Chance to get on bike again

An Inverurie-based cycling club is keen to attract more members after its most successful year to date.

Team Ecosse Northboats was established in the Aberdeenshire town three years ago and has a membership of more than 50.

Club members competed in numerous races, including the Etape Caledonia, Etape Loch Ness, the Tour o’ the Borders at Peebles and the King of the Mountains at Aboyne.

The club holds rides on Wednesday and Thursday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Club chairman and founder Pete Lowson hopes the recent Olympics – where Great Britain won 26 medals in cycling – can help encourage more people to take up the sport.

He said: “We started a couple of years ago as a group of friends who were interested in doing a charity ride.

“We realised there was the potential for more people to join and the club has grown from there.

“While a lot of cycling clubs have big racing elements, our main focus is not aimed at racing.

“Instead, we want to provide a friendly and easygoing environment in which to cycle, regardless of whether members are completely new to the sport or seasoned veterans.

“We want to reach out to people who maybe haven’t cycled for a while and want to get back on the bike or people who cycle by themselves but not in groups.

“We want to help get more people out to enjoy cycling in the good and even bad weather. We are also intending to organise a beginners’ session.”

Anyone interested in joining Team Ecosse Northboats should visit tencycling.co.uk or e-mail secretary@tencycling.co. uk

“We want to provide friendly and easy-going environment”