If you thought Mountain Biking in Hertfordshire can't be that tough... come and join us and find out it's anything but flat out there! Pretty much all rides out of Hitchin start with an uphill struggle, but it gets the blood flowing and the heart pounding and once you're 'up there'... things get a bit easier.
We're not an official 'club' and as such, we don't carry any public liability insurance. If you choose to ride with us, you do so happy in the knowledge that mountain biking can be a dangerous sport. We'll never push you to do anything beyond your ability. Our more experienced riders are always happy to share their expertise to help you improve your technique.It can seem like hard work at first, because it is! If you haven't ridden for a while then it will take 6 to 8 weeks before things start to 'click' and where, at first, you may have walked your bike up that hill, you'll soon find an enormous sense of achievement as you get to the top through pedal power alone. See you on a WindmillCC ride soon, you'll be made very welcome.
Who are we?
We are Labourers and Lawyers, Scaffolders and Scientists, Plasterers, Welders, Graphic Designers and Saville Row Tailors. We're Mechanics and Machinists, Nurses and Nannies, Teachers, Gardeners, Risk Managers and risk takers. But for 2 or 3 hours on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning none of those labels matter, because... we are Windmillers, sharing a passion for Mountain Biking and a love for the great outdoors.
Who we are not.
We're not elitist or snobby. We don't care who made your bike or how bling it is. We've seen skills on the cheapest of bikes that riders of the most expensive bikes cannot match. We don't mind an 'E', embracing the future and if it gets you out there... it's a good thing. We're not ageist, sexist or politically motivated, we respect your beliefs and if they differ with our own, expect you to do the same. We don't care about the colour of your skin or the language you speak, well, so long as it's not offensive.
We are definitely not lycra clad warriors, marauding round the trails causing chaos.
We... are Windmillers.
All our rides are organised via our Facebook Group page. It's a 'closed' Group, meaning you'll need to request to join, but it also means what happens in the WCC Facebook page won't appear on your own timeline. Join us by clicking on the Facebook icon.
Thursday Night Rides are excellent fun and tend to be around 20 miles, although less in the winter months. A decent front & rear light and a helmet are 'must-haves' for the Thursday night rides. Rides usually finish at the Half Moon Pub in Hitchin, but we'll always make sure 'newbies' are returned to the Windmill if you're unfamiliar with the local area. Just shout and we'll help.
Sunday rides are anywhere between 15 and 30 miles, depending on the time of year and the weather conditions on the day. Sometimes we stop along the way for refreshments. We're normally back in Hitchin Town Square around midday for post-ride frothy coffees and cake. As with the Thursday rides, if you need help getting back to the Windmill, just shout.
Throughout the year we organise special events from day rides further afield, to weekends away and off-bike social events at local pubs, bike shows visits and lots more. Special Events are normally open to everyone, though occasionally we may have restricted places and will offer those to regular riders in the group first. More reason than ever to join us on a local ride!
Find out more...
Rides leave from the X-Windmill Public House in Charlton Village, just outside the centre of Hitchin. The Windmill Pub is currently closed, pending locals to rally support to get it back up and running again.We still use the location for the majority of our local ride starts as it affords access to some excellent local bridleways and trails which start in Charlton village.
TNR's start at 19:30 unless otherwise advertised on Facebook.
Sunday Rides start at 09:00 unless otherwise advertised on Facebook.
The WCC is made up of riders with a broad mix of backgrounds, ages and abilities. We welcome anyone with the determination to get out and ride in all kinds of weather while retaining a sense of humour! We were all ‘newbies’ on our first ride, but we came back for more and now enjoy riding almost 3000 miles a year, off-road, locally and further afield.
We ride in all conditions, adapting the routes accordingly, sometimes opting for cycle paths or gravel trials in the winter.
Join us, you'll be made very welcome.
New to the WCC is the Merchandise Store, provided by Spreadshirt. We have a range of ‘Merch’ to choose from and every sale benefits the WCC through a small percentage of commission, which is used to help fund things like this website. We also produce ‘Special Event’ T’s and these are sold through the Merch Store. Go on, treat yourself or the one you love.
Spreadshirt is a third party provider. Any issues you may have with your purchase should be taken up with them (though we haven't had any problems yet!)
When I joined the Windmill Cycling Club almost a year ago I thought I was going to turn up on my bike, ride around for a while with a bunch of guys and then just go back home. I soon learnt it was more than that, so much more.
From the start I was made to feel very welcome by a very friendly bunch of people, and when I found it extremely hard going and thinking it was too much for me, everybody only had words of encouragement and I was never made to feel like I was holding them back. Slowly but surely, as the weeks and months went by, I was getting closer and closer to the front of the pack and the sense of achievement as I got fitter and caught up was immense, making the whole experience much more enjoyable.
This eventually gave me the confidence to go along to the Special Events organised by a team of very dedicated leaders. Recent trips to Exmoor, The Chilterns, and Swinley Forest have been demanding but great fun, and I look forward to many more in the future.
Along the way I've learnt a lot from the wealth of knowledge and experience that everyone is happy to share, from simple things to technical bike set up stuff, and it’s surprising how the smallest detail can make such a big difference to the overall riding experience.
Above all, I've made some good friends, enjoying a bit of banter and lots of laughter and I can honestly say I can't think of doing anything better on a Sunday morning than riding with the Windmillers… a club that is not a club.
The WCC now have a range of clothing and accessories to show off your love for the Club that's not a Club!
Visit the WCC Merch StoreWe'd love to hear from you if you have an event or anything else you'd like to share with the Windmill Cycle Club. Please use the form below. We do not share your details with anyone and will not bombard you with emails. We may send you a very occasional newsletter by email, but you will be able to unsubscribe at any time on receipt.
All images copyright WindmillCC 2020
The WCC is not an official group and as such we do not carry any personal liability insurance. If you choose to ride with the WCC you acknowledge this fact and make no claim against the lead rider on any occasion while riding as part of the group.
