CTC is no more!!!

[yellowjack]

But it's OK. They've not folded, merely "rebranded" to become "Cycling UK"

With a new website, headlined "We are Cycling UK"... http://www.cyclinguk.org/


Not the first name change in their 138 year history. They became the 'Cyclists' Touring Club' fairly recently, in 1883, after starting out as the "Bicycle Touring Club" in 1878.

I think it's due to them looking to be more 'inclusive' and distance themselves from the "beer, beards and sandals" touring cyclist "real ale" image that some people perceive them to have. Trying to appeal to modern cyclists across the board. Not sure if it'll work, nor how established members will view the change, but I got the email yesterday and wondered if anyone else was aware of the change.

I'm not sure about it, to be honest. It sounds a bit too close to those identikit cycling magazines, like 'Cycling Plus' or 'Cycling Active' and they might struggle with their brand awareness in the short term at least.

[neenaw]

yellowjack said:

I think it's due to them looking to be more 'inclusive' and distance themselves from the "beer, beards and sandals" touring cyclist "real ale" image that some people perceive them to have. Trying to appeal to modern cyclists across the board. Not sure if it'll work, nor how established members will view the change, but I got the email yesterday and wondered if anyone else was aware of the change.

After having seen elsewhere some of the response to the rebranding by some members, they've got a HUGE amount of work to do to get away from the image they have with most people.
The following was posted on the CTC forum and in my opinion if portrays the type of members that CTC tends to attract.
Seriously, do they expect people to be messing about with printing out and posting off petitions? This just strengthens the image of a load of sandal wearing beardy oddballs who are terrified of any type of change.

Edited as I can't get the quote function to work properly!


Dear Secretary/Member

If sent to you in error, please forward to the correct person.

CHANGE OF THE BRANDING NAME OF THE “CTC” to “CYCLING UK”
DEMAND FOR A POLL OF THE WHOLE CLUB

You and your CTC members may have become aware that at the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) Council meeting on 23rd January 2016 agreed on a vote of 10 to 5 to replace the existing “Cyclists` Touring Club or CTC” and associated logo(s) and heritage marks with “CYCLING UK” or another branding name and logo(s). https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003150...

We are petitioning the CTC to demand a poll of the whole club so CTC members will have the opportunity to indorse or overturn the motion.

It is our opinion the entire decision-making process was flawed and any dissent was either ignored or shouted down. A similar technique was used regarding the governance issue, but more of that a little in the future. We need 200 valued CTC members signing, but I want many more to avoid any being discounted and to show the strength of feeling.

It has been drawn to our attention that there are already similarly named cycling-related internet sites

https://www.facebook.com/ucyclingk/?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/CyclingUKNews
http://cycleuk.bike/

Please could you circulate this petition to fully paid up CTC members.

Please ensure that their name/number is legible and that they must also sign it in black or blue ink/biro.

Please note that we have the support of some councillors.

We are seeking the poll details to be in the April/May edition of “Cycle”; so time is short.
Please return the completed sheets in an A4 size envelope to me ASAP at
Philip Benstead CTC Brand Petition,
19 Greencoat Mansions, Greencoat Row, Westminster, London, SW1P 1PG.

Please ensure the correct first class postage is used, you need to use the Large Letter rate of 100g = 95p, 250g = £1.26, 500g = £1.68, 750g = £2.42.

Edited by neenaw on Wednesday 6th April 14:09

Edited by neenaw on Wednesday 6th April 14:10

[Herman Toothrot]

The trouble is they are totally and completely the beardy touring types. For example until this year if you wanted to ride Aston Hill, Rogate DH, Tidworth Free ride you could for free through the your CTC membership. This year NO, downhill and free ride is too out there for the beardy types as its become more popular so they have withdrawn support. Rubbish only reason I was a member - this year I have cancelled my direct debit.

British Cycling does everything CTC does and more.

[JustinF]

yup cancelled my DD too, have access to both BC and CTC via club memberships at affiliation rates, couldn't see a single reason to not go C for my insurance etc.

[Some Gump]

Is CTC not just a bunch of weird beary millitant types though? The sort that look down on sportives, because Audaxes are a fiver; look down on people people using garmins or just being lost, because they could have a route card sellotaped to a bit of hardboard on their handlebars?

My only interactions with CTC have been negative. An orginisation that seems to like a petition more than promotion. British Cycling exists, no need for CTC to rebrand. They need to either change, or just continue as they are (eating soreen, not that new fangled energy gel rubbish).

[outnumbered]

As a non-racing, but still "sporting" cyclist, a few years ago it used to be better to be a CTC member than the BCF as you got more relevant benefits, and BCF didn't really do anything for non road-racers. But since then BC have got their act together more, and CTC have somewhat lost their way. I swapped from CTC to BC last year as I had become completely fed up with the anti-car, Guardian-reading eco-bks that filled their quarterly magazine. I still think they do some good work (e.g. on justice for cyclists injured or killed in RTCs), but I'm not sure their vision of cycling first, all other modes of transport second, is going to resonate with very many people.

[Some Gump]

^ neither should it. Roads are for all, even horse-ists. Any group arguing otherwise should be tarred and feathered at dawn.

[yellowjack]

Some Gump said:

^ neither should it. Roads are for all, even horse-ists. Any group arguing otherwise should be tarred and feathered at dawn.

That's a bit harsh, dude!

I'm not a morning person. Can't we do it later, when the sun's been up a while and it's warmed up a bit?




Weird that I was considering joining the CTC this last few months. I'm not in a club, nor a BC member even, so it was going to be my first experience of club membership. They were top of the list solely based on those little CTC stickers in pub and cafe windows. I liked the idea of a group that promoted cyclist-friendly businesses, as well as cycling itself. After looking into it, though, I'm not so sure. I don't drink real ale, have a beard, nor own any sandals, so I'm not sure I'd fit in with their 'old guard'. I should probably just join the ACU instead. Narrower focus, but I'd have more in common with their membership for sure.