Dave Hartley, 36, one of four cyclists who launched the club in March, said: “Our vision is clear – we want to create a positive lasting legacy of cycling in Ilkeston and develop something the town ca...

Dave Hartley, 36, one of four cyclists who launched the club in March, said: “Our vision is clear – we want to create a positive lasting legacy of cycling in Ilkeston and develop something the town can feel proud of.”
“We have an aspiration before 2020 to set the groundwork for the establishment of a youth academy and want to set up regular work for charity involving families and the community generally.
“We aim to make cycling accessible to everyone of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through the club and will drive a culture of discipline, respect, healthy living and fulfilment of ambitions in life generally.
“Ultimately we are a group of focused individuals and also want to make a firm impression on the racing scene and be serious about competitions. Racing will form a key part of our club moving forward and we have existing members familiar with the competitive aspects of the sport.
“One of our founding members, Nick Knighton, has previously raced and regularly passes on his experiences to his team-mates.
“Road and circuit racing can be a tough and sometimes dangerous sport with highs and lows. Nick was involved in a racing incident in 2016 that ended his season as a private racer, however, with the launch of the new club he is bouncing back in 2017 with some impressive Time Trial results already under his belt.” 

The club wants to use the town’s cycling heritage as a springboard for attracting more members and becoming part of the Ilkeston community.
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford, who did so much to raise the national profile of the sport in the UK through Team GB’s Olympic Games and World Championships success and has strong connections in Ilkeston, has been a huge influence and inspiration to the club.
The town, which used to be a research and development base for world-famous cycle manufacturer Raleigh, is now used as during a stage of the Tour of Britain, the biggest domestic cycle race.
 “I am a big believer that Ilkeston has got plenty of talent, but it’s important that energy and ideas are channelled in the right way. Like anywhere else, there is good and bad to be said about Ilkeston, but overall it’s a great town with great people living here.
“If we could set something up with a clear vision, strong values and culture, then we might get a few top flight cyclists coming out of our club in years to come and that would be a huge achievement for the town.
“For now though it’s all about the club working hard as a team and putting the foundations in place for something that will stand the test of time and be available and accessible to a wide range of cyclists is what we are working towards
“I have got three young daughters and, like most of our members, our families are growing up fast. Equally, with heavy work commitments, the initial set up of our club will be a challenge and we need all the support and sponsorship we can get.”

Club members are due to meet Mayor Mary Hopkinson and councillors to discuss how they would like the support of the council for running cycling events in and around the town.
Dave said: “We have got lots of ideas, such as running hill climb events and also our very own Time Trial road racing course. We also want to add value to the community and run charity events as well as get involved more broadly in the town.
Club chairman Nick Knighton has recently established a much sought after block session at the Velodrome in Derby for club members to experience indoor track racing. This will hopefully open the door to future track day events hosted and run by the club.
“There is so much talk at the moment about health and well-being. Cycling is great for that and a good way for people, including children, to be outside in the fresh air doing physical exercise.”

Having started with three members there are now over 20 – and the club is growing.
Whilst the four men initially came together to form the club, many of its members are actively contributing towards its success, whether that be arranging rides and routes, spreading the word, providing advice on maintenance and sharing equipment or simply providing  ideas and advice – everyone’s opinions and input is valued and all members con contribute in shaping the club for the future.
Dave added: “We have added new people quickly through word of mouth and friends of friends. Initially it’s all about consistency, so we meet at the same time each and every Saturday and Sunday in all weathers to ensure the new and existing members can ride with the team.”
The Saturday ride, which starts at 6am, is a more aggressive affair to allow members to have a serious workout and then get home to be with their families or go to work.
The Sunday ride is a more social event, where members cycle into the hills of the Derbyshire countryside or alternatively on a flatter, more rolling southbound ride. They also enjoy the scenery and a coffee and piece of cake along the way.
Three club members – John Spanner, Alex Shepherd and Ant Ryder, all from Ilkeston  - are also competing in competitive racing, with Spanner and Shepherd gaining their first Category 4 race points for the club at a recent closed circuit event at Harvey Hadden, Nottingham.

Riders at Ilkeston Cycling Club are staging their first major charity ride on 5th August to help the family of one if their members.
They will ride for more than 200 miles on a round trip to Skegness and back in aid of the SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) Trust, which aims to find a cure and treatment for the rare and debilitating muscle wasting disease that affects babies and young children.
Club member Tim Van Der Byard has helped the parents of his nephew, Finley, who developed the devastating disease at a young age.
A spokesman for the club said: “We want to raise as much money as possible for Finley and the SMA Trust and try to make a big difference to both Tim’s family and also other families struggling with the same challenge.”
Anyone wanting to support the cyclists can make a donation at a JustGiving page that has been set up – search for Ilkeston Cycling Club at www.justgiving.com

Ilkeston Cycling Club was initially launched in March by three men in the town, Dave Hartley, Nick Knighton and Ian Kitchen – and they were quickly joined by Colin Clennell, a friend and keen cyclist from neighbouring Belper.
All, of course, were cycling enthusiasts who wanted to extend their love of the sport.
They regularly commuted to work by bike as it was quicker than going by car and helped to keep fit and healthy. That led to them riding more and eventually for other Midlands clubs as there was nothing available in Ilkeston.
The men had known each other for a number of years and finally decided to get together to make a plan and establish the club after much talk and debate, which finally happened this year.
“I was pretty competitive cycling on my own, but I wasn’t getting anywhere and was pretty stagnant,” said Dave. “But since meeting the others and establishing the club, we have all got fitter, faster and more determined and competitive – there is a lot of energy in our club but we help each other out and operate as a unit and team.”