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We're a Club, that's not a club!

What we do...

Free to join rides in Hertfordshire & beyond

Off-bike social events & trip planning meetings

Encouragement to every new joiner

Amazing local trail knowledge, built up over many years

Facebook engagement for all members

Weekend adventures in the UK & further afield

Bike maintenance help & advice

Great links & discounts with local bike shops

We have no ‘rules’ but...

We will never push you beyond your limits

We do NOT tolerate any form of 'ism'

We insist that you wear a helmet on all rides

We ask that you share the good stuff

We're not a club - just turn up and ride

Anyone can lead, anyone can follow

Remember to look up - it's amazing out there!

When the fun stops, stop! Take a breath.

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.

Thursday Night Rides - 19:30 start

TNRs start from the Windmill Pub in Charlton, unless otherwise posted on Facebook.

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 a 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 Morning Rides - 09:00 start

Sunday rides start from the Windmill Pub in Charlton, unless otherwise posted on Facebook.

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.

Special Events

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...

Start: SG5 2AE

Rides leave from the Windmill Public House in Charlton Village, just outside the centre of Hitchin. The Windmill Pub recently reopened (occasionally) but have made their car-park private. Plenty of parking nearby. We 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.
SUN Rides start at 09:00 unless otherwise advertised on Facebook.

WE'VE GOT MERCH!

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 Store

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.