Club Minutes

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CRCC Minutes

27th March 2026 7:20pm @The Near Boot

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1. Standing Items

1.1. Chair Neil welcomed everyone to the meeting.

1.2 Those Attending:

Chair Neil Irwin
Vice Chair Paul Wooding
Treasurer Nigel Dickinson
Welfare Officer Angela Irwin
Mally Armstrong
Phil Jobson Jacky Brennan
Jacky Brennan
Secretary George Cairns

1.3 Jack Sanderson Baillie sent his apologies for absence.

1.4 Approval of January Minutes: It was agreed that the 15th January 2026 Minutes were a true and accurate record of proceedings.

1.5 Actions arising from the previous meeting. (See Annex A.)

1.6 Budget statement:

Movement on the Club Account since 1^st April 2025

Income: £3593.37
Expenditure: £1997.43
Current Balance: £1595.94

1.7 Membership statement. The membership is up 4% since the January meeting, from 149 to 155.

2. Business Arising

2.1 Report on the January 26 social. It was agreed that the social evening held in the Near Boot in January was a great success. Nigel asked if it should become a regular event at this time of year. Those in attendance agreed that it should, however, it was also agreed to put it to the members at this year’s AGM. Phil then proposed the idea of having a club visit to a local bike shop, such as Palace Cycles. This idea was supported by all and if it proved to be well supported it could be continued as an annual event with visits to other bike shops on a rotational basis.

New Action 27/3/26/1: Phil to contact Palace Cycles and investigate the possibility of arranging a club visit.

2.2 Report on stocktake of club kit held by Backstreet Bicycles: Nigel and Mike from Backstreet Bicycles carried out a stocktake of club kit. Neil then summarised the way kit was order in the past using a ‘sales window’. To improve the service to members the Committee at the time authorised the purchase of a stock of items that were then readily available for members to try on and buy without having to wait for the next ‘sales window’ and this has proved to be an effective way of dealing with kit supply.

Neil then asked if we should replenish the kit. Paul suggested informing the members on our FB page, requesting that they forward their kit requirements. We could then collate the list and round up items, if necessary, to meet minimum order requirements.

New Action 27/3/26/2: Neil to:

Inform members of current stock holdings.
Request their kit requirements.
Collate the results and round up the number of items to meet minimum order requirements.
Consult Committee with regard to the cost of a new purchase order.

2.3 Group Leader course. George said that the ‘Group Leader’ course organised by Cycling UK on 27th April has been rescheduled, however, the revised date has not yet been given. Both he and Nigel applied for the course and completed the pre-course theory program. Although disappointing, the rescheduled course may be more convenient to other. To that end, course details and sign up can be made using the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-cycle-group-leader-course-by-cycling-uk-tickets-1667262750769

2.4 Reliability Ride planning. Paul has booked the community hall at Heathersgill and is in negotiations with the caterer. Mally said that people are asking for details of the routes and that this is a big factor in determining whether they attend the ride. It was discussed and agreed that Jack should be approached to find out where he is regarding route planning. Paul asked if there was an alternative to paying through Pay Pal, as it is not a payment method favoured by all. After discussion it was agreed that participating members could pay the club directly by bank transfer. Nigel will then collate payments for admin purposes. Paul said that he will be at the community hall throughout the ride to deal with the sign in / sign out and ICE information. Soft drink cans will be available at a cost of £1 / can and there will be tea / coffee available throughout. Jacky stressed that the routes should not be too much for new members and those coming along for the first ride of the year. Neil said that we should consider opening the Reliability Ride to non-members next year with the aim of attracting new members. Phil cautioned the need to consider the insurance liability and George said that Reliability Rides are not covered by the British Cycling 3rd Party Liability Policy.

New Action 27/3/26/3: Paul to contact Jack and impress on him that the routes are required ASAP and that the Green route in particular, should not be too long.

New Action 27/3/26/4: Nigel to send Jack the club’s bank details for inclusion on the App when detailing the Reliability Ride routes.

2.5 Report on the Green Ride initiative. The first Green Ride was held on 26^th March. George said that there was a poor response to the ride from our Green riders, however, for the initiative to succeed the club needs to keep offering Green rides. With the Wednesday evening rides beginning from 1^st April there will be further opportunity for Green riders to come along and participate. The exact number of members associating as Green riders is not known, but it is estimated to be around 70 to 100 out of a total membership of 155. Neil said that Iain has made him an Admin for the club’s public Facebook page. The aim is to use this route as another way to advertise the club with a view to attract new members. Mally said that in the past, members and prospective new members could turn up at the Cycle Circuit and that it was a good way of attracting people to join the club. Neil said that it could be advertised to members on the App and to prospective members on the public Facebook page. It would require commitment from a few members to be in attendance to run the session. Jacky asked if the Cycle Circuit could be used for those on a Try Ride and George confirmed that it could.

