1   Name

The Club shall be called "Johnstone Wheelers Cycling Club".

2   Object

The object of the Club is to promote all aspects of cycling in the Renfrewshire area and community participation in the same.

3   Membership 

Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a nondiscriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

The Club Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or removal may be made to the members.

Members will be any such persons who have paid the current Membership fee for the year, or who are Honorary Members or Life Members. Juveniles will be asked to get a parental consent form signed by their parent or guardian prior to participation in Club activities.

4   Committee

Each AGM shall elect the following Office-bearers:

• President
• General Secretary / Treasurer
• Property Convenor
• Development
• Competition
• IT

and such other Office-bearers as it considers necessary. A Committee shall be quorate if 3 Committee members are in attendance. The Committee shall have the right to expel any Member who has broken any of the Club rules. The Committee shall administer to the SCU rules. A Member of the Committee who is absent from 3 consecutive meetings without apologies shall forfeit their seat.

5   Property and funds

a   The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by the Rules.
b   The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, event expenses, post event refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
c   The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:

1. Sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
   ii. Employ members (though not for riding) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Committee without the person concerned being present;
   iii. Pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests;
   iv. Indemnify the Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).

 6   Winding up the club

a   The members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.

b   The Club Trustees, as defined in Clause 8 below, will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs.

c   After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Committee, under the direction of the Trustees, shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:

1. To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a charity and/or
   ii.   To another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or
   iii.   To the Club’s national governing body for use by them for related community sports.

 

7   Priority

Where there is any conflict between any of the above Rules (“key Rules”) and any other rule or rules, the key Rule(s) will take priority. Interpretation of all the rules must be consistent with the statutory requirements for CASCs (which means Community Amateur Sports Clubs as first provided for by the Finance Act 2002.)

 

8   Club Trustees

The Club Trustees shall consist of five adult Members, and no decision regarding the disposal of the Club premises or equipment shall be valid without the consent of the majority of these Trustees. The present group of Trustees consists of Rita Montgomery, Patrick Higgins, William Clark, Kenneth MacDonald and Kenneth Steele. These Members shall remain in office for life or until they voluntarily retire. In the event of a vacancy it will be filled by an adult Member elected to the post at an AGM or a Special General Meeting called for the purpose. Meeting of the Trustees will be held at the request of the Club General Committee. Reasonable notice and reason for this request must also be given. Any Trustee resident abroad can have their views and vote taken by mail.

 

9   General Meetings

An Annual General Meeting shall be held once a year in November provided that this is prior to the SCU Annual General Meeting. Reasonable notice shall be given to Members. Other General Meetings, of which reasonable notice shall be given, may be called by the Committee or by any 5 Members making a written request to the Secretary. General Meetings shall decide Club policy. Members may attend all General Meetings and are entitled to one vote each. Voting shall be by a show of hands to be counted by at least 2 tellers. The General Meeting has the power to remove any Office-bearer by a simple majority.

 

10 Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution may be made at any General Meeting by a 2 / 3 majority of those present, provided that notice of the proposed amendment is made in writing to the Club Secretary 7 days before the General Meeting. The proposed amendment must include the proposer's and seconder's names.

 

11 Life Membership

Life Membership shall be available to all Club Members with 10 years' continuous Membership at 5 times the annual Membership fee.

 

12 Club Rules

The Club is governed generally by the rules of the SCU as published in the annual handbook. The following rules have been extracted or included for the purposes of the Club: 

Members shall at all times preserve the Club premises and property, and assist in keeping them in good order. All Members shall disperse with obscene language, rowdiness or dangerous riding when cycling with the Club

Prospective Members are given a maximum of 3 weeks to join the Club. The Club Secretary is to be notified of date of first association with the Club. All Members will be advised to affiliate with the SCU.

Club fees are as follows:

Senior - £30.00
Family - £50.00
Junior (aged 16-18) – One half of the senior fee

Youth (aged less than 16) - One half of senior fee

Students - £15.00

OAP - £5.00

Fees are due at the AGM. If these are not paid by the 31st of December, an additional late fee of £1.50 will be required.

New Members joining after 1st October shall not have to pay the next year.

