| CALENDAR events take place at the time and place specified by the Organiser and are a great way to meet other long-distance cyclists. Get your entries to the Organiser 2 weeks before the ride date, so we can warn the cafe controls how many to expect. |
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Peak Audax brings you a series of cycling events held under Audax UK regulations, based in the Peak district, the Cheshire Plains and the Lancashire Pennines, as part of the activities of Manchester & District CTC. All cyclist are welcome to take part, regardless of other club or CTC affiliations.Audax is an increasingly popular form of cycling over a range of distances - from 50km (about 32 miles) to 600km (something like 400 miles). If you're not a member of CTC, AUK or BC, you will need to obtain temporary membership of AUK - just add an extra £2.00 on top of the event fee and we'll ensure that you have the necessary 3rd party insurance for the duration of the event. | Next Manchester & District CTC Meeting: Thur 13 March 2008, Welcome Inn, Prestwich (click for venue) | 'Plus ca change' at Peak Audax
but it's 'plus c'est la meme chose!'At the Manchester AGM held on 17th November 2007, the traditional name of Manchester DA was retired to be replaced by its new name of Manchester & District CTC. The change of name is intended to reflect the fact that the geographical spread of the group extends to more than just Manchester itself, and also that we're a part of CTC, the UK's national cyclist's organisation.
Peak Audax was originally set up as a Section of Manchester DA, to arrange a series of rides within the Northwest according to Audax UK regulations under the CTC's insurance cover.
However, as part of the CTC's review of how its Sections and DAs (now known as Groups) operate in light of legislation covering Charitable bodies, child protection issues, accountability, insurance etc we've made the Peak Audax Event Secretary a committee position of Manchester & District CTC, to be elected at the AGM.
But don't worry! Everything else remains exactly as before: we still run our series of events, listed in Northern Wheel, Arrivée, AUK Calendar, Cycle and here on www.PeakAudax.co.uk as well as www.audax.uk.net |
 What's in a name I mused (as you do) as I cycled to the Manchester DA AGM on a recent Saturday. This (the AGM) was being held, reasonably enough for Manchester DA, in Manchester. I was cycling there, again reasonably enough, because it's a cycling group.
Funny things, these names. I suppose I'd better introduce myself. I'm Mike Wigley to my cycling friends, or Michael Wigley, which is how my family know me. It's handy having two names like this, as I can spot early enough whether the subject in hand is cycling or something else.
Anyway, I got to Central Manchester in plenty of time (via a lovely quiet cycling route through Woodhouses and Clayton Vale) and had a look around the German market in Albert Square. Then it was time to join the rest of the local CTC members for our meeting.
Proceedings opened with a short address from CTC councillor David Robinson, who spoke to us about the new Policy Handbook that head office has brought out as formal guidance on how we should run things locally without falling foul of the legislation covering companies and charities. Actually, this process has been going on within Council for several years, and the level of feedback and revision is evidenced by the fact that we're on draft version 2.9 already – but we seem to be nearly there now!
Some people had been worrying that we were dropping the name Cyclists' Touring Club – “not so” said David, and in fact that's our proper registered name. But for everyday use, it's just easier to call ourselves CTC - or even the CTC - as indeed we have been doing amongst ourselves for decades.
The AGM proper then carried on with its customary business, and I would nearly have nodded off if it hadn't been for Mike Roberts nudging me when we got to voting for a new Secretary to replace Karen – and I managed to get myself voted in for the job. That'll teach me.
I also managed to secure the new committee post of Peak Audax Event Secretary, which replaces the now defunct post of Peak Audax Section Secretary – yes, it was that sort of meeting!
The meeting got really exciting then, with discussions turning to whether we should continue to be called Manchester DA. Head Office were insisting that we need to include the letters CTC in our name, just to tell people who we belong to. Well, that seemed fine (I thought to myself). Our name also needs to describe our geographical location. Manchester? Greater Manchester? Northwest? And we were also asked to consider dropping the words “District Association” since, though we might know what this means, it is an unhelpful term to outsiders, and let's face it, names are for the benefit of others rather than us, because we know who we are (or do we?).
Eventually we settled on our new name - 'Manchester & District CTC'
If we had a tin, that's what it would say on it, because we are indeed the CTC in Manchester & District and (very sneaky this) we rather liked keeping the District bit of our old name.
I'd like to say that everyone was happy with our new branding but of course it wasn't a unanimous decision. It wasn't a case of “over my dead body” but the message was there! And it does it matter? From an everyday point of view, no it doesn't, and we will probably still call ourselves Manchester DA for a long time to come. But it's our “sunday best” name, to be used when writing to important people, particularly if there is insurance involved.
It soon came to going home time (not soon enough for some!). I set off home for my “Irk-some” ride back to Saddleworth (via a lovely quiet cycling route through Blackley Vale and Boggart Whole Clough).
What's in a name I mused (as you do) as I cycled home from the Manchester & District CTC AGM on a recent Saturday. Different name, same body. And myself, I'd gone out as Peak Audax Section Secretary and returned home as Peak Audax Event Secretary, as well as District Secretary. But I was still the same person. Funny things, these names.
Mike Wigley, Secretary Manchester & District CTC
taken from 'Northern Wheel' No 105 (Winter 2007/8) | |
