Cycling Holidays & Holidaying to Watch Cycling

Cycling Holidays & Holidaying to Watch Cycling BRC Newsletter 24/7/25

Here at Barnsley Road Club, we're building a brilliant bank of knowledge and experience when it comes to cycling holidays—whether it’s riding for pleasure, chasing a personal challenge, or travelling to watch the world’s best riders in action. 

Recent adventures include Paul Ruta’s ‘Italian Job’, an enviable ride through the hills and hospitality of Italy; Garreth & Vikki Bruff’s tandem tour of Holland and Belgium, packed with canals, culture and cobbles; Zoe and Gary riding French Fire Roads chasing the TDF, Chloe and Peter chasing mountains in Spain; and Matt Fawcett’s three-day Lake District tour, tackling some massive elevation and miles. 

Chapeau to all of you, and to everyone else who’s challenged themselves on two wheels! 

🏕 The Big Weekend Out – Sherwood Pines 

Don’t forget our club’s Big Weekend Out at Sherwood Pines (12th–14th September). Bob Pinder and I have already booked our pitches—and we’re looking forward to the return of the legendary Chris Francis BBQ after a day of exploring quiet roads, gravel tracks and trails. 

We’re looking for members to: 

Lead rides from Barnsley to Sherwood Pines on Saturday 

Lead local rides (gravel, trail, road) from the campsite over the weekend 

Fancy leading a ride or just coming along for the social? Let us know! 

🌍 More Adventures, More Ideas 

As more members explore both the UK and Europe by bike, it’s easier than ever to share routes, tips and inspiration. I’m hoping to ride Barnsley to Berlin in April 2026—so if you’ve got plans, dreams or stories of your own, we’d love to hear them! 

🏁 Wentworth Woodhouse GP – Club Social 

Closer to home, the Wentworth Woodhouse GP races are back on Saturday 31st August. There’s talk of a club ride to watch the racing from Elsecar, followed by a social meet-up back at the start point. A great way to support local racing and catch up with fellow members off the bike. 

🕗 Regular Club Activities 

Sunday Rides – Meet at 8:30am, Pals Square, Barnsley Town Hall 

Rides will be decided on the day, as many of our usual leaders are away on holiday. 

Saturday Junior Coaching 

Last weekend was the final session before the school break. Coach Chris Francis returns in September! 

Midweek Rides 

Chewsdi Ride: A brisk 90-minute ride meeting Tuesdays at 6:30pm from the Eastfield Arms (Wakefield Road). Lights & spares essential. 

Thursday Gravel Group: Meeting Thursdays at 6:00pm at Higham Cricket Club ‘Bus Stop’. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours of off-road fun. Again, don’t forget your lights and spares. 

📅 Key Dates for Your Diary 

03/08 – BDO (Big Day Out) – Destination TBC (e.g. Knaresborough or Lincoln) 

24/08 & 28/08 – Welcome Rides 

31/08 – BDO – Humber Bridge 

12–14/09 – Sherwood Pines Weekend 

27/09 – End of Summer Party @ Nailmaker Brewery, Darton 

19/10 – Sunrise Ride to Holme Moss 

09/11 – CX Races ‘The Stack’ Techno Space Edition 

21/12 – Santa Ride 🎅 

End of Summer Party – Nailmaker Brewery (27/09/25) 

Join us for an evening of good beer, good company, and our annual awards. Start thinking about who deserves recognition this year: 

🏆 Ride Leader of the Year 

🚴‍♂️ Most Improved Rider 

🌟 Club Member of the Year 

💫 Lifetime Award – Last year’s honour went to the amazing Joy Rawlings, thanks to a heartfelt nomination from Zoe Barnes (included in this issue—it's truly inspirational!). 

Got someone in mind? Drop me an email with your nomination and the reason why. The Executive Committee will decide this year’s winners. 

🙌 Welcome to Our New Members! 

A big welcome to everyone who’s joined in recent weeks. Make sure to connect via our Strava, Komoot, and Zwift clubs. 

Our Komoot club now has a great library of routes to help inspire your next ride: 

🔗 Barnsley Road Club 1924 

Stay Safe Stay Riding

Dominic McCall

Nomination for the Lifetime Member Award for Mrs Joy Rawlings.

With the formation of the Family Section in 1980 Joy became a member of Barnsley Road Club along with her two children, Paul aged 10 and Zoe aged 8. She soon became an active member of the club both on the cycling and social scene and in 1981 was elected onto the Committee as Assistant Secretary and also as BRC magazine editor, using her home typewriter for this purpose. In the same way she also produced the start and finish sheets for all the Club Open Time Trial events. She was active in organising many and varied cycling Youth Hostelling weekends, mainly for the Family Section but also organised and led an annual week long Youth Hostel cycling tour of the West Coast of Scotland. This was for the lady members of the club but the success of this venture led to male members of the club wanting to be part of it too! Again for the younger riders of the club she instigated and organised an RTTC training weekend with a National coach in attendance. Joy would always volunteer for marshalling at all time trial events and along with her husband Philip took an active part in the running of the club mid-week 10 mile Time Trials held at Barugh Green.

As with many other members of the family section over the years she and her children joined the BRC racing scene competing in time trial events. She became a member of the Yorkshire Ladies Cycling Federation. She was also part of the Barnsley Road Club women’s team who won the RTTC National 100 mile Time Trial championship in 1986.

As some of you are aware in 2018 Joy located the Barnsley Road Club Benjamin Harral Rose Bowl trophy, the whereabouts of which had been unknown since the 1930’s. With the clubs approval Joy arranged for the repair and restoration of this trophy and it is now again part of the clubs trophy collection.

Walking has now replaced cycling for Joy but she still takes an interest in Barnsley Road Club, keeping in touch with past members who remain life long friends.

Zoe Barnes