With less than 50 days to go until the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships takes place in Glasgow and across Scotland, we've pulled together all the ways your club can get involved in the event.
As the Official Activation Partner of the Championships, we are committed to ensuring that as many people as possoble have the opportunity to connect with this summer's event. In particular, we want to support our network of clubs to make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity and capitalise on the spotlight on cycling, welcoming new participants into the sport.
Below we've tried to pull together the opportunities that are availabel to clubs, whether it's additional funding, how to get involved during the Championships and how to prepare yourself for new members wanting to join your club and club activity.
On the opportunities available, Fraser Johnston, Scottish Cycling Project Lead for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships said:
"As we enter the home straight in the run up to the Championships, let's all commit to leaving no stone unturned in our combined efforts to make the most of this incredible opportunity. The event is underpinned by policy commitments to encourage a societal shift towards cycling, and we at Scottish Cycling are here to support each and every club who want to position themselves to welcome new members off the back of this event."
We will keep this article up-to-date in the run-up to the Championships, as more opportunities come forward - so keep checking back and sharing this with your members!
Power of the Bike | Club Activation Fund
The fund, launched in April has already supported 20 Clubs to plan activities in the run up to, during and after the Championships. The fund is designed to create new or enhance existing activities that can give individuals the opportunity to experience different types of cycling in the club setting. More info on the fund here and also hear about clubs that have been supported so far here, here and here.
Ride to the race route / a cafe where you can take in the action!
Whether it’s a planned club run, or a one-off group ride, now that the Road Race, Time Trial, Para Road, Gran Fondo and MTB Marathon routes are published, could your club identify somewhere along the route to cheer on the world’s best riders? Or if you’re not near a race route, with the action being broadcast across the BBC, could your club head to a local café and take in the action? Here are the dates you need to know! Note - maps of the routes are available by clicking on the indivudal events when you scroll down the page.
- Gran Fondo route maps and dates - available here (Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross)
- Para Road Race route maps and dates - available here (Dumfries and Galloway)
- Road Race route maps and dates - available here (Edinburgh, East Dunbartonshire, Fife, Falkirk, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire)
- Time Trial route maps and dates - available here (Glasgow and Stirling)
- MTB Marathon route map is going to be published soon - come and cheer on the world best riders over an epic 100km route around the Tweed Valley on the 6th August. More info here
Check out some of the FREE events at the Championships
In addition to the events outlined above, there are a number of other events in the Championships that are free to attend, as follows:
- BMX Freestyle Flatland - Tuesday 8th-Thursday 10th August - Glasgow Green - more info here
- MTB Cross Country Elite Short Track Qualifying - Tuesday 8th August - Glentress - more info here
- Trials - Wednesday 9th-Saturday 12th August - Glasgow Green - more info here
Grab your club mates and get some of the remaining tickets
There is still some tickets available for the following events, full information available on the Championship website here:
- BMX Freestyle Park - Saturday 5th-Sunday 6th August (finals on Monday sold out!)
- BMX Racing - Saturday 12th-Sunday 13th August
- Indoor Cycling - Friday 11th-Sunday 13th August
- Mountain Bike Cross-Country - Wednesday 9th-Saturday 12th August
- Mountain Bike Downhill - Thursday 3rd August (only qualifying day tickets remaining!)
- Para-Cycling Track and Track - Thursday 3rd-Wednesday 9th August (several sessions sold out!)
Run an #ExperienceTheWorlds event
Attract new members to your club (Adult Clubs)
Inviting new people to join your club does not need to start with the club run. Many people, from all kinds of backgrounds, will feel anxious joining a club run for the first time, and have fears about their cycling skills, whether their bike is good enough, do they have the right kit, will people be friendly etc etc.
Providing an opportunity to meet some of the club members outside of cycling activities can help address some of these fears, allowing potential members to ask questions and learn more about the club and the different activities it offers.
Are there any places you can set up a stall, with information on the club and members available to chat about their experience. You may want to make an occasion of your event; inviting speakers to attend, showing a film of the club’s activities, providing refreshments, etc.
Organising taster rides for new members should come with really clear communication: what equipment does someone need, what kit should they wear, what is the planned pace of the ride, do you have a no-drop policy and how long is the activity likely to last for.
And lastly, not all club runs need to take place on the road! Your club Insurance allows the club to run rides off-road too, with many clubs now opting to incorporate a gravel ride into their weekly offering.
Our Women and Girls toolkit is full of practical advice and tips on how to engage more people (particularly women!) into your club activities - check it out here
Attracting new members to your club (Youth Clubs)
There aremany different ways in which you can attract new youth members into your club. Your biggest marketing tool is your existing membership. Challenge them to bring along a friend to a planned session, or run an open day in conjunction with other local clubs so that you can reach a bigger audience and attendees have the opportunity to experience a variety of different sports.
How can your club make cycling more accessible? Could you apply to national or local funding opportunities to create a bike library to allow new members to borrow a bike, helmet and other equipment? Could you consider your membership model to create reduced cost or free memberships for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds?
Attracting new volunteers
Thousands of individuals have come forward to volunteer as part of the event, and many of these aren’t currently connected to the sport and may be looking for opportunities after the Championships to keep volunteering within cycling. Consider whether your club can time a recruitment campaign for new volunteers immediately after the Championships to capture people when they’ve just had a great experience supporting the event. Having really clear role descriptors for any volunteer roles, and using diverse imagery can help ensure that a broad range of volunteers can see themselves contributing to your club.
Your Club Development Coordinator can provide a range of resources to support with the recruitment of new volunteers,and you can contact them via ClubDevelopment@scottiscycling.org.uk
