MEET THE GANG

 "I got in to cycling as a way to get to and from my office when I was living in London. When my family and I moved to Tonbridge, I wanted to keep up the cycling as it was a way to keep fit and healthy and a way to eat jelly babies legitimately…I was lucky to find so many people who lived so close by with the same mindset, so I thought that I would semi-formalise the group and the rest is history!"

 "I was a mountain biker and only bought a road bike to get to work. I never imagined I'd end up wearing lycra and joining a cycling group. The informal fun and friendly side of SRCG is great. Just a bunch of mates doing our thing. That's what it's all about folks - and to paraphrase Daniel Defoe: 'If the lycra fits, wear it!' " 

 Aussie dynamo Jedd has been a driving force behind the club from Day 1. Jedd masterminded the official SRCG jersey design and our series of informal lockdown time trials. A true CG rider who prefers early starts on warm, dry days, Jedd brings discipline and pace to group rides around the Kentish lanes and beyond. 

 "Being part of SRCG means there's always someone who is keen to come out on an impromptu ride. I ride because I love the fresh air and countryside. It's good to have others who are up for an early ride at the weekend—you get out when the roads are clear and even if the weather's a bit iffy, you know you will have company." 

 I’ll always wave when I see a cyclist, so don’t forget to wave back! Being an ambassador for Primal Europe and Limar means that I get to promote the club and the brands through supporting and advertising them when I cycle. It also gives my followers special discounts and first opportunities to see offers from the brands up to 25% off of the RRP." 

 “Hello I'm Pete, a founding member of SRCG! I took up road cycling about ten years ago, after completing my first Prudential Ride for charity. At that point I didn't even own a bike and had to borrow Wayne's! Safe to say I was hooked after that first sportive and am now a keen and regular member of the SRCG. There's nothing quite like the Kent hills and lanes to spur on a love of cycling, and we are blessed with both.” 

 “I've lived in Kent for well over a decade and am equally happy clambering around the hills of the Kent/Surrey/Sussex borders or thrashing around the flat terrain east of Tonbridge. SRCG rides provide a great blend of chat, enthusiasm, and the occasional fix of friendly competition." 

  “I feel very lucky to have found such a great bunch to ride with, and they meet up so near to where I live. There’s a fun, friendly spirit and they also don’t hang around. I’ve properly loved cycling ever since I got my first mountain bike and never really got bored of it. Each year brings a different challenge.” 

 Jon's Strava stats bely his almost unbelievable 48 years, of which four decades have been spent cycling in his native SE London, then Brighton, Cornwall and latterly, West Kent. 

  “SRCG really is great fun - we ride the Kent lanes and climbs, and we occasionally visit Surrey and bits of Sussex as well. Great rides, beautiful scenery and good fun with top guys.” 

  “Young kids had limited my cycling for a few years so finding such a friendly group who go out early for only a couple of hours works great for me. I’m a casual roadie and occasional track cyclist at Herne Hill, currently hoping the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge is rescheduled for later in the year to add a distance event to my palmares.” 

 One of the original founding fathers, Will’s preference is for the social side of cycling - especially meeting new people - and like most, has found that as he’s improved he’s become more obsessed with Strava! 

 Graham is   a remote member from Leigh who discovered the club by spotting the stylish kit on show at the 2019 Castle 100 ride. A ‘natural descender’ due to his superior gravitational attraction, Graham is most competitive on the local sprint segments when it is all about the power. 

Climbing colossus, Dane led an SRCG-inspired splinter group on a whistle-stop—but nonetheless punishing—Tour de France stage in July. Dane and his crew managed Lauteret, Galibier, Telegraph, Croix de Fer, and Glandon in one sweltering 150km/3,200m day. Thoughtfully though, he omitted Alpe d’Huez from his route, permitting the pros to keep a firm grip on the segment KOM. 

Simon has been a paragon of virtue throughout the summer months, maintaining adequate hydration at all times. This was particularly apparent during the SRCG Alpine Adventure when searing temperatures led to some club members reducing their liquid intake.