mud enthusiasts are looking into the possibilities of staging a Condors Cyclo-Cross (CX) race later this year for the Wessex CX League. We’ve reached out to a couple of nearby venues earmarked as suitable with facilities capable of meeting requirements. If our plans are successful we’ll hosting a full day of off-road racing that will cover under 8s to Vet50s and beyond. The fact that we are in a position to be considering this shows how much the CX scene has grown within the club and we’re delighted to support this. Do please get in touch if you’re interested in helping to make this happen, or head over to the Condors Mud Kids facebook group and make yourself known there.
Welfare Officer
Lastly, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone we now have a dedicated Welfare Officer! We’re delighted to have Jen Graystone join the board. Jen will play a vital role in helping members, ensuring the safeguarding and protection of all Condors. Her input will be especially important when it comes to our expansion into the youth cycling area. Do get in touch with Jen directly should you ever require support – all matters will remain private and confidential: [email protected]
And finally, it goes without saying that we will continue to keep up the excellent work that we have been doing for women’s cycling in the area.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Cheryl, Ollie, Dave, Arran, Becci, Chris, Jo, Joe G, Joe W, Jen, Matt and Pete
Cowley Road Condors are proud to have reached a historic milestone as they come to the end of 2018.
For the first time in the club’s history, we have reached 300 current members!
35% of these are women which is brilliant for a mixed cycling club and we’re committed to being a constant champion for women’s cycling, aiming for a 50:50 male/female split.
We’re also delighted to see uptake of our recently launched Supporter membership which caters for Condor members who have moved out of Oxford.
Membership
Full
Student
Supporter
Lifetime
Total
Female
87
16
3
–
106
Male
170
22
1
1
194
Total
257
38
4
1
300
Jonny Revis, one of the founding fathers, said: “I think that if the founding members had been asked what was possible when the club was set up, having a 300 strong membership within a decade would have been seen as laughable. The attention that is made to move with the times is for me what sets the club aside from others and comes from a fluid board structure and the people who volunteer to steer this ship”
Cheryl Reid, current president, added: “Reaching 300 members would not have been possible without the many contributions from club members – past and present. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has ever led a ride, been involved in training, marshalled an event or displayed the friendly & inclusive values that we cherish so much. Our willingness to try new things, listen to feedback, and not take ourselves too seriously will hopefully stand us in good stead for years to come!”
Chapeau to the brilliant, inspiring and fun loving Condors!
Oxford is a great place to work and study, attracting people from all over the country and beyond. As such we find that over time a number of club members move back home or to other exciting areas.
Condors have taken GDPR seriously which means that we can no longer keep in touch with previous members in the ways that we used to. We want to keep lines of communication open and make sure that all Condors feel valued and involved – even if they live on the other side of the world!
Who is the Supporter Membership designed for?
– Condors who have moved away but still want to feel part of the club. Those who come back to Oxford occasionally can ride with us up to 3 times a year. – People who do not ride with us at all, but like our ethos and want to support us as a club
Who is it not designed for?
– People who live in or near Oxford and ride with us irregularly – People who cannot afford the full/student membership and are looking at this as a cheaper option. If this applies to you, please contact us at [email protected] and we will work something out!
What will Supporters have access to?
Member
Supporter
Club newsletter
✔
✔
Club social events
✔
✔
Club rides1
✔
3 per year
Discount codes
✔
✔
Kit and accessories
✔
✔
Christmas cards2
✔
✔
Voting rights
✔
✔
How much does it cost?
A very modest £5. This is to cover the cost of posting Christmas cards and reflects the fact that club resources are not being used.
1 If the Supporter happens to be in Oxford on the same day as a club time trial, hill climb or spin class, this can comprise one of the 3 rides that year. Any applicable fees will charged at normal club member rate. If Supporters wish to represent the club briefly in a racing capacity while back in Oxford this needs to be discussed in advance with the Race Secretary via [email protected]
2 Supporters will need to provide a home address during sign up if they would like to receive a Christmas card! #GDPR
Sadly, cyclists are not immune to the carelessness of motorists. The deeper I find myself within this community, the more people I encounter who have had accidents caused by motorists, myself included.
