Report from Chair 2026 and AGM 30th April 2026

Chairs report for AGM 2026 – 30th April 2026

Introduction

A warm welcome to all. This report offers an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the past year’s achievements and to thank our members for the contributions that made 2025/26 so special. It also looks ahead to the exciting opportunities to come.

Thank you to our 300+ members for creating such a vibrant and supportive club. 

Group Rides – The Heart of the Club

Group rides remain the core of the club. Around 40 ride leaders offer a welcoming mix of routes to a variety of different locations, with rides built on camaraderie and support, fostering a true sense of community.

Reviewing these core rides show some impressive cycling is taking place: 

Year                                Sunday         Wednesday           Tuesday       Distance         Cancelled                    

2023/24 (12 months)            45                      45                      18           6000km            16

2024/25 (11 months)            39                      42                       17          5800km            12

2025/26 (12 months)            49                      47                       18          6600km             5

This past year, our 114 rides across Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday covered over 6,600 km, with only 5 cancelled rides – an excellent achievement.

A sincere thank you to all our ride leaders and a special welcome to our new leaders: Sharon Fairweather, Fifi Tsoi & Derek Traynor. 

Ride Convenors

Our ride convenors play a vital role in ensuring our group rides run smoothly. Many thanks to Rebecca Chu, Charles Wallis and Rhona Emerson, for crafting a sociable and welcoming ride programmes for Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays respectively. 

Winter Halls Organiser.

Clare McDonald continues to excel in organising winter lunch venues, offering a varied and welcoming mix of cosy halls and community cafés. This is greatly appreciated by the Wednesday group.

On behalf of all the winter riders, thank you, Clare, for your outstanding organisation. 

Winter Halls Fees.

The winter subscription model introduced in 24/25 has again proved successful, simplifying payments and covering all costs. Retained at £15 for 2025/26, participation rose by 4 to 39 members. Notably, all 29 Wednesday winter rides went ahead without cancellation this year, good value for those who subscribed.

The model will be reviewed for 2026/27, taking into account a small number of minor issues identified. 

Ride Etiquette & Safety

Safety remains our top priority, supported by strong ride etiquette. All members are expected to remain aware of their surroundings, model safe cycling and show consideration to other road users. Our ride guidelines continue to provide a valuable reference for best practice – and even inspired questions in this year’s Christmas quiz. 

While standards are generally high, there are occasional lapses. Please support ride leaders and back markers by helping to maintain the standards we expect of the group. 

Incidents.

Three incidents were reported to Cycling UK this year, compared with none in the previous two years. One involved a minor fall by a new member, likely due to a combination of wet leaves and close riding; the other two involved experienced riders descending downhill.

Thankfully, all riders have fully recovered and returned to cycling.

These incidents reinforce the importance of safe riding.

Additional emphasis has been placed on safety briefings, supporting new riders and taking care on downhill sections.

Please remember that safety is our number 1 priority. 

Health & Well Being & Friends no longer with us.

Sadly, this year we lost 2 cycling friends.

Jimmy Kerray—an exceptionally strong and disciplined cyclist. Immaculately turned out, he took great pride in maintaining and building his bicycles and even tailoring his own cycling clothing. Jimmy completed many audax events, led club rides and quietly encouraged others—especially newer members. He is remembered with great affection and respect.

Norma Brearley - a longstanding and much-valued member of the club. She rode with her husband Neil on their tandem, often accompanied by their dog Monty and regularly led rides. Members will fondly recall the warm hospitality she and Neil offered in their Penicuik garden, enjoying homemade pancakes and afternoon tea. Norma also managed winter hall monies and was known for gently guiding new members on group riding etiquette. She will be remembered for her warmth, sense of humour and love of life.

Apologies if I have missed others no longer with us. May they rest in peace and be fondly remembered.

Our thoughts are also with members recovering from illness or injury. We wish them all the very best and look forward to welcoming them back.

It is heartening to see many returning at their own pace—being kind to themselves, whether joining for part-rides, using public transport or embracing power-assisted bikes. 

