Last Winter I unwittingly found myself a bit of a cycling loner; bereft of two-wheeled cycling companions. I don’t think it was anything I said! My wife had been bitten by the golfing bug, so all of a sudden was more likely to find herself on a fairway than on a bicycle. A couple of previously regular cycling buddies somehow lost their cycling Mojos and stopped venturing out. I had a couple of friends and relatives whose company I still sometimes enjoyed, but these rides were rarities. Solo rides and the indoor trainer became an unhappy cycling marriage of convenience. To me, cycling is partly about shared experiences. And all of a sudden I wasn’t sharing very many.
And then, out of the blue, a local rider I follow on Strava posted a couple of rides that really piqued my interest. Both were gravel rides, both from the pictures looked awesome, and both mentioned “WCC”. Who or what is WCC I
wondered? I was about to find out…
A couple of emails lead to a long and enthusiastic telephone conversation with a very friendly chap called Dan. Dan, I now know, is the main driving force behind the burgeoning gravel section at Whitchurch Cycling Club (“WCC”). WCC have been around for a while; it was their 10th anniversary in 2026. Established though they are, they’re in a bit of a transitional phase: The youth section of the club has long been thriving with big membership, coaching, frequent activities and support from Beicio Cymru (the national governing body for cycle sport in Wales). In contrast, the adult section is playing a little catch-up, but this means an increasingly exciting range of offerings for adult riders, with more to come.
Before long, I’m dipping my toe into WCC riding. I ponder what sort of club they are. We’re blessed with a real range of clubs in South Wales. Some very sporting, some very social and non-sporty. Some enjoy flat-handlebar weekday pootles to garden centre cafes. Some will thrash out 20mph+ chain gang 100-milers. And some will bark instructions at you and scatter riders all over the countryside even on supposedly “non-drop” rides. Over the years I’ve gained some limited experience of these extremes. I recall a laugh-out-loud conversation I once had with my brother-in-law. As a keen cyclist, he’s ridden a lot, particularly with one club (who’ll remain nameless!) in and around Cardiff. Based on my prior experience of other clubs I was bemoaning to him the existence of a few unwelcoming Alpha Male club riders who think they’re Mark Cavendish and delight a bit too much in shouting orders at club mates on rides. My brother-in-law retorted: “You forget, I was in the army…I quite like being shouted at”!
As I would find out over the first half of 2026, there’s no need to worry in this respect at WCC. Yes, there’s all the risk assessment and ride leadership rigour you’d expect from a Beicio Cymru-aligned club. You’ll get direction on (and off) the road where it’s needed to help keep everyone safe. Sometimes you’ll pootle, and sometimes you’ll head-down thrash. But it’s always delivered in a welcoming, supportive and sociable manner. Maybe Dŵr Cymru put something in the water in Whitchurch, ‘cause I’ve been bowled over by the endlessly delightful camaraderie.
After more than three decades cycling in South Wales I like to think I’m fairly well travelled on a road, gravel or mountain bike. But still, with WCC, I’ve enjoyed new routes and destinations. I’ve enjoyed lazy cafe road rides. We’ve thrashed ‘round the Valleys like road racers. I’ve enjoyed trailside gravel ride home made flapjacks and Aeropress coffee in the middle of freezing cold forests. I’ve enjoyed ice cream in Barry, stealth home made pasties, and (maybe endured?) “breakfast naan roll”! I’ve loved mountain bike skills sessions in the woods; truth-be-told partly undoing years of my MTB bad habits! The diversity of riding opportunity at WCC is already brilliant, and it’s only getting better. Oh, and don’t forget, the non-essential but highly recommended “Kegbelly Debrief”…
Based on my experience, WCC really has something quite special to offer cyclists in and around Cardiff. If this sounds like the type of cycling club you’d enjoy, get in touch. Just maybe try one of the alternative clubs if you like
shouting at people…