Cycle to Sheepdrove on 12th May from Newbury or Hungerford. All cyclists welcome, but the route is suitable for riders with at least some experience of the odd busy road section. For families Sheepdrove have kindly allowed us to cycle around the quiet lanes in the farm area.

Apart from lambs, there will be food and refreshment stalls along with music too! Please see events pages for further details.

Our membership drive in January resulted in 36 past members rejoining - including some generous donations - for which many thanks.

We’ve decided to reduce the frequency of paper newsletters – and perhaps go fully electronic – printing out for those members not on e-mail…newsletter editor Nat Thorne is always keen to receive topical articles for consideration.

We recognise that our main website is not always as up-to-date as it could be – though it still serves a purpose.  We’ve tried a Ning site and now have a Facebook page too.  We hope that all members who are able can join the Ning and Facebook debates.  The more they get used, the more useful they will get – please give one or the other (or both!) a go.

We’d love to see more members (especially local ones when we are out and about!) at our informal monthly meetings.  Schedule for 2012 is as follows:

Date – Town/Village – Pub – Postcode – Facilitator:

4/1/12 - Hungerford - Three Swans Hotel – RG17 0LZ - Alan Lane

8/2/12 – Newbury – The Dolphin – RG14 5DT– Ed Cooper

7/3/12 – Thatcham – Swan – RG19 4QL - Kevin Bushell

4/4/12 – Newbury – The Dolphin – RG14 5DT – William Pitt

9/5/12 – Eastbury – The Plough – RG17 7JN – Chris Hopkins

6/6/12 - Hungerford - Three Swans Hotel – RG17 0LZ – Alan Lane

19/6/11 ?? First Sunday in Bike Week – TBC - AGM (Newbury TBC)

4/7/12 – Pangbourne – The Swan – RG8 7DU - William Pitt

8/8/12 – Thatcham – Swan – RG19 4QL – Graham Hunt

5/9/12 – Hermitage – The Fox Inn - RG18 9RB – Gordon Oliver

10/10/12 – Newbury – The Dolphin – RG14 5DT – Nat Thorne

7/11/12 – Theale – Red Lion – RG7 5BU - Neil Travers

5/12/12- Newbury – Xmas dinner – Venue TBC Caroline Lane

Please tell the facilitator if you plan to attend – or just turn up and surprise them…

We have recently run the Spokes stall at the Greening Wash Common Launch and the Green Exchange Showcase in Newbury with useful contacts made and feedback gathered at each.  We now have new display stands and material.  If anyone wants to help out at such events, please reply to me and I’ll tell you as other opportunities arise (e.g. even month Newbury Farmers Market and March/September Hungerford Farmers Market stalls).

And please keep telling your colleagues that membership of Spokes is now free.  Membership forms can be downloaded from the web site or you can complete an on-line form or I can supply A5 cards for you to distribute.

That’s all for now.

Graham Hunt

Secretary – West Berkshire SPOKES

07798 643963

We are an entirely voluntary organisation that  represents cyclists across West Berkshire - through our membership and affliation to other local cycling and related organisations.

Although we organise rides we are primarily a campaigning organisation. Campaigning for better facilities (e.g. cycleways, secure "parking" and lockers) for all cyclists but in particular the utility cyclist.

We were formed in December 2002 since West Berkshire Council (WBC) did not have sufficient consultation with local cyclists. We now have a membership of over 140 local people and organisations. We sit on the local Cycling Forum, provide consultation to the Council and perform the annual cycle count.

We usually meet every month, see the events list for details. All our existing and prospective members are very welcome to come along.