No Member may obtain an SCU / BCF licence unless they pay their Club fees

All dates of Confined-to-Club events and Open events, and Committee meetings are to be included in the Club calendar.

No Member except Club Secretaries (General and PR) shall be allowed to send any correspondence regarding the Club without permission from the Committee.

 

13 Racing Rules

Scottish Cycling Union general rules provide the majority of guidance for Open and Confined-to-Club events.

14 The following additional rules apply to this Club:

Standing Rules

The Club will promote annually the following events:

1. Confined-to-Club events
   a. Frank Lauder Memorial “10” 
   b. Handicap “10” League 
   c. Standard Awards
   d. Championship “25” 
   e. Handicap team TNT
   f. Chocolate Series 
   g. Hill Climb
   h. Open events - as decided at a General Meeting
   i. plus others at the discretion of the Committee.
   
   
2. Club Championships
   
   a. Short distance over 10 and 25 miles 
   b. Middle distance over 25, 50 and 100 miles 
   c. Long distance over 50, 100 and 12 hours 
   d. Handicap Championship over 10, 25 and 50 miles 
   e. Novice Championship over 10, 25 and 50 miles 
   f. Schoolboy / Schoolgirl Championship over 10 and 25 miles 
   g. Junior Championship over 10, 25 and 50 miles 
   h. Hillclimb Championship 
   i. Ladies Short distance over 10 and 25 miles 
   j. Ladies BAR Championship over 10, 25 and 50 miles 
   k. Ladies Handicap Championship over 10 and 25 miles 
   l. Road Race Championship points system in Open events
   m. Chocolate Series

 All Members must inform the Race Secretary of any improvement in their Open or Club times, before the start of their next event.

3. Youths must inform the Race Secretary of their 16th birthdays.  Juniors must inform the Race Secretary of their 18th Birthdays.
   
   
4. Failure to use SCU gear restrictions by school persons and juniors will lead to automatic disqualification.
   
   
5. Club clothing must be worn in all Confined-to-Club events. Failure to do so results in automatic disqualification (plain white / inside-out jerseys may be used as a substitute as per SCU rules).
   
   
6. Social / second claim Members are not eligible to participate in any Confined to Club events, as per guidance from British Cycling/Scottish Cycling regarding the Club's confined event liability insurance.
   
   
7. All Members competing for Club trophies must ensure that their best times and distance are submitted to the Race Secretary on the forms provided, before the date shown on the form.
   
   
8. A Novice is one who has never won an individual prize in any cycling event, other than the standards awards, Classified “10”, Chocolate Trophy, and Lanterne Rouge and will retain this status until the end of the current season.
   
   
9. The Chocolate Trophy is open to riders who have not been under 26 minutes for 10 miles, by the first race of the series that year, or in the last 2 racing seasons. The fastest overall rider will receive the Trophy.
   
   
10. If any existing Club records are broken, the record-breaker shall be recognised by the award of a medal, provided that sufficient notice, in writing, is given to the Race Secretary. There will be a limit of one medal per person per year.
    
    
11. A “one-man, one-prize” rule shall operate in both Open and Confined-to-Club events.
    
    
12. Only official Members' names are to be recorded on competition result sheets. The names of Prospective Members and guests from other Clubs cannot be recorded on competition results sheets.
    
    
13. Each Member must help officiate at least one Open event per year; failure to do so will lead to suspension of rider. Riders can provide a responsible adult substitute if they wish.
    
    
14. Standard awards will be given to Members who equal or better the requirement laid down for the 10-mile Confined, Time Trial and Hillclimb.
    
    
15. All Members competing in Confined-to-Club races must comply with SCU rules on clothing and the wearing of helmets.
    
    
16. Non-licence holders must pay a day licence if competing in competing races.

 

Standard Award requirements for Seniors

Gold Award

1. 100 miles in under 6 hours
2. 10 miles in under 25 minutes
3. Hillclimb time on new course to be decided

Silver Award

1. 100 miles in under 8 hours
2. 10 miles in under 26 minutes
3. Hillclimb time on new course to be decided

Bronze Award

1. 100 miles in under 10 hours
2. 10 miles in under 27 minutes
3. Hillclimb time on new course to be decided

Junior and youth standards on request from Race Secretary.