Cycling UK Louth Annual Report 2026

CYCLING UK LOUTH’S ANNUAL REPORT 2026

It’s been another busy and rewarding 12 months for Cycling UK Louth with average numbers attending the rides typically four to six and on occasion we’ve had attendances of eight or ten. 

In addition to our regular members, we have welcomed the company of Charlie Calderwell and John Parish who is now joining us on more regular basis and very recently guest riders Derek Croal and Harvey Wright. At 18 years of age, Harvey lowers the groups average by some margin. 

For Tim, it’s been a disappointing year as a major operation put him out of action between September and December. Many thanks to all for the support and for taking on extra duties whilst he recovered. Special thanks go to John Rickett and Ty Harness.

The club has two cups which we award annually. The ‘Effort Cup’ was presented to Ty Harness in May. A bike mechanic and first aider, Ty’s the first to help group members who have had mechanical issues and he also volunteers as a mechanic for Active Lincolnshire’s ‘Wheels For Life’ bike donation scheme and Louth’s Repair Café. In addition to our regular Sunday and Wednesday rides, Ty also offered and led shorter, more gentle rides on Saturday mornings from late Spring to early Autumn in 2025. These ‘Steady Saturday Rides’ proved popular attracting a number of ladies which is great news.

The ‘John Ambler Louth Cup’ was awarded to John Rickett on 19th November at the Winter Rides meeting held at Tim’s in Louth. Dubbed ‘Billy no Mates’, John is a club stalwart, keeping the Wednesday Rides alive, even if he is occasionally by himself.

Rides have included familiar destinations but we’ve also returned to those we haven’t been to for years along with some new venues. Steve Croton proffers a never-ending list each time we hold a rides meeting. We tried out for the first time Bentley’s, Grimsby (Wilton Road, near Humberston), Kettle and Cake, Waddingworth for Halloween, Cunningham's Coffee Lounge in Spilsby and Mable’s in Mablethorpe.

In May we organised a ride as part of the Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival, promoting all that our organisation has to offer whilst on 17th-18th of the month Tim Newbery, Martin Wood, John Rickett and Rob Cook rode to Southhall for a night away. The weather was fine; sunny and hot (perhaps too hot on return). 

Tim took on the challenge of a Cycle Camping Tour of the Netherlands to Texel 2nd-12th June but this time the weather was far from hot and sunny, having to contend with unseasonal storms and floods. Next time it has to be better. 

Also in June, both Steve Croton and John Rickett enjoyed ‘Coast to Coast’ cycle tours, John even did it twice covering 332 miles and some 23,000 ft of climbs. 

In July we welcomed Cycling UK Oxfordshire who spent a week in Louth, joining up with them on one of their rides. They have promised us a warm welcome if ever we venture to Oxford.

We look forward to more adventures in 2026. A full and varied Sunday and Wednesday programme will continue throughout. 

Cycling UK Louth’s Camps start off with a Spring edition to Beccles in May whilst we’ll repeat a ride and overnight stop at Southwell in July, following on from the success of last year. 

The main event perhaps is our 40th Anniversary with a lunch and prizegiving to be held at the end of April. Julie Kissane reformed CTC Louth (section) on 27th April 1986. John Ambler took part in this inaugural ride and is still a member, having served 40 years.