
The London 2012 Games have already been the most successful games for Team GB to date. Great Britain continues to dominate in cycling. If you are keen to start training to be the next Olympic champion, or are looking for a club to take your child, then read on. For the future Bradley Wiggins’, Chris Hoy’s and Victoria Pendleton’s there are several cycling clubs in Essex. As most clubs are run by hobbyists contact is often only possible via a website or email.
Essex Roads Cycling Club
They organise road cycle races and time trials. They also arrange trips to velodromes. Their club house is in Billericay, Essex. Club night is every Wednesday from 8.15 p.m. until 10.00 p.m. Contact via website / email only: www.essexroadscyclingclub.com/pages/makingcontact.htm
Braintree Velo Cycling Club
Braintree Velo Cycling Club is affiliated to: British Cycling, Cycling Time Trials,
Eastern Counties Association and the Eastern Road Race League. Tel. Chris Broadway 01376 553828. Web. www.braintreevelo.com
Chelmer Cycling Club
Based in Chelmsford, Essex. HQ is at the end of Meteor Way, off Waterhouse Lane. Wednesday evenings from around 8.00 p.m. A ‘club for everyone’ from novices to experts. www.chelmercc.org.uk. For membership enquiries mail [email protected].
Colchester Rovers Cyling Club
They do road racing, mountain biking, grass track and time trials. Sunday rides are open to all members and start at Boadicea Way in Colchester. Membership info: general secretary tel 01206.522680. www.colchester-rovers.org.uk
Eagle Road Club – Near Stansted
They arrange and particulate in competitions throughout the year Club HQ is in Quendon, near Ugley in Essex. For membership contact [email protected]
Ford Cycling – Dunton and Ramsden Heath
Ford Cycling Club activities include a Time Trial league, a road racing series on the Ford test track at Dunton, cyclo-cross and a winter turbo training program at Ramsden Heath, mostly on Tuesday
evenings. Further details at www.fordcc.org.uk
Forty Plus Cycling Club
They have 7 Essex clubs and arrange cycling events throughout the year, including the Essex 100K. The 7 Essex sections are Essex A (central), Mid Essex Tuesday, Essex B (west), Essex Sunday (west), North East Essex, Essex Easy Riders (NE) and Southend. Contact via the website www.fortypluscc.co.uk
Gateway Cycling
For those in the Thurrock and the Thames Gateway areas. Leisure and Social Rides, Audax Cyclosportive, Cycling Time Trials, Road Racing, Mountain Biking, Cyclo-Cross. www.gatewaycycling.org.uk
Glade Cycling Club
Based in Epping, Essex. Mostly for road racers, they welcome new members. For membership enquiries contact Will Hedden ([email protected]).
Harlow / Cycle Harlow
The Cycle Harlow partnership was formed with the main aim of getting more residents to cycle. They do led rides in the area. Website and contact: http://www.cycleharlow.co.uk
Maldon & District CC
They meet Monday nights and do Road Racing, Time Trials, Cyclo-cross, Track Racing and Audax, as well as the weekly club runs and regular off-road Go-Ride sessions for young riders. For membership contact Frances Tyas 01245 400578. www.madcc.org.uk
Southend Wheelers
Southend based cycling club – “cycling for everyone” is their motto. Racing, leisure, Go-Ride, Time Trials. www.southendwheelers.org
Velodromes
Harlow Velodrome – Sold Off and Abandoned
There used to be a velodrome in Harlow but it was sold off and no new velodrome was ever built – this was in 1995 and there has been no news since. The Harlow Velodrome used to be one of the most exciting cycling venues in the region. Rumours are that the money from the sale of the velodrome was invested in different projects. The previous owner of the site, Harlow Cycling Stadium Limited, has had a status of ‘Administration Order’ against it since 29th March 1999 according to Companies House. The development of the new Velodrome at the London Velopark may have meant that all plans to rebuild Harlow were abandoned due to a lack of demand.
There are now no velodromes in Essex. Here are a few that are reasonably close to Essex:
Welwyn Wheelers Cycling Club
The Welwyn Wheelers Cycling Club have their own velodrome at the Gosling Sports Park where they are based. The velodrome surrounds the running track at Gosling Sports Park so access is shared with the athletics club. According to their website they meet Friday evenings – the velodrome is floodlit. www.welwynwheelers.org.uk.
Herne Hill Velodrome
The nearest velodome to Essex is the Herne Hill Velodrome on Burbage Road in Herne Hill. It is a outdoor track that was originally built in 1891. It was renovated in 2011 and has a new tarmax surface. 104 Burbage Road, Herne Hill, SE249HE. Web. www.hernehillvelodrome.com
The London Velopark
The velodrome at the Olympic Park is currently being used by athletes in the London 2012 Games. The velodrome replaces the Eastway Cycle Circuit While we do not know who will manage the building after the games we can only hope that it will be open for public cycling sessions and provide a site for coaching. Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 3EL.
Photo by “Adrian“.
Hi John, Do you know what ever happened to the Harlow Cycling Club – it appears to have been disbanded ?? They were involved in the Velodrome at some stage I remember. I was a member of HCC in the mid to late 60’s
Thanks and regards, Chris bishop
Hi Chris. They have a website, but the last update appears to have been in 2005. There is a page about its History, but that ends in 1996: http://www.harlowcc.freeserve.co.uk/history.htm
In 2009 Harlow District Council started a new club – http://www.cycleharlow.co.uk/
In 2008 ActivHarlow created a guide to cycling and other activities in the area, which had a contact number for Harlow Cycling Club (01279 429670). See pdf archive. That number now appears to be connected with a marketing company, but it might be worthwhile trying that number, maybe they have some information.
I am guessing that the original club did close down some time between 2007 and 2009.