About Exeter Mountain Bike Club
Formed in 2001 out of a wish to cater for the needs of the mountain biker in the South West, Exeter Mountain Bike Club became a tour de force on the Downhill Race circuit winning many podium places at local and national level.
After a change in direction in 2005, the emphasis shifted to fulfilling the needs of regular cross country riders and of those new to mountain biking.
Confidence Builder rides for adults, and latterly the Go-Ride skills sessions for 6 to 11 year olds ensure that basic riding safety skills are learned at an early stage, to form sound building blocks for further skill development and an introduction to regular member rides.
Our mission is to encourage those people to make that leap and come and enjoy what mountain biking has to offer in the South West whatever their riding abilities.
We can motivate you and ensure that, for you, “the sky’s the limit!”
We are currently working on becoming a British Cycling Accredited club and in addition, Gemma, a forest ranger at Haldon Forest Park, is training to become a British Cycling Coach as she is already a real asset to the Go-Ride sessions. With a full children’s diary for the rest of the year, we have Go-Ride sessions, summer holiday rides, family rides and are working with other organisations to enable all abilities to cycle. So.... have a look at our calendar to see what we can offer! Happy Cycling!
EMBC Organisers
Gemma Ingall
Secretary, Membership officer and, Trainee Coach, Forestry Commission Ranger, a relatively new member since her appointment with the Forestry Commission at Haldon in 2006. Gemma showed an interest in helping out with children's Go-Ride coaching skills, had the time and initiative and is now about to embark on a British Cycling coaching programme. In March 2007 she took over the position of Secretary and happily bounces around Haldon on her Iron Horse (maybe she's Tigger)!
Sam Cann
Chairperson, British Cycling Coach, Mountain Bike Leader, an endless source of inspiration spending most of her life in the saddle training cycle skills to children in schools, coaching Children's Go-Ride Skills sessions, leading the ladies' rides or supporting her children in their pursuit of Downhill racing fame and fortune. Sam and her family have ridden Lands' End to John O'Groats, with one being the youngest to ride it. The family have also featured in the popular Channel 4 "Wife Swap" series as the "fitness family".
Chris Spriggs
Club Officer has now been with us for nearly four seasons, a man who knows the trails of the South West and Wales like his own back garden, perhaps even better - the lawn still needs mowing! Chris is our map-man and has the direction instinct of a homing pigeon. Ask him how the paint on his frame is though!
Vicky Chamberlain
Club Officer, a member since 2005, there is now no stopping Vicky since first jumping on her full suspension bike. A terrific organiser, Vicky quietly gets on with organising events such as our Epic Welsh Weekends, all without a fuss. Along with Chris, Vicky has been instrumental in our development of the weekend rides.
Calamity-Jayne Cann
Funding Officer, British Cycling Coach, the force behind the winning of our £5,000 Lottery Grant last year, after years of bike riding with the Cann clan, Calamity has recently started racing Downhill again after injury forced her to have a break. Now being mentored by Tracy Mosley and the Kona Race Team, Calamity is now on track to achieve some podium places. We'll track her progress in the news section of the website.
Richard Fox
Webmaster and computer geek who joined EMBC sometime ago but spends too much time on the computer to go on regular rides but does get out on his bike now and again. Points for spotting him on a ride!
Views expressed are those of the club.