2024 was another terrific year for OCC combining great rides, fun events and international forays both by the Club and individual members. The 2025 season has got off to a strong start too with a record number of members, 36 full member and 6 friends. It’s just six weeks now until we leap into Spring and hopefully unwrap some clearer, warmer skies. On behalf of the committee I’m delighted to formally welcome all our new members to OCC and thank you everyone for continuing to watch out for each other, both on and off the bike. The AGM provides a useful opportunity to pause and reflect on everything the club has been up to over the past year, as well as look forward to the upcoming year.
The 2024 season got off to a lively start with the club trip to the beautiful port of Xabia with a dozen riders venturing to southern Spain to experience great climbs, sunshine and smooth roads. Thank you to Mike for planning the trip and Tony for his local knowledge of coffee stops. Definitely one to repeat and we wish the Portuguese contingent this year all the best for April. Long distance riding and bike packing continue to be a feature of OCC members including Will Bibby’s trek to Barcelona and Robin’s LEJoG. There were some legendary climbing sportif performances too by Colin and Robin. I’m (almost) jealous of James K and Jake on their three Pyrenean Tour stages too, with some monumental climbs. It’s great to see our OCC club jersey worn with such pride and standing out beautifully amongst other (less stylish) club jerseys.
Closer to home, we’ve had more great club rides together, continuing the ‘smaller is better’ philosophy with groups of six to eight ridersn and our summer Thursday night rides to the pub were a popular choice for those who could escape at the end of the working day. The Welsh away day in May is always a winner as is the Isle Of Wight extravaganza in September – we will look to build on both traditions this year. Our second trip to Cheddar Gorge was mostly successful – but we still need to find the tunnel! Importantly, there’s no monopoly on destinations or organisers, so if you are interested in planning a trip, do please get in touch. A little local knowledge goes a long way to make these days a great success.
Meanwhile, the Winter Knightriders have been a bit more elusive, once again thwarted by floodwater and some challenging riding conditions. Inspired by Colby’s DC’s winter rides, we hope to get a couple more in before we rekindle the spirited evening road rides in April. Conversely, the mid-week ‘slackers’ rides on a Wednesday morning have been consistent in format and attendance – a chillaxed affair seeking out the best coffee and cake shops across Oxfordshire.
Saturdays will always be the flagship club ride and we’ve regularly put out two or even three good groups throughout the year. The longer rides in the summer starting at 8am covering 120km to 130km have proved a great success and one to be repeated. Gravel continues to be a growing feature of the club too, ably demonstrated by the dozen riders who recently showed-up when the mercury dropped to -6oC. Making space for more gravel adventures is definitely an opportunity for the club and possibly even a way of attracting new (women) riders too. The New Forest is always a winner given its accessibility and fabulous trails and we will try to get down there again soon; non-gravelers can hire bikes for the day so there’s really no excuse for not getting stuck in.
Rider safety remains OCC’s top priority and it’s reassuring that none of our members suffered any serious injuries on club rides last year. It’s hugely rewarding to see all our club members, including newer riders, embracing our philosophy of safety first. Our exemplary safety record reinforces the need to guard against any complacency creeping in; we all have a shared responsibility to look out for each other on (and off) the road, maintaining our high standards and disciplines. Smaller groups, clear communication and pointing rather than shouting all help keep our pelotons calm and alert. Perhaps it’s just me, but it does feel like Thames Valley Police’s persistence in prosecuting serious close pass offenders is starting to pay off. A big thank you to Dave for continuing to be the ‘man behind the camera’ and for engaging directly with the relevant case officers to prosecute offenders. Who knows, the quality of the roads may even start to improve this year; it would be great if our namesake Oxford City Council invests in European style road surfaces rather than just more temporary patches. I feel a new tarmac campaign for 2025.
Sadly there have been a few individual bike incidents both on and off the road reminding us we need to stay vigilant. We’re delighted to see members bouncing back and re-joining the peloton. A special mention goes to Jonathan Mason after his freak accident in South Africa on his MTB; his determination to get himself back to full fitness surprised no one and we are genuinely pleased he’s back on form (although somewhat less so when dishing out the pain to members on club rides!).
Off the bike, we have had a healthy rhythm of events and parties. I always enjoy hosting the annual ‘full English’ breakfast ride in June. The Summer party was another fabulous evening, with special thanks to Will and Nicky Bibby for providing such a beautiful stage for a wonderful evening together. More recently the Christmas burger ride went ahead as planned despite a last-minute change in venue. The year was rounded off with a legendary Christmas party, generously hosted by Jake at the Varsity club with food and drinks galore. Special thanks to Martin for stepping up and organising the parties (we expect nothing less from such an esteemed college bursar!). We will look to repeat all these events in 2025 and find time for more spontaneous, informal nights out too. More member support in helping organise events is greatly received too.
One of the joys of being in Oxford is the city attracts people from all over the world. In 2024, we’ve been lucky enough to welcome new members from Colombia, Denmark, USA, Cirencester and Swindon (!). This constant ebb and flow also means occasionally we have to say ‘au revoir’ too. We wish all the best to Laura as she embarks on her latest adventure with Owen to New Mexico. Marcus and Hanna finally returned to Munich to start their adventure with little Linnea together. Ignacio joined us briefly and continues his globetrotting. Finally, Will Davies headed stateside to Boston Mass. on a two-year sabbatical with the family (and like Arnie – he will be back). We wish them all the best and look forward to riding again with them soon when they come to Oxford for a visit. We’ve seen a great take-up in Friends membership, a simple way of keeping in touch with the club via the vibrant WhatsApp group.
However, perhaps the saddest farewell of all goes to the crew at Bike Zone who closed at the end of 2024. This Oxford cycling institution has been a friendly home and provider to us all with repairs, last-minute bottles, tubes and air for well over a decade. It was an emotional time when they closed their doors for the last time in November; they will all be sorely missed (and the generous discounts for members too). It’s another example of the lack of foresight by the council in understanding the real value that a hub of thriving independent businesses can have on a community and city centre. It also raises the question about where we meet, perhaps somewhere offering a pre-ride caffeine hit? One to be discussed at the AGM.
With regard to the AGM and the Committee, I wanted to take this opportunity to give a huge shout out to Dave who has indicated he wishes to stand down after eight years as founding member of OCC and true stalwart of the Committee. He has been the champion of ensuring OCC is a real presence both within Oxford and beyond. On behalf of all members past and present, a huge thank you. With Laura’s move to the US, it means we are looking for new Committee member(s) to take over as Treasurer (free bike upgrades?) and also kit manager. Please DM me if you would be interested in finding out more. The Committee meets informally four to five times a year and ensures everything rolls smoothly. It’s terrific fun and thank you in advance for considering.
In summary, 2024 was another top year for OCC and our members. We can’t wait for the sun to reappear and get our summer jerseys back out again. The club is in great shape, with more riders than ever and a strong rhythm of events and rides. Looking ahead to the 2025 season, we will build on the successes and do all we can to encourage and welcome more women into the club. Supporting our local hospice, Sobell House, remains a priority too. Enthusiasm for gravel continues to grow and perhaps 2025 is the year OCC launches a range of gravel kit alongside our awesome road kit? Watch this space and one to discuss at the upcoming AGM.
Thank you all for making OCC into the cycling club we all love and adore – safe, sociable and adventurous.
Andrew Webb
Chair of OCC
