Warwick Lanterne Rouge CC
In a few short years this Warwickshire club has set high standards of safety and sociability
Starting in an old market square has its benefits. There’s space, it’s free of cars and there are coffee shops. In the summer sunshine the temptation for a caffeine fix and a natter is too strong to resist, but with coffees dispatched we willingly get under way into the beautiful Warwickshire countryside to discover what the club is all about.
They don’t take long to impress either. Public relations man Paul Berney told us in the square that road skills are a big thing for the group rides: “We strive to maintain high standards, teaching and encouraging etiquette and the importance of passing along important information. It works really well.” With some of the neatest group riding we’ve seen and impeccable communication from the riders front to back, the club sets a high standard that is competently maintained for the rest of the day.
With the group tight and controlled it allows plenty of opportunity to soak up the scenery, lush greenery offset by scorched grassland due to the heatwave but no less pretty. Passing the Charlecote Estate gets us onto the smaller back roads and into the rolling hills of the area. The only times the neat bunch gets strung out a little is when the gradient gets a little stiffer.
We take the opportunity to chat with a few members, two of whom are Roger Talbot and Laura Ellis, representing opposite ends of the age group out today. Talbot tells us: “I’ve been with the club a year now, cycling properly since I retired. My son has joined now too, which gives us something to enjoy together. Joining was a revelation and brought a great social aspect to my life.”
Ellis got started through her job: “In 2016 I rode London to Paris as part of a work charity
event, then pretty much left the bike over the winter. My friend was a member and encouraged me to join and get riding again, I’m absolutely addicted now and out every week whatever the weather!”
There are similar stories from a few others on the ride — new to cycling or returning from a long time off and finding that after taking the plunge, the help and encouragement they got was a major boost to get out more and more. With the temperature rising as the miles rack up there is a definite air of riders wanting refreshments. With no midway coffee stop the route is shorter than the average club ride but does mean we’ll be back at base pretty early and with plenty of time for socialising before heading home.
Having cleared Southam the roads get a little busier as we approach Leamington Spa, but it’s only a few miles to get back into the old town in the shadow of the magnificent Warwick Castle. Dough & Brew, the club’s informal HQ, is busy already as we’ve been beaten back by some of the other groups, but there is still room outside to soak up the atmosphere and get involved with the social side of things.
Having picked a treat from the fresh baked goodies brought in each day from Thirteen Bakers and a good coffee in hand, we have the opportunity to talk to a relatively new member who was impressed enough to offer further sponsorship, MD of a local medical federation, Tim Morris: “I joined at the start of the season, keen to improve my riding after a bad experience with another Warwickshire club. The level of support and discipline was a massive help, and I was able to offer some help from my side with sponsorship from a local pharmacy.”
On top of this Morris is arranging for all of the ride leaders to undergo free first aid training, and health checks for club members too. Excellent road skills plus the knowledge to sort an accident or fix a bike? That’s a club run we’d gladly join anytime.
Club history
Warwick Lanterne Rouge CC started out as a group of eight friends cycling from Warwick to Newcastle for Geordie pal David Hurst’s 40th birthday in 2014, as he had always dreamed of cycling home to his “mam’s” house, who lived in New Hartley. On returning back to Warwick they continued to ride together as a group and in 2015 Richard Poynter — founder and current committee member — decided to formally create the Warwick Lanterne Rouge Cycle Club. The club continued to grow as more friends and riders from around Warwick and the surrounding areas joined up for Sunday morning social rides.
As it stands today,
just two years on, the club has grown from that initial small group to over 190 members, and goes out three times a week on organised rides. The club prides itself on creating a safe, inclusive and fun environment for everyone to ride in so its success has been measured in the number of members taking part in every activity they organise and in the incredibly positive feedback received from those who take part.
They are also proud of raising thousands of pounds for their local charity partner Myton Hospices, and that they have a professional rider, Paul Dable, among the membership as well as two riders, Stuart Kimberley and Rob Tottle, going to the UCI Grand Fondo World Championships in Italy.
CONTACT
www.wlrcyclingclub.co.uk
wlrcc14@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/wlrcc