Sleaford Wheelers Newsletter December 2025

November was a busy month with the AGM and Awards Night and Cyclo-cross events in addition to the normal Club rides and Night rides.

It was decided at the AGM that our Charity for 2026 would be Brake.org.uk and we raised £289 at the Awards night. 

Thanks to Kerri for organising the Awards Night and well done to all those that won awards and for Jase Parr for sorting out the awards.

Don’t forget it is the Christmas 2-up on Sunday 7^th (back-up date of 14^th  ) and the Mince Pie rides on 20th December (hopefully 3 groups out).

Have a great Christmas and I hope Santa brings you plenty of new bikes, equipment and cycling gear.

Best regards

Nige

Awards Night

Congratulations to all those that won awards this year, another great year for SWCC. Thank you to

Kerri for organising the event, Jase Parr for sorting out the awards, and for Thomas and Harry Cragg

for conducting the raffle, altogether we raised £289 for our chosen charity for 2026 Brake.org.uk.

In case you are interested I have included the True or False questions from the Awards Night at the

end of this newsletter but here is another true one for you:

• Rule 60 of the Highway code states that: At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit.
• It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85).
• Note: it is not a legal requirement to wear a helmet in England but it is in Spain.

Christmas 2-up

Sunday 7th December.

If you have never tried the SWCC time trial course, then this fun ride is the perfect opportunity to give it a go. You turn up on the day, you get paired with another rider and you go for a 7.8-mile bike race, I mean ride, together. There is even a prize for best decorated bike.

Sign on at the lay-by on the A15 at 09:30, first riders off at 10:00.

Introductory rides

A reminder that the next Introductory Ride will take place on Sunday 11th January and every second Sunday of the month thereafter.

A Christmas Cracker

• I was feeling tired after a day’s riding so decided to stop at a Guest House. I knocked on the door and the Landlady answered. I said “I want to stay here”, so she said “stay there then” and shut the door!
• The patron saint of copying people in on an e-mail is
  • St Christopher of A CC.

Events coming up in December

• Saturday 6th December –Ladies Ride
• Sunday 7th December – Xmas 2-up TT
• Sunday 14th December – Xmas 2-up TT spare date
• Sunday 14th December – Cyclo-cross hosted by Velo Club Lincoln at Bardney
• Tuesday 16th December – Christmas Lights Night Ride 18:00 Horseshoes, Silk Willoughby
• Saturday 20th December – Mince Pie Ride

Events coming up in January

• Saturday 3rd January –Ladies Ride
• 2nd/3rd January – British Cycling Cyclo-cross round 6 at Irvine
• Sunday 11th January – Introductory Ride
• 10th and 11th January – National Cx Championships at South Shields
• Monday 26th January – Signing-on night at the Horseshoes in Silk Willoughby
• 30th Jan – 1st Feb World Cx Championships at Hulst

True or False

1. 30% of rain means that there is a 30% probability of rain. False
   1. What does 30% chance of rain actually mean? Some people take it to mean that it will rain for 30% of the time, while others assume it refers to 30% of the area being affected. In fact, if we consider how the figure is produced — using an ensemble — it is neither of these. It reflects that around 30% of the forecast simulations indicate rain. Another, slightly awkward way to put it is that it would rain on roughly 30% of days with conditions very similar to today, when the starting point of the forecast is almost identical.
2. You can be fined £150 for discarding a banana skin in the UK. True.
   1. Even though it is biodegradable it is still seen as littering.
3. One of the more surprising things about alpaca wool is that it is warmer than merino sheep wool. True.
   1. Here’s why: sheep’s wool fibres contain pockets of air alpaca wool fibres are completely hollow
4. Alpe D’Huez returns to the TdF next year (twice) but it was first used in 1962. False
   1.  It was first covered in 1952, it was considered such a disappointment that it didn’t return until1976.
5. Coffee is made from the from roasted seeds of the Coffea plant, True
   1. They are called beans even though they are seeds.

Enjoy your cycling and stay safe and clear from mud splatter.

Nige