Last September, barely a month old Condor, I was hit by a car in the centre of Oxford whilst riding my town bike. The car in question pulled out from a side road on the left without even looking in my direction. The last thing I remember was moving out of the cycle lane and into the road to be more visible to the driver, alas they never looked in my direction (as it turns out they were a tourist used to driving on the opposite side). My next memory after that was of the John Radcliffe… some 48 hours later!
I came away with a month long concussion, a nasty broken finger and the usual array of head to toe road rash. Four weeks of absolute rest, followed by three weeks of light turbo training and I was rearing to ride outside again, but my confidence was at an all time low and the first few months back out on the road were a challenge. I’m not going to write an essay on how to deal with roadside panic attacks however much I regard myself as a pro, but I will share with you the things that helped me get back out there.
Find a ride buddy; someone you can ride with, talk to and share the positive (as well as the inevitable bad). I found that ‘Monday Club’ and the support of fellow Condor Kristen invaluable to getting back out on the road and building my confidence. In all honesty I could reel off a list of Condors that have helped me on this journey (thank you all, you know who you are).
Choose your ride time wisely; avoiding busier times on the road like the school run/rush hour, try to ride outside of busy times such as weekends or the middle of the day mid week. Avoiding these busier times means less cars which usually makes for a more positive ride.
Use familiar roads/Have a ‘safe’ route; ride roads you know and that are quieter, design routes that have options to cut it short, have a route that you can always rely on to be those things. For me that was heading out West, which I now know so well I can tell you where all the pot holes are and when the old ones were last filled in!
Try to get out solo; this was a very personal one, I know some people don’t like riding solo but for me it’s where I started and offered a freedom to ride where/when I wanted. Solo riding during times of low confidence can be great in that you can take as much time as you need (even if that means having a cry down the phone in a lay-by) and when the ride goes well it feels like an incredible achievement. The downside is that if you have a sudden lapse of confidence you’ve gotta be able to work through it or have a back up. When heading out for solo rides I would let someone know and that would be the person I would reach out to if necessary mid ride.
Returning to group riding; before considering returning to group rides it’s really important to be able to identify what your triggers are, if any. For me it was vehicles pulling up to the road from the left, it made me a very twitchy and potentially dangerous rider to be in a group and it took time to be able to control my reactions. I’ll only say it once. COMMUNICATION IS KEY. Let people know about your experience, let them know what triggers you, talk to them during the ride about how you’re doing, any information will likely be greatly received and means those around you can support you.
Another aspect of the accident I’ve been asked about relate to making a claim against the motorist. I am in no way qualified to recommend an appropriate path for anyone to take in this regard, however I can share with you my own experience. Completely overwhelmed and still dealing with a concussion I contacted the legal side of a large online bicycle retailer and they essentially did all the work for me, for what would eventually be a 25% cut of the settlement. All I had to do was keep a tally of costs incurred because of the accident, this included loss of earnings, quotes for repairs or replacements and even travel expenses to hospital appointments. Due to the injuries sustained I also supplied photographs of the injuries and agreed to an independent medical assessment. This is by no means a fast or easy process, making a claim forced me to re-live the accident, made me have to put a price on my physical and mental health and left me in an unsettled state until it was eventually over. The compensation I received did fix the physical things, but no amount of money could undo the damage to my confidence.
Regaining confidence to ride again can take time, there will be ups and downs, but with persistence it does come back. Set yourself goals, but be lenient on yourself. There are a few extra things I did along my journey which I found helpful, such as specific bike skills days at Hillingdon cycle circuit (which I have previously written about), learning to use bike rollers, entering my first race, completing my first time trial and having a go at track cycling, I even did some test riding for a power meter company which meant a cash incentive for when I did go out! There is so much support and encouragement available through the club to try new things and get back out there, Cowley Road Condors really are the friendliest bicycle club around!
