With Christmas done and dusted, everyone is surely committed to an active and healthy lifestyle 😊!

Don’t worry if not as there are plans to get as many FGCC members as possible out on the road this year. So read on…

Spring Opener

We are planning a Spring Opener on Sunday 24th March. More details will follow on the WhatsApp group nearer the time. It would be great if we could get lots of people to register. Not too long, more of a leg stretcher (30k or so), especially for those of you whose bikes have been hibernating. Once members have registered their interest, we’ll split into groups according to average speeds. We want everyone to have fun, without pressure to keep up. The ride will be followed by a coffee/tea & cake stop.

 Tuesday Rides

After the Spring Opener, we’ll aim to have Club rides every Tuesday evening from the 26th March, starting at Beckenham Sports Club at 19:15 (there will be no more West Wickham meets). We will split into groups according to pace. Tuesday rides will be relatively short, around 30-40k with the opportunity to re-group back at the Club for drinks (and a few packets of Cheddars of course).

 Weekend Rides

We aim to plan 40-50k group rides every other weekend (alternating between Saturdays & Sundays). Starting at around 08:00 from Beckenham Sports Club with a tea/coffee stop towards the end.

 Longer Weekend Rides

We’ll also plan at least one longer weekend ride every month during the Summer months (70-80k). Round trips to destinations such as Penshurst or Tea Pot Island near Yalding, perhaps a ride to Whitstable (with a train home!), or attending one of the Sportives we have listed on the FGCC website (please take a look). If you would like to participate in any of these, please drop a note into the Club WhatsApp group and we’ll see who is interested in what.

 We really hope to have lots of participation in all rides this year and we’ll be happy to welcome new riders too. In fact, we are going to start a bit of a marketing campaign in the next few weeks with posters in Beckenham Sports Club as well as a few other local venues (suggestions welcome). Plus, if you know anyone that would like to join us, please ask them to drop us a line at enquiries@foxgrove.cc

FGCC Marketing Poster

That’s about it for now, but looking forward to seeing all of you out on a ride soon!

What's Been Happening in 2023?!

It’s all been a bit quiet on here, so here’s a quick update on some of the things that have been happening at Foxgrove Cycling Club in 2023.

Despite the drizzly summer, we have been out and about on Tuesday evenings and at the weekends. These regular rides take us into Kent and Sussex, the rolling hills, ever-changing views and of course the all-important café pitstops (as well as a drink or two back at the Club house in Beckenham on Tuesday nights).

Tuesday night rides!

We also go further afield and here are just a few of the many rides that Foxgovers have been on in the U.K. and overseas. There have been many more rides than this – including a London to Paris that some club members enjoying as this post is written. The following gives a snapshot of some of the places we go.

First up, the New Forest in April. This was a very pleasant 100km ride on relatively flat ground with beautiful surrounds and lots of wild horses. There are also some great places to stop off and have a drink or a bite to eat.

In the New Forest

In early May, the day of the Coronation, some of us where up bright and early to catch the sights before the crowds where surging into central London.

The advantage of being on the roads at 5:30a.m. was that they were virtually traffic free and we were up in the centre of town in no time.

The morning of the Coronation

Mid-May and it was time for a popular ride down to the Kent coast and picturesque Whitstable, something the Club does at least once a year.  This is a fantastic spin down many a country lane with the reward of a refreshing pint on the beach at the end of the 108km route.

Down in Whitstable

And then towards the end of May, some of us had an international trip to the Pyrenees where we stayed with the PyreneesCyclingClub. The venue is mountainous and idyllic and was set up by two Foxgrove members, Chris and Vicky, who are the most fantastic hosts and brilliant guides to the region.

Relaxing in the Pyrenees

This is a trip that we also hope to repeat annually as it involves some great cycling, criss-crossing over the French/Spanish border and allowing everyone to enjoy tapas and French wine (on the same ride)!

Spectacular views to the Spanish coastline

We have lots more rides planned in the weeks and months ahead. The EtapeCaledonia in sunny Scotland being one such outing, which we are signing up for in May 2024.

We are a social club too and have outings that include spectating and not riding such as the UCI Champions League at the Lee Valley Velodrome in November. We always have a Christmas get-together too as well as pizza nights at the Club.

If you are already member, you will be familiar to much of the above and surely looking forward to more get-togethers throughout the year. If you are not a member, why not join us? We’ll look out for your message which can reach us via the GetInTouch tab on the website.

*After the year we’ve had, we all needed this*

Check out our latest ride blog by Ali, click here fore more...

Club rides have now resumed

Club rides are now back up and running on Tuesday evenings, departing from the club car park at 7pm. Rides consist of around 1.5/2hrs and end up back at the club.

COVID-19: SUSPENSION OF ALL GROUP RIDES

Dear fellow foxgrovers,

I am sure that you will have seen the latest announcements concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions the government is asking everyone to take. The instruction to avoid unnecessary social contact must surely apply to group activities such as ours and applies even if everyone in our households are symptom-free.

As a result all club group rides will be cancelled until we are informed that they may resume. 

Please do not post group rides on any of our platforms as the committee will be obliged to remove them.

The ban does not extend to individuals taking exercise but members electing to ride must observe the government instruction to keep your distance from others and should also consider whether such rides are truly necessary. This again makes social riding impossible.

These are exceptional times and the responses must be exceptional too. Let us all do our part in fighting the spread of the virus and try to ensure that when it is all over, we can all enjoy a summer of great rides. Please look at the website from time to time to keep abreast of developments and to enjoy its changing content.

Stay well and safe.

Whitstable or bust: Foxgrove CC day at the seaside

Back in early June, Liz Pepper suggested a club ride to Whitstable for early August.  Depending on the route, total distance would be 100-120 kms (65-75 miles to old codgers like me) and about 1000 metres of climbing.  At Foxgrove we tend to run two levels of cycling group.  An ‘elite team’ known for their speed (16-18 mph average) and amazing exploits in the more challenging events and sportives such as L’Etape, Maratona, Ride London and so on.  Oh, and their ability to consume vast quantities of lager!  The second ‘leisure group’ who are just as keen on their cycling but usually happy with shorter distances and 12-14 mph average speeds. click here for more..