Welcome to CTC West, the Cyclists Touring Club for the West. 
Within CTC West there are six Sub Groups: Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Frome, Stroud Valleys, and Swindon. To find out about any of these please visit their web sites by selecting the Sub Group links above. Alternatively, to find out about CTC, select this link.
On joining the Cyclists Touring Club, one automatically becomes a member of the CTC Sub Group closest to where one lives. Each local group is an association of members who have come together to encourage cycling in all its aspects and to foster social spirit amongst its members. CTC West currently has around 3,900 members living within its boundary.
Geographically, CTC West includes Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and most of Somerset and Wiltshire. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty which includes the Cotswolds, Mendips and Quantock Hills, part of Exmoor, the Severn Vale, the Forest of Dean and the Wiltshire Downs, all of which are ideal for cycling.
CTC West and its Sub Groups enable members to enjoy regular club rides which, together with the CTC national programmes, provide a comprehensive series of events throughout the year catering for the interests and abilities of most cyclists. Many of these events qualify for the CTC Tourist Competition, details of which can be found on the CTC web site.
In addition to running cycling events, CTC West holds a lunch at Luckington at which annual awards are presented. CTC West members can participate in CTC National events, including the York Cycle Show, and the CTC Birthday Rides.
News
Bath Two Tunnels Project
On Saturday 6th April 2013 Bath saw the opening of the longest cycling tunnel in the UK, and possibly in Europe. This new route has been constructed on part of the disused Somerset and Dorset Railway line to the south of Bath city centre. It is intended for use by cyclists and walkers. For details of this exciting new route and its history look at: http://www.twotunnels.org.uk/
There was a festival to mark the opening, and this offered something for everyone: live music, food, stalls and of course the chance to cycle along the Two Tunnels ‘greenway’ on its official opening day.
Castle Combe Church Service
This annual event will be held on Sunday 14th April 2013. Held every year since 27th May 1945, the Castle Combe church service is a celebration of cycling, and a service of thanksgiving for the men in cycling battalions who fell in the Great War and for the many cyclist soldiers, commandos and paras who did not return from World War II.
The Castle Combe church service, like the services held in May on the village green at Meridian, the centre of England, and at Coxwold, a few miles north of York, is now a memorial service and an informal, ecumenical gathering – especially for today’s cyclists in the West Country.
This year’s service will be held at St Andrews Church, Castle Combe, at 2:30pm and will be followed by tea and cake served in the church. All our welcome
Check your local CTC West group’s website for information of organised rides to the service.
Trienniel Veterans’ 100 Miles in 24 Hours
The Trienniel Veterans’ ride, for cyclists aged over 50, will be held on Sunday 9th June 2013.
The ride will start from Winterbourne Community Centre Car Park at 08.00 (GR 658814 PC BS36 1QG) and the route will cover South Gloucestershire, the Cotswold Water Park area and west Wiltshire. This will be an easy paced ride to be completed within 10 – 12 hours, with stops for elevenses, lunch and tea. There is a taxing climb before elevenses up and over the edge of the Cotswolds at Tresham, otherwise the route is gently undulating. Detailed route and meal booking form will be sent upon receipt of an entry form and entry fee.
Parking and toilets will be available at the start, and the ride is open to all CTC and AUK members. The entry fee is £12.00 and lunch, which will be provided by the WI, will cost £7.50; lunch is bookable in advance.
To enter this event use the attached form: TRI VETS 2013 – entry form
For further details please contact Jane Chapman: jane@cyclebristol.org.uk
For further information about CTC West please email: CTCWest@ctcwest.org.uk
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