2.6 Selection of a local charity to be supported. Committee members expressed an interest in supporting Eden Valley Hospice for the club’s 2026 charity initiative.

3. New Business

3.1 Update on 2026 / 2027 membership renewal procedure. Members have been informed that club subscriptions are due on 1^st April and that those who do not renew by 30^th April, will have to pay the new member price of £15 rather than the renewing member price of £12. (In each case there is a £1 admin fee charged by British Cycling). George said that to date there are 31 membership renewals including 14 complimentary renewals. It is expected that most members will renew in the first two weeks of April.

New Action 27/3/26/5: George to send out a second membership renewal reminder.

3.2 Initial planning for the Club 2026 Charity Ride. Para 2.6 above states that the Committee agreed to run a charity event this year in support of Eden Valley Hospice.

Three options were considered:

Ride 300 miles in the month.
Climb the height of Mount Everest in the month. (29,000 feet).
Collectively cycle the circumference of the Earth in the month. (24,900 miles).

After discussion it was agreed that ‘Around the World with the Reivers’ was a catchy strap that should help attract support.

New Action 27/3/26/6: George to contact Eden Valley Hospice to discuss the charity ride initiative.

New Action 27/3/26/7: Neil to investigate setting up a Strava link that can track the accumulated mileage of those members participating in the charity event.

3.3 Advanced Bike Maintenance Course. George said that he was booked onto the ‘advanced bike maintenance’ course scheduled for 20^th and 21^st April in the Greystone Community Hall, Close Street. This course is offered free of charge by Cumbria Travel Actively. https://www.activecumbria.org

Post meeting note: This course is fully subscribed and apparently, it will not be run again.

3.4 Review how our website / Facebook tools are hosted. Neil summarised the difference between the club’s public Facebook page and that reserved for club members. He also said that we have full control of what appears on our website but that Facebook have a degree of control over what appears on their platform. This was followed by discussion on the annual website hosting cost of £272, which is due by 15^th April 26. In conclusion, we were unclear what service / benefit the club gets for this outlay. It was therefore decided to seek advice from Iain Atkinson and Dave Labram on the subject of web hosting.

New Action 27/3/26/8: George to speak to Iain and Dave and seek clarification on web hosting and to discuss whether the £272 Integrity annual charge is value for money.

4. Actions Arising

4.1 Actions summary from this meeting:

Action: 15/1/26/5

On: Neil

Requirement: Part (b): Post an article on the CRCC open Facebook page stating that the club will offer guidance to non-members on the Carlisle Cycle Circuit, with a view to encouraging them to join the Club.

Action: 27/3/26/1

On: Phil

Requirement: To contact Palace Cycles and investigate the possibility of arranging a club visit..

Action: 27/3/26/2

On: Neil

Requirement: To:

Inform members of current stock holdings.
Request their kit requirements.
Collate the results and round up the number of items to meet minimum order requirements.
Consult Committee with regard to the cost of a new purchase order.

Action: 27/3/26/3

On: Paul

Requirement: To contact Jack and impress on him that the routes are required ASAP and that the Green route in particular, should not be too long.

Action: 27/3/26/4

On: Nigel

Requirement: To send Jack the club’s bank details for inclusion in the App when detailing the Reliability Ride routes.

Action: 27/3/26/5

On: George

Requirement: To send out a second membership renewal reminder.

Action: 27/3/26/6

On: George

Requirement: To contact Eden Valley Hospice to discuss the charity ride initiative.

Action: 27/3/26/7

On: Neil

Requirement: To investigate setting up a Strava link that can track the accumulated mileage of those members participating in the charity event.

Action: 27/3/26/8

On: George

Requirement: To speak to Iain and Dave and seek clarification on web hosting and to discuss whether the £272 Integrity annual charge is value for money.

4.2 AOB Mally asked for clarification on the month we intend doing the charity fundraiser. It was discussed and agreed that July was the most appropriate month.

4.3 Date of next meeting. Thursday 2nd July in the Near Boot starting 19:00.

George A Cairns

Secretary

Note: For Annex A refer to PDF Download