Welcome to the 2010 AGM, and this year’s version of the President’s report.
Thank you for being a part of the club, it’s been a really great season.
2010 was a year of firsts. Our first youth cup race, our first weekly club MTB rides, our first weekly learn to ride program, our first attempt at 2 Tuesday night rides with differing start points, and our first baseball cross race!
One event we had committed to take part in, a charity ride for the local MS Society, was put off until 2011, as a result of our contact at the MS Society getting married. Hopefully we can see this ride through to fruition next summer.
In 2010, the club also became political. Becoming involved and taking part in several committees focussed on road safety, and active transportation. Through these initiatives, Barrie held it’s first ever cycling safety week. A tradition which we hope to make yearly. The opening event featured almost 40 riders of all types cruising down the lakeshore together. Good times. We’re also part of the City of Barrie’s active transportation committee, adding input, and keeping up to date on local policy and potential infrastructure improvements.
The club grew it’s membership in 2010, for the first time in a couple of years. this is encouraging, even more so, is the number of youth members who joined. We would like to make youth participation a priority in 2011, potentially beginning by creating a youth development director tonight. Our 1st annual youth race was a huge success, with 55 riders, and their parents in attendance. The town of Oro, and the OPP were key players in helping us to promote a safe event, it’s great to have community partners so willing to work with us.
Speaking of community partners, the level of support, and encouragement from City Staff involved with the recent Baseball Cross held at the Barrie Sports Complex are truly second to none. The City moved dirt, rocks & fences to make a better race course, and they’ve already expressed interest in helping make it even better for next year! I will let Andrew Watson comment on this year’s event in his recap, but suffice to say we put on a great event, one that the racers, and spectators truly seemed to enjoy.
Our Time Trial series saw many riders out, but the numbers are down a bit from the year before. I am sure that Mike Doble will express some thoughts of his own, but we are looking at pairing up with the Barrie TC Baydogs for a joint time trial series that would run every week next summer, at a location that’s closer to town. Hopefully this is enough to see some more people come out to challenge themselves. I know for me personally, not being able to TT all summer was probably the worst punishment to take. I look forward to having more opportunity to ride them next season.
Our first attempt at splitting up the Tuesday night group ride seems to have really been enjoyed by most everyone. The hammerheads got to enjoy ripping each others’ legs off each week from Sunnidale park, and those less concerned with paceline riding got to enjoy a wonderful social ride each week from Fred Grant Square. We look forward to continuing this new tradition next year, it’s important that we keep a Tuesday night ride that is open and accessible to both newer, and or younger riders, encouraging them to come back each week. This is essential to ensure the club keeps growing, and people feel comfortable coming out. Brad & Barb Watts have offered to be the leaders for the downtown social ride in 2011, which I am very thankful for!
For those riders who were so new to cycling that the Tuesday night ride was too intimidating we launched our first learn to ride program in the spring. We introduced several new people to group riding via these sessions. Most everyone went on to enjoy a Sunday cruise, or a Tuesday night ride with the rest of the club. For next season, we really want to ramp this program up. Marc B. has already offered to lead a 6 to 8 week learn to group ride course, beginning in May. I’m really excited that we can offer this, and hope that it can lead to some more rider development initiatives by club.
Our participation in the Interclub Road Race series remained strong this season, with BCC members making up a substantial portion of the series. This year Mountainview Cycling Club from Midland joined the series, and special provisions were made with the OCA to keep Owen Sound’s riders involved also. This year brought some new, and great race courses to the calendar, that were enjoyed by all. The interclub races are a great way for people to get introduced to road bike racing in an environment that’s not terrifying like an O-Cup race. I hope that we continue to participate in this series through 2011 & beyond.
We did not make a clothing order in 2010, but our supplies are virtually non-existent, so tonight we will begin preliminary discussions, with the intention of making an order by Jan 10, 2011. I expect we will order from Sugoi again, as our last order from them seems to have been well received by everyone. Perhaps this year we’ll look at getting Jackets, or leg/arm warmers made for the first time if there’s enough interest.
For 2011, the Barrie Cycling Club intends to file expression of interest forms for a Youth Cup Road race, and a Southern Ontario Cup Cyclocross race, these will be submitted tomorrow morning.
Thanks again for making 2010 the Barrie Cycling Club’s best yet, now’s your chance to have input into what we do for 2011!
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I’d like to thank Steve Homenuk for unexpectedly deciding to return to the executive next year. He will return as Secretary, but will also serve as our Director of Club Communications & Volunteers.
New to the executive, I’d like to welcome Shane Hollingshead to the role of Treasurer, replacing Orrin Bowser.
In some newly created executive positions, I’d like to first welcome Cliff Lilley, as our Director of Racing Events, he’ll help ensure that next year’s Youth Cup, and Cyclocross race are even better than the ones held this year. Additionally Cliff will help ensure our interclub continues in the safe fashion it’s always been run.
We are also welcoming Brad Watts to the executive for 2011, Brad will be our Director of Social Rides. He’ll be taking on the downtown Tuesday night rides all year, along with his wife Barb. Together they will ensure the Tuesday ride remains welcoming to newer riders, and still enjoyable for the advanced recreational riders among us. They will also help to see the club provide a monthly long touring ride, from 100-180km from May-Sept.
Finally, we welcome Andrew Watson to the executive as Director of Youth Development. We are really excited to have an athlete of Andrew’s calibre as a club member, and now he’s going to help shape the future direction of our young rider development efforts from a grassroots, community level, but also the experience of competing at a World Cup level. I personally am thrilled to have Andrew aboard as we seek new directions to grow the sport and share our passion in 2011.
Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting tonight, and thanks to everyone who rode with us in 2010. 2011 is going to be even better!
cheers,
robb
