A total of 25 clubs from across the country have applied and successfully been awarded funding to help support events in the lead up to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
13 clubs had previously been awarded funding for various club activation events across the summer, but with the Power of the Bike Fund now closed to applications we are pleased to share details of the final 11 clubs who were awarded funding.
Cranked Kids Cycle Club to celebrate the club’s 10th birthday are hosting a social ride and BBQ for all current and past members of the club. They hope that reengaging with the previous members and leaders will encourage them back into the club or to just remember the joy of cycling if they have fallen away from the sport. The funds are being used to cover the refreshment costs for the attendees.
Deeside Thistle Cycling Club have put on 5 community coaching sessions for a week during hr summer holidays. The aim of the sessions was to provide ‘try cycling’ for P4-P7 pupils, coaching children core cycling skills to enable them to participate in a coach led dirt Crit and fun relays for the final session. The aim is to introduce club coaching to children and encourage them to join future club cycling activities. The funding has been used to pay 2 junior club coaches to lead the sessions.
Dundee Dynamo are planning coaching sessions with Keith Stocker Coaching to encourage riders to race and take part in MTB and gravel/cross riding. They are planning 3 sessions and the participants will all get a bottle and a buff for taking part.
Elgin CC are hosting a Go race crit evening with coaching during the session as well. Go race events are great event to get more people involved in racing who are either new to racing or want to gain more experience of racing in a more controlled environment at a more introductory level. They are using the funding to cover coaching costs and track hire.
Falkirk Junior Bike Club are running a new programme called #TryCycling with three components #TryMTB, #TryCX and #TryRoad - all based at venues around Falkirk and Linlithgow. This programme is designed to reach Children and Young People both in and out with clubs who don't yet race and want to experience discipline specific coaching and then end a coaching block with an introductory race. This funding will cover a water bottle for all those participating.
Fife Cycle Speedway have an array of upcoming activities, including participation in Queen Anne High Schools P7 transition programme. This programme allows young individuals to experience cycling speedway for the first time, providing them with an entry point into the club. They also host a weekly club night which they promote through social media. In an effort to reach beyond the local community they also offer ‘come and try’ sessions to clubs across the country. This has been successful leading to the creation of a new speedway club in the borders. They plan to host more of these sessions not only offer borders riders experience on a cycle speedway track but also to encourage established bike clubs to participate in the ‘come and try’ sessions. The funding will go towards hire of the school facilities, refreshments on the day and printing leaflets to promote our club nights.
FNY Collective are having a ‘Bike and Bantz’ celebratory ride for the world Championships coming to Glentress. They have 50 women both members and visitors participating in the ride with the aim to showcase the wonderful Tweed Valley. The funding is being used to buy each participant tea and cake!
KICC are having a club day at Glentress MTB trails for a whole day of biking with a BBQ to finish. The trip will be open to all club members with parents able to attend the BBQ. Funding will be used to cover the cost of the BBQ and refreshments for participants.
Lauderdale Cycling Club are offering a day of MTB specific coaching at Glentress post CWC to allow club members to enhance their skills and experience the new trails. This will provide the opportunity for the older members to learn new skills putting them to the test on more technical trails and younger members to ride fun trails enhancing on the grass routes coaching they have already received. The club will also use their own leaders at the same time to take parents on a led ride to encourage them to become involved as volunteers with a view to them taking on training to coach or lead. The funding is helping to cover the cost of kids attending and post ride ice cream!
Meedies Bike Club are hosting a mini fun day & BBQ. They will have sender ramps for the cycling element as well as a bouncy castle to keep everyone entertained. The funding will help to cover costs for the BBQ and equipment hire.
Tay Titans are organising a training session with an advanced external coach to provide enduro racing/advanced MTB training for club members who would benefit from training beyond what the current coaches at the club can offer. The funding will help cover the cost of the coach hire.
West Lothian Clarion are hosting a Women’s Hour at West Lothian Cycle Circuit. Women’s Hour aims to continue to build a community of female cyclists, develop skills and confidence on the bike and to have a good work out. They are looking to target women who cycle for fitness and women who want to start cycling more. The sessions will have 3 groups. Group 1 will be focused on getting the bike back out the shed and building foundation skills. Group 2 gain skills and confidence with an aim at moving to group 3. Group 3 will have more of a workout and coach led activities to build fitness. The funding will be used to hire West Lothian Cycle Circuit for the sessions.
Fraser Johnston, Scottish Cycling's 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Project Lead said:
“We are delighted to be in a position where we can provide support for local activity around the country. It’s great to see a variety of disciplines and clubs putting on activities for their local communities. We know that offering a range of options will get people interested in cycling and will attract new members leading into the biggest cycling event in history.”
We would like to thank all the clubs who applied for putting on these events and for recognising what the #PowerOfTheBike can do!
