About

Dawn Riley – Chair

I first took up road cycling when I was 11 years and living in Huddersfield . My parents sold their car and bought us all bikes. There was no going back! I rode until my mid 30’s when I gave the sport up for several years. The visit of the Tour De France to Yorkshire in 2014 re ignited my love of the sport and emptied by bank account. Not wanting to ride solo I joined VCN in March 2015 and have been an active member since. I’ve enjoyed making new friends, the social events, even the two TT rides! In 2016 I was lucky enough to join a group of fellow club members and travel to the French Alps where I achieved a long-held ambition of climbing an Alp. Returning 2 years later to do it all again. I am the Club Treasurer and will hold the Office of Chair until February 2022.

Clive Rayner – Clothing Secretary

My first ride with VCN was on Sunday 4th November 2001, a club ride to Bungay. Having enjoyed the ride I joined the club shortly after that and soon became used to cycling in a group. I have also made some very good friends through the club and enjoyed the social side of cycling including many cycling holidays in Europe. Feeling I wanted to give something back to the club, I joined the committee and in 2009 when the post of clothing secretary became available I put myself forward for it. I enjoy the position, it keeps me in contact with the current members and a chance to welcome new members to the club when they place their first kit order.

Robert ‘Rob’ Smith – General Secretary

I’m a trained Orthopaedic/ trauma nurse and chose to combine my career with my lifelong love of cycling when I began working on the medical team for the Milk Race in 1976. I worked in the event for 18 years .

I’ve also worked in the Medical Team for a variety of other prestigious cycling events including , National Championships, World cups, World Road, World Track and Cyclo Cross championships. In 2002 I achieved a career long dream of working at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester as the Velodrome Medical Manager. I then eclipsed this achievement by working as the Medical Manager at the Velodrome and BMX track at the London Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.I have been a keen cyclist all my life and I’m a founder member of VC Norwich in 1983. Since retiring I’m working on races I have been involved with supporting training camps in Mallorca.

Adam Simmonds – Welfare Officer

I’m Adam and I love cycling, coffee and cake. I’ve been a member of VC Norwich since 2014 and joined the committee to give a little time back to the club which has supported me. You can usually find me suffering at local time trials or riding in circles at the London Velodrome (when the roof isn’t leaking). Owing to a small family I don’t get to ride every week but I’ll always make an effort for the famous VC Norwich Christmas ride!

Steve Swift

A committee member for many years and chairman for a while I’ve been club cycling for more than 40 years, starting it as a way to beat asthma as a teenager. Never competitive (known as the mobile chicane in circuit races and just about scraping a long 23 for a “10”) I just love the camaraderie of the club scene. My biggest frustration is that my work keeps me away from Norfolk too much these days so I don’t get a chance to ride with the club as often as I’d like. I’m easy to recognise, at 6’4” I always look like I’m struggling because there aren’t many clubmates big enough for me to draft behind….

Stewart Lyons – Trophies and awards secretary

I first started cycling properly after leaving school at 19 when I joined the East Anglian CC via a friend. I’d always loved riding my bike since I first learnt to balance on two wheels, so joining a club was a natural and exciting progression. Initially I just enjoyed club riding, learning group riding and rider etiquette but inevitably developed a desire to try racing. First steps were evening club 10’s then Open TT’s, but eventually I had to try Road Racing. My first road race, in March 1987, was the Tour of Bumpstead’s. It turned out to be a Pro/ 1/2/3 race, so yep, I was seriously out of my depth for a first ever race and needless to say was well and truly last, so far behind they probably thought about sending out a search party! But far from being demoralised, I loved it. By the end of that year I’d improved no end, raced plenty of different event and progressed to 2nd cat with my best result that year being 2nd place at Ely Race. I’d also still race Open TT’s and some weekends would do both (obviously on different days!) I’d got the bug.

I joined VC Norwich in 1991 as they were putting together a race team. I continued Road Racing ’till 1997 (though I carried on TT’ing for several years thereafter) with some of my notable highlights being twice the winner of the Bishops Stortford Road Race on the tough Barkway circuit (consecutive years 1993 & ’94) , 2nd overall on the Basildon Roads 2-day race (also ’94) and achieving 1st Cat status too in 1994. I also regularly raced the East Anglian Divisional Championships with my best result being 2nd; but also had a 4th, 6th and an 8th place in other years. Some years I went with a group and raced kermesse races in Flandrian Belgium for a week thanks to Barry Smith taking us, racing up to 4 events in the week. Best result was an 11th place though I was sprinting for 7th at the time! Apart from racing I also enjoyed Touring adventures on the bike exploring countries including Southern Ireland, Sweden, France, a trip from Belgium right down to Rome and the UK too.

Since I stopped racing I still enjoy riding and with friends from the club have ridden most of the famous Tour de France climbs and a couple of Italian ones too.

My favourite Pro race to watch would be the Tour of Flanders.

Favourite racer is Eddy Merckx (I’m a bit nostalgic) but more recently would be Tom Boonen.

Rob Stronge

After cycling around for a while as billy-no-mates, I was keen to ride with others and joined VCN in 1998. Since then I have enjoyed countless great rides, travelled to some amazing places and made many lifelong friends.

I’ve been a committee member pretty much since I joined and had the honour of being club chair for several years. I’ve enjoyed the regular meetings, helping to promote club rides, races and other events and assisting with producing new club kits.

I’ve always encouraged others to race so I don’t have to, although I have still found myself dashing for the occasional cafe or Strava time.

My favourite climb is probably Stelvio, my favourite bike is Colnago and my favourite cake is lemon drizzle, ginger, chocolate, banana, coffee, Victoria sponge…

Lorraine Jarvis – Membership Secretary

In 2014 I completed my first 10 mile bike ride.  I remember joining VCN a year later liking their different ability club rides and ethos. 

We road up Mousehold hill on a no drop club ride, ended up walking up most of the hill due to the dreaded ‘P” and not knowing how to fix it. My club mates thought I was just slow we had a group puncture repair session at the very top, thanks guys. 

I was invited onto the committee as the membership secretary. Get in touch if you would like to contribute. 

I now ride up mountains and mend punctures daily as a bike mechanic for a local bike shop. How things change

Markos Janes

Hi All,
I’m Markos and have been a member of VC Norwich since 2008. I am a big fan of time trialling and I currently look after the organising of the clubs TT events. Having represented the club at local and national races my main aim is to encourage other members to take up the sport.

Ian Cannell

Hi, My name is Ian and I’ve been a member of VC Norwich for around 5 years. I only recently joined the committee this season and I already feel it gives me a better incite as to how the club runs. For me it’s about enjoying your riding, be it a short one a long one fast or slow just as long as you enjoy it.

Paul Dolphin

My name is Paul, I’ve been a member of VCN for almost 10 years. I started cycling to get fit for the 3 Peaks Challenge, but then found the club and I’ve never looked back. I love cycling in a group, but I also always enjoyed helping out new members and giving them the confidence to ride in a group and progress their skills.

I became a stay at home dad three years ago and now my life has changed in a way I never expected it too. I have taken my hobby and turned it into a business and I now run a cycle repair workshop called ‘Dolphin Cycle Repairs’. So there’s no excuse for not having a bike in fine fettle for the club rides. Look forward to seeing you on a club ride soon.