Testimonials from riders
“Like many people cycling, I was encouraged by friends to give it a try. They all said these new bikes aren’t like the old bikes as they are fast and light. I hadn’t been on a bike in 30 years. As a 50-year-old, within three months of training, I was fit enough to race. Getting on a start line for the first time since a kid gets the adrenaline flowing no matter your grade. Ramblers race each week and provide coffee and biscuits at the end and we all chat about what happened during the race. You would think we were professionals. All the races have traffic control and are timed. Different locations and difficulties for each race. You also meet a lot of riders for casual rides.
A great safe and fun club and I’m hooked.” - Martin Honey
“Really enjoy being a Junior member of Ramblers. The club atmosphere is awesome and I have felt so supported by all the caring riders wanting to help me out and see me improve. I love being able to come out and ride and race with like-minded people and meet other cyclists in this fun supportive environment. Being able to race weekly at Ramblers is fantastic as the roads we race on are controlled by traffic management which makes it a lot safer for us. If you are a cyclist I strongly recommend coming and having some fun at Ramblers and exploring different roads.
If you are wanting to start cycling, ramblers is the place to begin.” - Tom Little
“I joined Ramblers as a complete novice. Started dropping off the back of E grade races, then gradually over 2 seasons I won E grade. I now enjoy challenging myself trying to keep up with D grade when I am able. Everyone at the club is really friendly and encouraging. Our whole family are now club members. The club encourages the youngsters and helps them out with entries to regional races. Both my 12-year-old son and my 7-year daughter are keen club members and love racing.” - Alanda Rafferty
“I like Ramblers because you get to race and you wear a yellow shirt if you win. And I like my pink timing tag.” - Aoife Rafferty (age 7)
“I ran for Napier Harriers for 20 years before developing an injury that stopped me from running. I took up cycling with Ramblers in 2005. It took a year for me to learn the tactical side of this sport. I have been lucky to race against some great elite Ramblers riders, Jeremy Yates, Jeremy Vennell, Wesley, Frazer, and Regan Gough. I have found racing and training in this sport you form lifetime friendships. Ramblers have always supported me and I thank the Club.” - Darryl Strachan
“When I moved to Hawkes Bay, I had never done a cycling road race and was also very nervous and new to the concept of riding in a bunch. I started out in D grade last year and found everyone to be really supportive. Everyone helped to teach me a bunch of riding cycling etiquette and now I am a lot more confident and I have also met a bunch of awesome people to ride with and learn from for both races and social rides. Thanks, Ramblers!” - Heather Neill
“I brought my first road bike in early 2020 & joined the Ramblers Cycling Club as motivation to regularly ride every weekend & have found the races to induce me to lose weight & become a lot fitter
(helpful when you are middle-aged).
The race meetings are well organized with a different course every weekend & give me a chance to catch up with the friendly riders (young & old) over a cup of tea & chocolate biscuit.
Wish I had started cycling 20 years ago.“- Peter Yorke
“Joining the Ramblers Cycling Club has opened up multiple doors into the cycling world for me. I didn’t realize how much I could do within the crazy world of cycling, it can be such a tough sport, yet so dam rewarding. Join the club introduced me to local group rides, events, and weekly racing (not in winter), all of which led me to cycle in events across NZ and even in Australia.
Other highlights are the people, such a super-duper diverse bunch of like-minded people, I’ve made many friends in the club, across NZ, and around the world.
So join the club, ask questions and grow with it, there is so much to learn, enjoy the journey you just don’t know where it could take you and how much fun you can have in this road cycling world.” - Michelle Hutchins
“I joined Ramblers Cycling Club around 2010, not long after I decided to buy a bike just to go for a ride.
The last time I rode a bike was in my school days, which would have been many years ago.
My name is David Lingan, I am currently racing in D grade.
I remember my very first race at Ramblers, starting out in G Grade with a race out to Blind Road return.
I didn’t do that well, got beaten by more experienced riders.
BUT those members taught me the basics of club racing, bunch riding, and taking a turn in the front.
I can recall Penny Gough, Sue Hobbs, and others mentoring me and imparting their knowledge to a newcomer like myself.
My motivation to get into cycling was for my well-being and health.
I was overweight, but 20kg lighter now, can pretty much climb any hill on the Ramblers racing course.
The many cycling adventures that I have been lucky enough to participate through my cycling buddies at Ramblers are memorable.
These include Tour of NZ, Gentle Annie, Lake Taupo, OR just the Sunday Bunch rides have all come from fellow Ramblers who are like-minded.
Ramblers cater for all cycling abilities, whether you are a newbie or wanting to race at the Elite level.
It is a great community where long-lasting friendships are made.
Juniors, young ones, seniors are all welcome.
There are some inspiring seniors in the club that races/ride every week”. - David Lingan
I've been a ramblers member for around 30 years now.
Great club with a lot of friendly members and families. Seen a few members pass through the year and a few retire from the sport. Always great to enjoy the tea/coffee and biscuits after the race and relay our battle stories to one another. A few very young faces starting to appear at the club recently. I personally am starting to slow up a little after 2-3 decades of competitive cycling winning several NZ titles and masters races over the years. The competitive side of Ramblers always kept me at a good level to compete anywhere in NZ and for gran fondo's overseas. - Andrew Townsend
"It’s nice to be around other cyclists and go somewhere different, and it's nice to feel the wind against your skin.
And I love the scenery. I love racing." -
Dorian (aged 7 years)
“5 years ago my knees finally gave in after years of tramping and mountaineering. I turned to cycling to keep fit and active - turns out I like going fast and before long I was hooning around with RCC every Saturday. Cyclists are positive, motivated people - I’ve made some great mates and we’ve gone on bike-based adventures all over NZ and beyond.” - Kent Hutchins
“I purchased my first decent bike in April this year having very rarely cycled and thought it would be a good idea to race with The Ramblers two weeks later! As you can imagine it was quite a step up from recreational riding. In my first couple of weeks, I struggled but was encouraged by my competitors (and now friends in F Grade). With advice from them and Eddie Kattenberg, I practiced and developed both my fitness and racing tactics (and new tyres as opposed to gravel ones)!
I won a few races and have progressed to riding in E Grade. I find the racing very addictive and also social rides for the lower grades (as well as potential new members)have been set up as well. These are great fun and great for learning.
The club is run very well and if you want to try out a new sport I can highly recommend it. I’ll keep an eye out for any new riders that turn up and I’ll introduce myself because I was in your position 4 months ago.” - John Artless
“Ramblers is a great club, with great friendly people who are passionate about competition cycling, been a member for 15 years, loved every minute of it!” - Doug McIntosh
“I first turned up to Ramblers for some winter racing from Taupo a couple of years ago, as our club doesn't race during the winter months - and I never really left!!
We now travel to race with Ramblers on a regular basis.
I remember at my first race that I was surprised by the immediate warmth and support, and also the recognition that I had travelled some distance to attend.
Over time I began bringing the whanau along as the support for all levels of racing is so strong. When my partner can not attend to ride with our kids, other riders will step in to accompany and mentor our 7 year old and 10 year old who has autism and ADHD. The club has also been known to alter courses and distances to make them safe and achievable for their youngest riders. This understanding and support for what it takes to get youngsters out racing makes such a huge difference to our ability to participate. When the kids get back from racing they get given a Milo and a biccie and looked after until Mum has finished her race - true peace of mind!!
They feel safe and cared for - Ramblers give true meaning to the "village raising a child!" - Rachel Bartells