Rye & District Wheelers

James West joins a welcoming Kentish bunch for their Captain's Club Ride

It’s 4°C in late November when I meet Rye and District Wheelers in Appledore, Kent, for their Sunday club run. Despite the chilly easterly wind, there is an impressive turnout of over 40 members.

Appledore is one of a plethora of pretty villages through which today’s route will pass. Situated on the marshes that are the major topographical feature along this stretch of the south coast, it’s the perfect departure point: the flat roads allow everyone time to warm up.

Today is the Captain’s Club Ride, one of three throughout the year (the other two are in March and late summer), meaning the route is set by ride captain David Greenwood, who explains the options available to club members as they gather for the off.

“We normally have two-weekend groups, Black and Red. But for the Captain’s Rides we have a third group, the White group. Speed and elevation gain is the main difference,” he says.

The Sunday club run is one of many activities available to members, with Tuesday, Thursday and Friday club runs, a Wednesday night chaingang, and a Friday night summer TT series all on offer.

Jim Holland, life president and a member since 1954, is one of many who benefits from the variety on offer. “I was a regular on the club run, but now I do the midweek rides since I had a triple heart bypass earlier this year: I do shorter rides on a Friday with around six to 12 people out on the weekday rides,” he explains.