Monthly Newsletter - Oct 2026
Updated: Sep 26
Coming Up in October
Sat 3rd Social Ride (final one of 2026)
Sun 4th Scottish Cyclocross Series Round 1. Muir of Ord, Easter Ross
Tues 6th Club session at Fife Cycle Park (also 13th, 20th & 27th)
Sun 11th Randonee 10:00am (California) 50 miles, Cafe Beecraigs
Sun 25th Scottish Cyclocross Series Round 2. Camperdown, Dundee
Sat 31st Cycling UK in Scotland Annual Gathering -open to anyone interested.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/event/cycling-uk-scotland-annual-gathering-2026
Kennoway RC GP de Gentlemen 2 up TTT
DCC had one team riding in the Kennoway RC GP de Gentlemen 2 up TTT on Sunday 6th Sept in wet and gloomy conditions.
Rachael Cottier and I were one of only 10 teams (9 actually starting) in a sadly depleted field compared with the last few years. But, as the saying goes, you've got to be in it to win it!
While not actually winning, we did finish second overall in a respectable time of 30:57 and retained the best time for a mixed pair team for another year.
Thanks to Nick Hoggan and Angela Dixon for supporting this FCA organised event as the Club's volunteers.
Findlay Watt
FCA Midweek Time Trial League
DCC Sweep the League B Podium!
The FCA Midweek League TT Series came to a close for this season with the 1 mile sprint held on the long straight between Falkland and Dunshalt.
Wet and gloomy conditions saw 8 DCC members pin on a number for a final lung buster ride. Adrian Hay finished the best of us, with a superb 1:56.12 to give him second on the night - just 0.59 seconds off first place!
Findlay Watt was the only other club member to finish in the top 10, while Angela Dixon - who normally acts as timekeeper and/or event organiser on behalf of the club - took to 2 wheels to compete for the first time in 7 years.
And with the final event in the bag, the final league positions have now been published.
12 DCC members competed across the 4 leagues, with nowhere more keenly contested than league B, where Jon Spokes pipped Paul Lund by a single point across the series to finish second to Findlay's first place.
League A:
Adrian Hay 6th;
Chris Kumesu-Egri 10th;
Ross Thomson 14th
League B:
Findlay Watt 1st;
Jon Spokes 2nd;
Paul Lund 3rd;
Steve Wallace 6th;
Jake Brown 10th;
David Crombie 16th
League C:
Craig Buchana 3rd;
Rachael Cottier 5th
League D:
Angela Dixon 18th
The Vets' league also concluded with 4 members finishing in the top 10:
Findlay 3rd; Steve 6th; Jon 7th; Paul 10th. They were closely followed by Craig (11th), Rachael (18th) and Adrian (20th).
Well done to everyone for taking part: the seasoned campaigners, returning veterans and the first year racing newcomers alike.
Findlay Watt
Focus on Rider Etiquette
As part of our induction, all those new to the club are asked to read the guidance on group riding.
The following is a concise version, the full document can be found from the link at the end.
Pre-Ride Setup
Safety: Make sure you have your emergency contact’s current mobile number in your Spond profile and add yourself as attending the ride.you are going on.If you’re not sure how to do this, see last month’s newsletter
Check your bike: Ensure it is fully roadworthy and well-maintained.
Bring the essentials: Pack spare tubes, tyre levers, a pump, a multi-tool, and ride fuel (water/food/money).
Fit mudguards: Always use them during winter rides to protect the riders behind you from spray.
Arrive early: Show up 5–10 minutes before the start time; rides depart promptly.
Group Size Rules
Strict caps: Groups are limited to a maximum of 12 riders at the start (max 14 if joined en route).
Split the pack: If the group exceeds 14, it must split equally with a few minutes' gap between bunches.
Riding Skills & Etiquette
Speak up: Always use and pass on verbal calls and hand signals through the bunch.
Lead clearly: If you are on the front, point out hazards, holes, and upcoming turns.
Ride two abreast: Stick to tight pairs as the default, but "single out" immediately on narrow roads.
Keep it smooth: Look through the pack to anticipate hazards; avoid grabbing the brakes or surging the pace.
No overlapping: Keep your front wheel clear of the rear wheel in front of you.
No half-wheeling: Match the pace of the rider next to you when leading.
Regroup at the top: Climbs may split the group, but riders will always wait to regroup at the summit (no-drop policy).
Road Rules & Behaviour
Obey the law: Follow the Highway Code, wear a helmet, stop at red lights, and give way at roundabouts.
Zero litter: Keep your gel wrappers and rubbish in your pockets until the next bin.