Special Events

The year featured many memorable events: 

• The annual June trip, held this year in Berwick-upon-Tweed, saw over 35 members explore this wonderful area by bike, enjoying quiet roads, island adventures, charming villages and well-earned coffee stops. Expertly organised by Joan Aitken and Morag Garden, whose enthusiasm was infectious, the trip created many lasting memories. Thanks also to the five ride leaders who delivered ten varied and imaginative rides across four days. We were truly spoilt.
• Janet Ironside organised two excellent away days alongside the regular programme—an adventure in Fife and a scenic Perthshire loop. In addition, Bev Christy and Janet respectively led rides exploring near  St Andrews and Stirling within the main ride programme. Our thanks to them both for creating these varied and rewarding opportunities.
• We are also grateful to Linda and Michael Hamilton for organising a fantastic mid-week adventure to Pitlochry, which had all the ingredients that make our club such a special community to be part of.
• The annual Christmas lunch at Merchants Golf Club was, as ever, full of laughter and camaraderie. Our thanks go to Rosanne Murphy and Senga Bate for their organisation. After four years of dedicated service, Senga is stepping down, we are extremely grateful for her energy and commitment, we will miss her. I’m pleased to welcome Helen Tzabar to the team, ensuring that  Christmas Lunch will be served in 2026. 
• Thank you, Derek Traynor for organising a delicious curry night in September for the Tuesday evening riders.
• The Wednesday Potluck Christmas lunch in Dirleton, guided by Ben, was another enjoyable gathering. Thanks to all who contributed a varied mix of yummies.
• We enjoyed a highly successful TRIVETS ride, organised by Ben Bate and Yoav Tzabar, with 23 participants tackling a superb 100-mile route. For those unfamiliar, TRIVETS is a triennial event promoted by Cycling UK, with origins dating back to 1928 to mark the CTC’s 50th anniversary. Our thanks to Ben and Yoav for delivering such a memorable ride rooted in proud tradition.
• A big thank you to Hilary Maxfield, whose guidance made possible a memorable, joy-filled August trip for 13 members to attend the Semaine Fédérale in Orléans—an annual French cycling jamboree attracting over 8,000 riders. A truly unique adventure. 

These events highlight the strength and variety of our club community.

Training opportunities

Our training champion Ian Miller organised a series of valuable sessions, including ride leader training to strengthen our core ride leader group and a tubeless tyre maintenance and repair workshop designed to build confidence in this increasingly popular (if slightly daunting) setup. The initial session proved so successful that two further workshops were arranged. 

Albert Watson Memorial Hut

Over the past two years, the committee has spent considerable time reviewing the current arrangements for managing and using the hut. This was required due to increasing differences being highlighted between the BBA and hut supporters.

There is a clear and enduring affection for it—from current and former members, as well as the dedicated BBA team—and it is wonderful that it continues to bring enjoyment to the wider community. 

It is important that opportunities to use this facility are sustained into the future. The committee therefore looks forward to receiving members’ input on how best to ensure the hut remains viable and sustainable in the years ahead. 

The committee.

The committee continues to provide invaluable support, whose dedication ensures the club remains well organised and inclusive. My thanks to: Maryrose Brennan, Rhona Emerson, Ben Bate, Bill Crook, Charles Wallis, Ian Miller, Yoav Tzabar & Colin Fischbacher.

To find out more about the team, please visit the newly created webpage on the club’s website outlining members’ roles, which will help everyone connect more easily with the committee.

We also extend sincere thanks to Maryrose, who steps down after more than five years of dedicated service. Her outstanding contribution has been invaluable. She will be greatly missed.

We are pleased that a volunteer has come forward to join the committee, there is of course room for more. We remain fortunate to have such a committed team continuing into the year ahead. Finally, sincere thanks to Grace Lyon, our auditor, for her valued guidance.

Please join me in showing appreciation for all, committee members, ride convenors, ride leaders, back markers, organisers of special events and many others, who contribute so much to the club’s success. 

The Future

The club continues to thrive with an exciting diverse calendar of events planned for the year ahead: 

• First Aid Training, in May, funded by the club on the basis that it helps to support all on the ride. 
• Club Summer Outing: A trip to Edzell in early June. Our thanks in advance to the organisers Yvonne Clegg and Morag Garden.
• An excellent full summer programme of rides: Almost every ride date has now been filled, including four “away days” - a fantastic achievement. Thank you to our ride convenors & leaders for their strong support to the club.
• Christmas Lunch: Save the date in your diary for Saturday, December 12th, 2026, for our annual festive lunch.
• Upcoming major cycling events linked to the Commonwealth games in Glasgow which will set the tone for the Grand Depart from Edinburgh in 2027.

Finally

This is your club and your input is important. Getting involved is one of the best ways to enhance both your own experience and the continued success of the club.

Thank you all for your ongoing support.

Derek Hyde - Chair