News
Christmas Newsletter
Posted: 24/12/20
Christmas Greetings
Looking back over the last year I do not think any of us expected things to turn out as they did. Once the spring lockdown was over, we were all eagerly anticipating getting back to the sport we all love. Little did we know that nine months later there is still uncertainty hanging over us. The rules have changed many times over that period and we still do not know what lies ahead as we go into 2021.
Unfortunately, the 2020 league had to be cancelled. It is our hope to run a reduced league in 2021, the exact format of which cannot be decided until we get an idea of the restrictions in force. Under the current tier system, it is still possible to run an event in most tiers but we will have to wait and see what effect the Christmas easing has on the restrictions.
For a brief period in the late summer SLOW and NYMBO proved that it is possible to run a COVID secure event. Hopefully this will encourage a few more organisers to have a go. For the events to be successful though we do ask that all riders be responsible for their own and others safety and also not to travel from to restricted areas until restrictions are lifted. The extra rules may be tiresome but they make the difference between an event or no event.
The lack of events has meant that the website activity has been quiet thus providing the opportunity to carry out some much-needed maintenance work. John Houlihan and Liam Drew have been working hard to move the website to a new host. This process is almost complete. Once done, we can then start looking at all of those updates that have been promised over the last couple of years. While this process was taking place, we asked organisers not to register any new events. Hopefully we will soon be in a position to start registering events once again. We are looking forward to seeing some dates appear on the calendar soon. However, bear in mind that these are likely to be provisional dates at his stage with the current uncertainty.
One positive spin off from the restrictions is the use of virtual Apps such as MapRun and Sporteering. Both of these Apps have been around for a number of years but the current situation has led to a number of organisers experimenting with them to create Anytime Challenges. This has enabled riders to ride under event conditions and be COVID secure. Many thanks to Sion James and Anthony Bowmer, to name but two, who have been pro-active in this area. From the reports I receive, these Apps are not yet quite reliable enough to replace more established systems such as SI Timing but they have created an otherwise missing opportunity to ride competitively. Clearly, they are only going to get better.
As we go into 2021, BMBO will be ready to hit ground with wheels rolling. We just need Boris and his pals to give us the green light. We hope that you will continue to support BMBO and re-join in the New Year. With all of those thousands of new lockdown cyclists out there, spread the word and hopefully we will see some new faces at our events as well.
In the meantime, enjoy the festive break the best you can. Hopefully Santa will be able to avoid the lockdown restrictions to deliver that new bike that you have been dreaming about.
We look forward to seeing you all sometime in the New Year.
Tony Brand-Barker, Chairman, and the BMBO Committee.