WE'VE GOT MERCH!
The WCC now have a range of clothing and accessories to show off your love for the Club that's not a Club!
Visit the WCC Merch Store
Free to join rides in Hertfordshire & beyond
Off-bike social events & trip planning meetings
Encouragement to every new joiner
Amazing local trail knowledge, built up over many years
Facebook engagement for all members
Weekend adventures in the UK & further afield
Bike maintenance help & advice
Great links & discounts with local bike shops
We will never push you beyond your limits
We do NOT tolerate any form of 'ism'
We insist that you wear a helmet on all rides
We ask that you share the good stuff
We're not a club - just turn up and ride
Anyone can lead, anyone can follow
Remember to look up - it's amazing out there!
When the fun stops, stop! Take a breath.
If you thought Mountain Biking in Hertfordshire can't be that tough... come and join us and find out it's anything but flat out there! Pretty much all rides out of Hitchin start with an uphill struggle, but it gets the blood flowing and the heart pounding and once you're 'up there'... things get a bit easier.
If you choose to ride with us, you do so happy in the knowledge that mountain biking can be a dangerous sport. We'll never push you to do anything beyond your ability.
Our more experienced riders are always happy to share their expertise to help you improve your technique.
It can seem like hard work at first, because it is! If you haven't ridden for a while then it will take 6 to 8 weeks before things start to 'click' and where, at first, you may have walked your bike up that hill, you'll soon find an enormous sense of achievement as you get to the top through pedal power alone.
See you on a WindmillCC ride soon, you'll be made very welcome.
We are Labourers and Lawyers, Scaffolders and Scientists, Plasterers, Welders, Graphic Designers and Saville Row Tailors. We're Mechanics and Machinists, Nurses and Nannies, Teachers, Gardeners, Risk Managers and risk takers. But for 2 or 3 hours on a Thursday evening or Sunday morning none of those labels matter, because... we are Windmillers, sharing a passion for Mountain Biking and a love for the great outdoors.
We're not elitist or snobby. We don't care who made your bike or how bling it is. We've seen skills on the cheapest of bikes that riders of the most expensive bikes cannot match. We don't mind an 'E', embracing the future and if it gets you out there... it's a good thing. We're not ageist, sexist or politically motivated, we respect your beliefs and if they differ with our own, expect you to do the same. We don't care about the colour of your skin or the language you speak, well, so long as it's not offensive.
TNRs start from the Windmill Pub in Charlton, unless otherwise posted on Facebook.
Thursday Night Rides are excellent fun and tend to be around 20 miles, although less in the winter months. A decent front & rear light and a helmet are 'must-haves' for the Thursday night rides. Rides usually finish at a pub in Hitchin, but we'll always make sure 'newbies' are returned to the Windmill if you're unfamiliar with the local area. Just shout and we'll help.
Sunday rides start from the Windmill Pub in Charlton, unless otherwise posted on Facebook.
Sunday rides are anywhere between 15 and 30 miles, depending on the time of year and the weather conditions on the day. Sometimes we stop along the way for refreshments. We're normally back in Hitchin Town Square around midday for post-ride frothy coffees and cake. As with the Thursday rides, if you need help getting back to the Windmill, just shout.
Throughout the year we organise special events; from day rides further afield, to weekends away and off-bike social events at local pubs, bike shows visits and lots more. Special Events are normally open to everyone, though occasionally we may have restricted places and will offer those to regular riders in the group first. More reason than ever to join us on a local ride!
Find out more...
Rides leave from the Windmill Public House in Charlton Village, just outside the centre of Hitchin. The Windmill Pub recently reopened (occasionally) but have made their car-park private. Plenty of parking nearby. We use the location for the majority of our local ride starts as it affords access to some excellent local bridleways and trails which start in Charlton village.
The WCC now have a range of clothing and accessories to show off your love for the Club that's not a Club!
Visit the WCC Merch Store
When I joined the Windmill Cycling Club I thought I was going to turn up on my bike, ride around for a while with a bunch of guys and then just go back home. I soon learnt it was more than that, so much more...
From the start I was made to feel very welcome by a very friendly bunch of people, and when I found it extremely hard going and thinking it was too much for me, everybody only had words of encouragement and I was never made to feel like I was holding them back. Slowly but surely, as the weeks and months went by, I was getting closer and closer to the front of the pack and the sense of achievement as I got fitter and caught up was immense, making the whole experience much more enjoyable.
This eventually gave me the confidence to go along to the Special Events organised by a team of very dedicated leaders. Recent trips to Exmoor, The Chilterns, and Swinley Forest have been demanding but great fun, and I look forward to many more in the future.
Along the way I've learnt a lot from the wealth of knowledge and experience that everyone is happy to share, from simple things to technical bike set up stuff, and it’s surprising how the smallest detail can make such a big difference to the overall riding experience.
Above all, I've made some good friends, enjoying a bit of banter and lots of laughter and I can honestly say I can't think of doing anything better on a Sunday morning than riding with the Windmillers… a club that is not a club.
