History

It all started seven years ago when founding member Jonathan Smith invited several of his friends to join him for his 60th birthday in Paris. The only catch was that they all had to cycle there, although they did have several months to train. So they arranged group training rides, led and coached by Jonathan. Everyone enjoyed it so much that they decided to continue riding after the birthday celebrations. Word got around, and other people wanted to come out on the rides too, and Marlow Riders was born.

One of the early members was Willi Moore, who was an Olympic silver medallist in 1976. Moore moved to North Wales last year, and has recently, along with Smith, been awarded life honorary membership. Their success was so profound that after a couple of years Marlow Riders decided to run their own sportive, the Marlow Red Kite. The idea was to encourage people from far and wide to come and enjoy the fabulous countryside around Marlow and the event has continued to go from strength to strength, selling out in the last three years, with this year being the sixth running of the event. www.marlowredkiteride.co.uk