Royal Dean Forest Cycling Club

We are the Women's Royal Dean Forest Cycling Club. Our members range widely from regular cyclists to aspiring cyclists, old and young. Some take part in time trials, endurance riding, mountain biking, triathlons and road racing. However, there are plenty of members who ride simply to keep fit, socialise and enjoy the scenery. All are welcome and there will be rides organised that will suit all abilities. Anyone who is interested in joining the club is welcome to come along to one of the rides before becoming a full member.

Catherine Howard - new Ladies Co-ordinator

I currently work at Leoni Temco Ltd in Cinderford as an Accountant and Production Planner (both roles taken on due to the downturn, hoping to relinquish one of them in the near future!).

About 4 years ago I decided I wanted to cycle to work to get fit, save money and do my bit for the enviroment. So I borrowed my partners bike and got a few friends to show me a route. After a very rocky start of getting lost, tired and punctures I invested in my own mtb and now cycle to work majority of the time a hell of a lot faster than I did to start with!

I joined the RDFCC in 2008 so that I could do some more recreational cycling as well as commuting, then in 2009 purchased a road bike. Next year I hope to do a lot more on the road, possibly some audax's and TT's.

Sky Sports News interview Louise Insall & other Club members

On Thursday 21st August I had a telephone call and e-mail Sky Sports News who wanted to interview me about Women In Sport. They had got my name from the RDFCC Website as I am down as the Women's co-ordinator. I arranged the interview for the Sunday so that they would be around for the club ride.

So we agreed to meet at the Fountain Inn, Parkend. I thought Sky Sports News just wanted to interview me and a couple of the other women, so imagine my surprise when they turned up with a motorbike and cameraman as well as the interviewer. Penny Tuck, Julie Bailey, Catherine Howard, Shirley Brown, Josie Evans, Emily Ravenhill (not riding due to broken ribs) and Carol Jones (riding tandem with hubby) all turned out. Whilst we were at Parkend they interviewed Catherine Howard, as a novice cyclist, it was her first time out with RDFCC.

We decided to take the camera team out to Symonds Yat Rock and as Bob Parry was leading the ride he decided to take us out via Fetter Hill. So the camera man had plenty of chance to get some good footage. People around that area must have wondered what was going on with a motorbike and camerman filming RDFCC holding up the traffic. When we reached Symonds Yat Bob and his merry men decided to carry on their ride whilst the women carried on being filmed up on the Yat Rock. Myself and Carol Jones were then interviewed. I was asked questions about how women were attracted into the sport of cycling and why they stayed as it was such a hard sport and predominately male, and what I had done to encourage women into the club. I was also asked about what was being done to encourage more school children into the sport. I kept getting thumbs up from Emily and Julie who were listening so I think I gave the right answers.

Finally, we were filmed riding away from Symonds Yat Rock. It was an exciting and enjoyable experience. The finished programme went out on Sky Sports News during Bank Holiday Week. We were also featured in a large article on the back page of the Forester that same week. So who knows what the women's section of the RDFCC will be involved in next.

Sky Sports News are now sponsoring British Cycling, so in my interview I included the fact that I had worked as Sports Masseur with Nicole Cooke, Paul Manning, Bradley Wiggins and Ross Edgar. We were discussing these cyclists regarding their achievements in the Olympics.

Annual Presentation Evening 2007

Congratulations to Josie Evans and Debbie Pearce who shared the award for the Womens Seasons Best All Rounder in the CEBAR competition, with Josie for taking the 10 mile Womens Time Trial Champion award and Debbie the Womens Hill Climb Champion award.

Lydbrook 10 mile Time Trial - 24th April 2007

The first of the seasons time trial was a sucess. Although the rain kept spitting, the air and wind made for near perfect conditions. There were 21 starters which included 4 women.

For Debbie Pearce (30:24) and Penny Cartwright (30:52) it was their first time trial and they both did exceptionally well, finishing just over the half hour. Josie Evans is an old hand at time trials finishing in 29:59 with Louise bringing up the rear in 33:03.

First Ladies Ride - Sunday 15th April 2007

Louise organised the first Ladies Club ride, meeting at the Fountain Inn, Parkend at 9:30 Sunday morning. Seven women joined eight men for the Club Ride led by Matthew Heaman. The group rolled gently out to Huntley, via Blackpool Bridge, Soudley, Littledean and Flaxley before some of the ladies split off into a shorter ride and returned to the Forest from Blaisdon, a distance of 30 miles.

The remaining riders, including some of the women, rode out to Hartpury for a blast round the fast lanes and back to Huntley for a tea stop at the garden centre. Once refreshed, the group returned to sunny Parkend via Longhope, Mitcheldean, Littledean, Soudley and Blackpool Bridge, clocking up 55 useful training miles.

Already there are several riders who look capeable of breaking Josie Evan's dominance among the female ranks - who knows - she may be out of luck this season.