A slightly more serious note to end on…
I’d like to highlight the seriousness of a concussion and direct you to the club’s recent document on the subject. My accident resulted in me being unconscious for some time, apparently I regained consciousness in the ambulance and proceeded to vomit everywhere and once in hospital I had an array of scans. I am told I presented as my normal self; coherent, friendly and joking around, however I have no recollection of this or the 48 hours I spent in hospital. I don’t remember taking photographs of my injuries or calling in sick to work, I don’t remember the hunger or the vomiting that followed, I don’t remember the fits I had and I don’t remember having more scans because of them. I do remember leaving hospital, barely able to walk or hold a conversation. The weeks that followed were an unexpected challenge. Fatigue meant I slept 12 hours at night and napped in the day, even a walk to Peloton was exhausting. I struggled to hold conversations, remember words or names, so I spent a lot of time in silence. Movement around me was overwhelming, even walking down Cowley Road surrounded by people, traffic and bikes made me feel dizzy and disorientated. One thing I still struggle to explain was my inability to make meals for myself, I couldn’t think of what to eat and I certainly couldn’t pick out ingredients in the supermarket, so I lived off of soup for a while! Gradually the effects lessened, but I still don’t have those 48 hours of memory and I spent six weeks of my life in a daze. I’ve known people to have shorter or less severe experiences and I’ve heard of far worse, but nonetheless concussions aren’t something to be dismissed or underestimated.
Tell us a little bit about your role and what is you’d most like to achieve this year?
You might not even have met me in person (because I haven’t lived in Oxford for two years) but you have probably submitted to my demands for money…hi I’m your Treasurer! I’m in charge of balancing the books and managing the budgets. In short, it involves some Excel wizardry and lots of time on PayPal. We’re lucky enough to have such a strong member base and great sponsors that money coming in is not a problem. Therefore this year my main goal is actually to make sure the board spends more on members than we receive, whilst leaving us at a healthy starting point for next year.
What would you say attracted to you to the Cowley Road Condors in the first place?
Diversity. I first started riding a road bike 4 years ago, I wasn’t fit, fast or familiar with Oxford. I started out with the University Cycling Club which was mostly active in term time, meaning the summers had to be supplemented with a different club. Eventually, I found the Condors. The frequency of riding and sheer numbers in the summer meant that I could pick rides suited to my ability and gain some great group riding experience. In the two years I was in Oxford I went from social riding, to instigating women’s dev rides, to hanging on to the incredible women’s race team for dear life. Even though I left Oxford, I couldn’t leave this amazing network behind and wanted to help from afar.
Describe your absolute favourite moment since joining the club?
The Condors, both individuals and as a club, have supported me more than I can put into words at the moment. So, I’ve decided my favorite moment was actually after I had moved away from Oxford. I left from Wandsworth (south west London) at 7am and rode 70km on my own to Watlington Hill to surprise the Condors at their hill climb. Everyone seemed so happy to see me, it warms the cockles of my heart to think about. I wasn’t persuaded to take part in the hill climb but I met up with my friends, was fed cake, given a Bike Oxford t-shirt AND saw the boss (Cheryl) ride with ET in a basket! What more could I want? I then got a puncture on the way into Oxford, which I was fixing at the side of the road when another Condor saw me and popped home to get me a track pump. It’s just little things like that which remind me why I love the this club.
So, what’s your main interest outside of cycling? It’s OK to not have any. Cycling rules!
Some might say that my main hobby is moving house seeing as I’ve had to do that 6 times in the last 4 years. It doesn’t leave me much time to do other things (except lots of cycling).
Those that know me will say my main hobby is moaning. And to be fair it’s a pass time I have perfected. Now that I have finished my PhD thesis, started a real job and moved for the last time in a while (hopefully), my main interest is adulting. That is, working out what non-students do. As part of my transition into adulthood I’m learning to garden, or as I like to call it ‘the art of making plants die a little bit slower’. I look forward to getting back into photography and I love crafts/making things so I’ll be upcycling some stuff to fill my shiny unfurnished ‘maisonette’.
What three words immediately spring to mind when you think about the Condors, or bikes, in general?
Inclusive
KTFU (insert any F you like!)
Bantz
Lastly, which Velominati rule do you fully support and will always abide by?!
Of the 20 that I could be bothered to read (*gasp*, grievances on a cute kitten e-postcard to [email protected] please) I think Rule #6 is my favorite.