Be respectful: Aggressive or rude behavior toward fellow riders or volunteer leaders will not be tolerate
The full club Guidance on the do’s and don'ts of group riding document is available on myDCC https://www.dunfermlinecc.com/mydcc
Supporting Girls to Ride Bikes
I was delighted this summer to be invited to meet and ride with two local Girl Guide groups.
First up was 7th Dunfermline Abbey Girl Guides, where 14 girls joined us for a ride around Pittencrieff Park. We checked the bikes over before heading out on a well-planned route with the girls and their leader Amy.
As anyone who knows Dunfermline town centre and the park will know, it’s certainly not flat! The girls did amazingly well, tackling every hill and having plenty of fun along the way.
I then joined 1st Cairneyhill Girl Guides for our third ride together. Some of the girls have been at every ride, while for others it was their first time. It was great to see them all again and to see their confidence growing.
We had a talk and question session, and then rode with one of the leaders Reilly from the school to Crossford, stopped at the park where we had some fun practising bike skills with those who wanted to give them a go, and then headed back.
I love seeing so many girls giving cycling a try and growing in confidence on their bikes. As Women’s Secretary at Dunfermline Cycling Club, encouraging more girls and women into cycling is something I’m particularly keen to support.
We’re planning to offer some extra sessions for girls who would like to learn basic cycling skills and build their confidence, so that even more can join us on future rides.
I’d also love to hear from other local youth groups who would like some support to get their young people cycling, particularly those looking to encourage more girls onto bike riding. Please get in touch with Dunfermline Cycling Club and we’ll see how we can help.
Rachel Payne
Women’s Secretary
Exciting News – New Club Developer Role
We’re really pleased to share some exciting news for Dunfermline Cycling Club and Carnegie Cyclones.
Earlier this year, working alongside Scottish Cycling, we applied for funding through the sportscotland Club Support Programme. We were successful and have secured three years of funding for a 30 hour brand-new Club Developer role between the two clubs.
This is a brilliant opportunity for both clubs and will give us some dedicated support to help grow what we already do, as well as develop new opportunities for our members and the wider community.
The Club Developer will work across both clubs , helping us create more opportunities for people of every age, ability and background to get involved in all types of cycling.
This will include youth, woman and family cycling, beginners and recreational riders, as well as off-road, road and competitive cycling. The role will also have a focus on increasing participation, supporting our coaches and volunteers, building stronger community partnerships and making cycling as welcoming and inclusive as possible.
Most importantly, this role is about helping us grow in the right way. The work plan has been designed following the clubs strategic plan. Both clubs rely hugely on our fantastic volunteers, and the Club Developer will help us build the structures and volunteer team we need to make that growth sustainable.
It’s a big step forward for Dunfermline CC and Carnegie Cyclones, and we’re excited to see what we can achieve over the next three years!
Rachel Payne
Have Your Say on Our Strategic Plan
We’d like to reshare Dunfermline Cycling Club’s Strategic Plan with all our members and ask you to help us shape what comes next.
The plan was initially developed to set out the future direction of the club and to support applications for grant funding, which proved successful. It was reviewed and updated in 2024 to reflect the continued growth of the club and the needs of our membership.
Since then, the Strategic Plan has continued to be an important tool in demonstrating what we want to achieve as a club. Most recently, it was instrumental in supporting our successful application for sportscotland funding for our new Club Developer role.
The plan sets out five key goals for the club:
Be a better cyclist – create and facilitate training and development opportunities to improve skills and performance, whether people ride for fitness, fun, recreation or racing.
Develop and support our coaches to progress through the various coaching levels and disciplines that interest them.
Increase participation and development of women and junior riders, helping us create a more balanced membership.
Facilitate high-quality cycling events that provide opportunities for our members, showcase DCC and contribute to the wider cycling community.
Attract and retain members, encouraging more people to get involved in developing the club, riding and supporting racing in club colours.
The plan then looks at how these goals can be delivered across road cycling, time trialling, off-road cycling including MTB, gravel and cyclocross, as well as coaching, volunteering, communication and wider club development.
Now we want to hear from you
As we prepare for our new Club Developer to start, we want to make sure their work reflects what matters most to our members today.
We’d therefore really appreciate you taking a few minutes to read the 2024 Strategic Plan and complete our short survey, telling us:
which of the five goals you think should be our priorities;
what areas of cycling or club activity you would most like to see developed; and
any other ideas or comments you have about this or the future of DCC.
Your feedback will help us review our priorities and, importantly, shape the work plan for our new Club Developer.
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