The 2017 Birthday Rides are to be held in the Cotswolds at The Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh from Monday 7 August to Sunday 13 August. The prospectus and booking forms will be available in early February.
CTC Birthday Rides started in the mid-1970’s as the Club’s Centenary approached, CTC having been founded on 5 August 1878.
If possible the Rides are held in the week which includes the 5 August. The aim is to hold the Rides in a different part of the country each year so that members can ride in areas, perhaps new to them, as well as meet friends old and new. The current format is to hold the event somewhere that can accommodate CTC Members in residential buildings, tents and caravans on the same site so that there is a sense of unity. Rooms are on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and breakfast and/or dinner packages are available for campers.
Usually entertainment is laid on for the evenings and members can socialise and plan the activities for the next day or two. We also try to include a couple of coach trips to places of interest for non-riding partners or those wanting a change from cycling.
The 6 night holiday does not require all to be able to ride to the same standard so there are 5 rides in each of four categories:
A rides (60 – 80 miles)
B Rides (40 – 60 miles)
C Rides (20 – 40 miles)
D Rides (up to 20 miles)
Members choose the ride they want to do on the day that suits them. Traffic conditions mean that led rides are no longer feasible but Buddy Boards are normally set up to facilitate the finding of riding partners.
Route sheets, gpx files and a gazetteer of places worthy of a visit are sent out by e-mail in advance so that activities can be pre-planned but printed route sheets are also available at the venue.
The routes are planned and suggested by members, local to the venue but with CTC CH&T oversight to ensure a consistent format of the route sheets.
The event is planned by CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours, a subsidiary of CTC, but run by unpaid volunteers.
CTC Cycling Holidays & Tours Ltd
Registered in England and Wales no. 4106179