Rule #6 // Free your mind and your legs will follow
Your mind is your worst enemy. Do all your thinking before you start riding your bike. Once the pedals start to turn, wrap yourself in the sensations of the ride – the smell of the air, the sound of the tires, the feeling of flight as the bicycle rolls over the road.
Thank you, Helena! If you’ve ever any queries on club finances then drop Helena a line at [email protected]. The below graphic is something Helena created for our 2017 AGM – it’s a useful visual indicator showing how we allocate your £30 annual club membership.
Tell us a little bit about your role and what you’d most like to achieve this year?
My job on the board is to make sure that club members are suitably furnished with pink and black lycra. This involves setting up order windows with the supplier, keeping the kit design up to date and checking proofs. I also manage the stock that is available to buy from the kit page and drop off any purchased items at Beeline. My ongoing aim as kit officer to make sure that members have access to good quality, affordable kit. I take great satisfaction in seeing more Condors than ever proudly wearing the pink & black!
What would you say attracted to you to the Cowley Road Condors in the first place?
I’ve been a cyclist practically my whole life but only got into club riding relatively recently. I’d always found other clubs a bit too serious for my tastes but decided to give the Condors a shot. I wanted to expand my cycling horizons and the club came across as far more inclusive than any other in Oxford. I’ve not looked back since.
Describe your absolute favourite moment since joining the club?
It’s difficult to say which has been my favourite moment with the club as there have been so many good times. Stepping up to the Development rides and learning to ride in a proper through and off paceline was a real buzz. It’s exciting to push yourself physically and to keep trying to get faster and faster. I‘ve also found ride leading really rewarding. It’s great to show people new routes or take people out on longer or faster rides than they previously felt capable of.
So, what’s your main interest outside of cycling? It’s OK to not have any. Cycling rules!
Well, i’m an illustrator by trade so I guess art could be considered my other passion. I’m also a big music fan and try to get to as many gigs as I can, although admittedly a lot less than I did in my twenties…
Here’s a couple of brilliant illustrations Joe produced to advertised recent club talks. Our Condor Olympian, Katie Greves, and Mark Harvey of Take 3 Tri.
What three words immediately spring to mind when you think about the Condors?
Friendly
Flames
Tuesdays
Lastly, which Velominati rule do you fully support and will always abide by?!
I generally uphold any rules relating to sartorial standards. Both you and your bike should always look on point.
White is old school cool. Black is cool too, but were given a bad image by a Texan whose were too long. If you feel you must go colored, make sure they damn well match your kit.
Bicycles must adhere to the Principle Of Silence and as such must be meticulously maintained. It must be cherished, and when leaning it against a wall, must be leaned carefully such that only the bars, saddle, or tires come in contact with the wall or post. This is true even when dismounting prior to collapsing after the World Championship Time Trial. No squeaks, creaks, or chain noise allowed. Only the soothing hum of your tires upon the tarmac and the rhythm of your breathing may be audible when riding.
Thank you for your time, Mr Wilkins! I’m off to work on my colour coordination…
Club kit orders are announced in our facebook group. The club does carry small amounts of stock and other merch which can be ordered through our website’s kit page.
The first board meeting of 2017/18 took place on Halloween, where a great discussion took place about club activities and how well they are reflected in our club aims.
Reflecting on the annual member survey results, and our analysis of club strengths, we agreed on the following:
To be a fun, friendly and inclusive cycling club
To empower members through training & skills development across multiple cycling disciplines, and promote personal cycling safety
To offer people the chance to try new things and stretch themselves, enabling members to reach their goals – both on and off the bike
To promote equal opportunities and be a constant champion for women’s cycling, aiming for a 50:50 male/female split
To be an active, visible, participant in the Oxford community, and an advocate of cycling initiatives across the city recognised as valuable to our members
This will help to drive and support our decisions on where to spend time, energy and money.
Cowley Road Condors are still a young club (6.5 years old!) but we have ambition, great ideas and a brilliant membership base who can work well together to make things happen.
If you’d like to help in any way (big or small!) please get in touch – we’d love to have you on board 🙂
