100 years in the saddle for Newbury cycling club

In 2025, Newbury Road Club reaches its 100th anniversary. This milestone marks a century of continuous cycling in West Berkshire for one of the oldest clubs in the country. It also sparks a year-long programme of club events and celebrations. Throughout 2025 the club will be showcasing the best of cycling in Newbury, with plenty of opportunity for everyone, whether a cyclist or not, to take part and help celebrate their birthday.

Newbury Road Club plans to mark its centenary in style, culminating in the Newbury Festival of Cycling on 14 June. This is a joint event with other local cycling clubs; Newbury Velo and Spokes with a mass parade of cycles through the town centre, featuring vintage bikes from the last 100 years.

During the year there will also be a commemorative 10-mile time trial, re-staging of early club rides and a cycling trip to Newbury twin-town Eeklo in Belgium. Alongside these are public events that will appeal to the wider community including a Newbury Town Hall showcase of the Club on 15th March and the Club history brought to life at an exhibition at West Berkshire Museum from 9 April–18 May.

Lorraine Murrell, Newbury Road Club Chair in 2025, recognises the support for the festival provided by West Berkshire and Newbury Town Councils, and Newbury BID. “It reflects the importance cycling has, and will continue to have, in Newbury. We look forward to welcoming lots of visitors and cyclists; past, present and future!”

Newbury Road Club has long been synonymous with competitive cycling but, while competitive cycling is still a key part of the Club calendar, it has evolved to reflect the boom in leisure cycling. The majority of today’s 200+ membership predominantly enjoy social group riding. Lorraine Murrell has seen the club triple in size in recent years and it is bigger than any time in its history. She puts this down to the welcoming nature of the Club.

“The Club has a great community feel,” she explains. “Cycling gives so many wellbeing and environmental benefits and we add a healthy dose of fun to that mix. In 2024 we ran over 400 social rides, from our regular Sunday and midweek slots, to longer away-days and trips overseas. Ride options typically range from 20 to 60 miles for a range of bike types, and e-bikes are especially welcome. Everyone has been on a bike at some time in their life – Newbury Road Club provides the inspiration, motivation and enthusiasm to get on one more often. That’s something that hasn’t changed over the last 100 years!”

Newbury Road Club can trace its roots back to the 1870s but was formed in 1925 after a 17-year-old boy placed a local newspaper advert suggesting local cyclists get together and form a Club.

Newbury Road Club ride in Cheap Street, 1951