Just looking at join one or the other for liability insurance reasons etc. As CyclingUK is ex CTC is assume it is more road oriented ... or are they both very similar?
If say British Cycling was more road and race whilst Cycling UK is about cycle infrastructure, off road access, commuting.
I feel Cycling UK does more in terms of campaigning on issues like safety, access and inclusivity, across all types of cycling, BC seems much more focused on racing still, predominantly road and track. I have friends on regional boards for both who I think would support that view.
I'm with Cycling UK as a result
I feel Cycling UK does more in terms of campaigning on issues like safety, access and inclusivity, across all types of cycling, BC seems much more focused on racing still, predominantly road and track.
That's an old myth that just refuses to die. BC does racing [b]as well[/b] cos it's the governing body of cycle [b]sport[/b] but both do all sorts of campaigning work, on and off-road. BC even has a specific Commute membership.
Bottom line is, either will be fine.
I switched to Cycling UK. As a bonus, members get a pretty good discount for a STW sub.
That’s an old myth that just refuses to die
Not the view of my Breeze leader friend who was the only none racing representative at a big national committee event last year. She even challenged the chief exec on it.
BC is certainly more involved in the none racing side than it used to be due to Breeze and Let's Ride, but there seems to be a lack of people from that side of BC with voices at the top.
I have been a member of both in recent years, that's where my opinion comes from. I remain a member of Cycling UK
BC sends you way better stickers. Good enough for me!
BC aren't even interested in lower ranking races these days. For about the last five years there have been no BC road races in Cheshire because the police are enforcing some arcane road traffic law and BC are doing sweet FA to engage with them, despite the best efforts of local clubs. Cycling UK for me.
Cycling UK definitely put more effort and resources into trying to secure improved off-road access, if that's something you value.
Was with BC for years but they seem to do very little campaigning and appear to have little interest outside of elite road racing. Their comms used to be very focussed on that, and I follow racing results so understand it, but not much for the Everyman or woman just enjoying cycling.
Cycling UK on the other hand seem to campaign more for access, infrastructure and supporting cycling throughout the UK. They email topical debates and how you can make a difference.
As a result I’ve been with the latter and can’t imagine going back to BC.
Not sure if it's changed much, but whilst acting as secretary for our local MTB club whilst members of BC I think we had one email in a year related to MTB. Consequently we shifted to CyclingUK.
No idea of CyclingUK's stance, but I don't think British Cycling's insurance can be used against another BC member.
CyclingUK.
In Scotland the access rights enjoyed by cyclists are thanks entirely to their efforts. CUK is now working for the same elsewhere.
They also regularly organise meetings with MSPs (and MPs I guess) and have a group of staff campaigning for better cycling rights - and working to promote cycling overall (Big Bike Revival etc).
and appear to have little interest outside of elite road racing. Their comms used to be very focussed on that, and I follow racing results so understand it, but not much for the Everyman or woman just enjoying cycling.
This week’s BC member news:
Upcoming education course dates
Why it is easier than ever to support your local bike shop
Indoor facility activity to resume under updated guidance
Essential knowledge for sportive riders
How to use your cycling commute as training
Member exclusive: free copy of Rouleur magazine
Check out the British Cycling Race Series on Zwift!
I’m in my fifth year of BC membership and think they’ve gone a bit ‘corporate’ in that time. Plus the discounts aren’t what they were, so I’ll probably have a close look at Cycling UK next renewal time.
For about the last five years there have been no BC road races in Cheshire because the police are enforcing some arcane road traffic law and BC are doing sweet FA to engage with them, despite the best efforts of local clubs.
Taking it off topic for a moment, there was a HUGE amount of work went into that. Clubs wrote to the police with BC support, Dame Sarah Storey and Chris Boardman got involved, the police chief who managed all the Tour of Britain policing went to see them and none of it worked.
There was some local councillor (who lived on one of the roads used as a circuit) who had the ear of a particularly anti-cycling senior person within Cheshire Police and they were both completely against anything put their way.
Suggestions that it was only one race per circuit per year, options to bring in other (new) circuits elsewhere to spread the load around and they dug their heels in and just refused. BC tried very hard on that one - a lot of it quite quietly because some clubs and individuals had started being vocal on social media about what **** the councillors were which didn't help matters.
That was a few years ago, not sure if anything has changed recently. But yeah, it was incredibly frustrating to deal with.
If BC are doing campaigning, then they are doing it behind-the-scenes. Although they are the governing body, they come across as incredibly race orientated and heavily road and track. They do offer other things, but you really struggle to find it.
I'm guessing the governing body needs to push competitive cycling to keep getting funded for things. However, competitive cycling isn't the only thing that cyclists do.
Cycling UK does a lot of campaigning - and does make a bit of a song and dance about it (they have to so awareness is raised).
Both are good, but both do it in slightly different ways.
BC went downhill with the current chief exec, she goes in the next six months
Personally unless you plan to race or your club requires it I would join cyclinguk, BC is rudderless, doesn't get MTB or act as a decent campaigning organisation
BCCycing UK sends youway better stickersa magazine every couple of months. Good enough for me!
Looks like Cycling UK gets the nod. Thanks all!
BC went downhill with the current chief exec
Now that would be worth watching... if only for the first 10 secs... she could follow one of the DH girls she refused to allow to the WC DH ...
In my humble opinion, having tried to work with CTC for decades and seen how naive and gormless both they and BC are on Offroad Access, they are both utterly S****. In the 15 odd years I was involved neither of them achieved anything at all offroad. I remember being at one Gov meeting and the head of another access organisation remarking that CTC were "away with the fairies". Honestly it was embarrassing having to represent them.
BC is a racing organisation,
CU is a road based touring organisation. Fine for insurance but not geared up for MTB Access.
IMBA [UK] is dead. It has withered everywhere outside of the USA. Advising British riders not to ride in the rain.......
The BMBF was brilliant but they were told to withdraw for the sake of having mountainbiking in the Olympics. With hindsight a massive error, as first and then second BC and CTC utterly failed the casual offroad rider.
Yet Cycling UK do appear to have secured vastly improved access for bikes in Wales.
They had a bit of help from OpenMTB (and BC made the right noises), but the big majority of the credit is deservedly theirs.
Exactly what do they claim to have done? They wouldn't even pay my petrol to represent them at Welsh Government level. I got BBNP to change their mission document in favour of mountainbikers. Actually I got paid to write it. CU turned up at the Snowden agreement rehash meetings and had nothing constructive to say. That was all agreed with very on the ball local groups. I stopped going as there was nothing I could say on behalf of IMBA that the local groups hadn't already thought about. I said that and wished them well.
The CUK mag often has off-road stuff in it.
Having been a member of BC (needed it to organise an event…) I’m happier with CUK unless I am organising any more events (posssible) or going racing (nah).
If it’s for the liability insurance, just go with whichever is cheaper?
IMBA [UK] is dead. It has withered everywhere outside of the USA. Advising British riders not to ride in the rain…….
As with so many things it would’ve needed enough volunteers to get things going. Practically, everyone seems to have less free time than they once did…
Actually CU is way cheaper than BC for event insurance. I used them for over ten years for the RoughRide event. If racing then use BC, but you aren't allowed to run "test of speed" events on bridleways; footpaths and roads yes but not bridleways. Something BC said they were going to sort in weeks twenty years ago.....
