About the Club

Matt Ryan

Chairman
Keen for the unconventional, whilst still recognising the value of tradition and formality, I am honored to be in a position to support Rhos CC for the 2 year tenure of Chair.  Trying new ideas, seeking new ways of doing things but also focusing on the core basics of what the club should be.  The enjoyment of riding our bikes, keeping things simple, remembering that we are first and foremost a social club brought together by our shared passion for the bike. Supporting each other, supporting the club, being open minded and respecting each other’s points of view.

The club is its members.  The members make the club.  This doesn’t mean that we close ourselves off from those who are not members of our club.  The community of cyclists has no barriers and we shall do our part to help those beyond the boundaries of Rhos CC.

Safe Cycling and Keep Pedaling.

Paul Heyes

Vice – Chairman
I’ve always been into cycling having worked in our family bike shop as a teenager. I enjoyed mountain biking and would often travel to North Wales to explore the Marin Trail, later swapping my knobbly tyres for slicks as I ventured up & down the coastal path. In 2016 I purchased my first road bike (the trusty yellow Cannondale!), I joined Rhos, was immediately welcomed by the club and have never looked back!

Graham Davies

Treasurer
I am relatively new to cycling having only taken it up four years ago after retirement. I joined the club started going on the social rides from Gyffin and have not looked back. Cycling with the club has allowed me to meet many new friends and enjoy the wonderful local scenery whilst out with likeminded people. I am an enthusiastic amateur and just love being on my bike. I have also discovered many new cafes in North Wales and that is an added bonus to cycling!

Toto Gronlund

Secretary & Time Trial Officer
Toto did a bit of cycling in her 20’s when that was all she could afford to get around. She had never had the benefit of having cycled as a kid, having grown up on skis instead. After a long gap she picked two wheels again, drafted her husband all around north Wales, and eventually joined the Rhos. Toto likes having a bit of fun time trialing, but mostly just enjoys riding the lanes of north Wales. As long as she has cheese and coffee and a bit of sun, she is happy. She is also a mountaineer and walker.

John Clayton

Membership Secretary
I am John membership secretary and here to help with all aspects of the club membership and progressing your cycle skills. I am a personal trainer, Triathlon coach, indoor cycle coach, Sports Massage Therapist with a clinic in Mochdre.  I coach several people on and off the bike and try and get abroad as often as possible to distant Sportive events. If you need help I can try my best to help you or point you in the right direction. I am very keen to encourage female and junior members to access the sport.

Carole Barford

Welfare Officer & Social Secretary
I’ve been involved in the Rhos for the past 17 years mainly in supportive role. Assisting in the production of the Rhos newsletter from 2003 -2010 until the web took over. Helping out with the catering at the many racing events and the organisation of the 90^th celebration evening .I was a roady on the Land’s End John o’Groats charity ride – no mean feat looking after 15 to 80 years old riding over 900 miles – a lot more hard work than being an air hostess with 350 passengers! I’ve ventured on 2 club trips to Majorca and although a pure novice at cycling the gang made an effort to do ‘special rides’ to include me missing out all the hills! I’ve also been camping with the club to watch the Tour de France in London, loads of laughs along the way I have found the Rhos a really friendly helpful bunch and have made many friends along the way.

Shari Williams

Women’s Cycling Coordinator
I am very new to cycling I started August 2016. My husband wanted to get fit again so we bought bikes to do the cycle paths. We were encouraged by a friend to join a beginners ride with the club. We haven’t stopped cycling since even going abroad on cycling holidays. Last year 2018 I  was awarded by the club “Best Improver of the Year” which was as a complete shock and a great honour. The encouragement I’ve received from the club has been tremendous I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I’m not the fastest or strongest on hills but I have never been left behind on a ride. I also started Time Trails last year which i really enjoy. Rhos on Sea is not only a club it cares about it members its a TRUE CLUB.

Vicki Neale

Junior Cycling Coordinator
I have been a member of Rhos on Sea for several years after getting involved when my son Will caught the cycling bug. Will has benefitted hugely from the kindness and experience of Rhos members. It’s a great supportive club. As junior secretary I have a great role working with the coaches and seeing our youngsters have a lifelong love of cycling.

Chris Pritchard

Time Trial Results Coordinator
I am Chris Pritchard; I have always had some sort of bike since childhood from a 3 wheeler to bikes with extended forks. Steel, Aluminium, Titanium and Carbon. I have been involved with Rhos CC for many years. I am a committee member and also the Club’s TT results secretary since 2005. I have done a small amount of road racing and many Time Trials but enjoy cycling in general.

Gary Eisenhauer

Press Secretary
I have been cycling for as long as I can remember, passing my Cycle Proficiency Test back in the late 1970s. After a brief hiatus and dalliance with motor cars my return to cycling coincided with University and for the next 7 years my Falcon Black Diamond tourer was my choice (and main) mode of transport on the streets of Cheltenham, London and Kingston. I joined the CTC (now Cycling UK) at this time and have now been a member for approaching 30 years! Since returning to paid employment and moving to North Wales, cycling has remained a life style choice and a first choice mode of transport (and I still have the Falcon Black Diamond, its self approaching a 30th Birthday on the 14th February 2020!). I have a Level 2 City & Guilds in Cycle Mechanics, and I’ve ridden Lands End to John O’Groats solo and also Paris to Llandudno. Dabbled with mountain biking (and 24 hour mountain bike races), cyclo-cross, sportives and the Brompton World Championships on my folding bike (83rd in the world in 2014!!!). But it is the non-competitive, more relaxed pace of exploring by bike and cycle touring that I prefer to be found participating in.

Frances Cattanach

Kit Organiser
Proud to be a committee member of this club which has been going for over 90 years! Not sure how I landed the job of Kit Officer, but I have been doing it for a while, and it’s great to see the jerseys out on the road. It’s my way of giving something back to the club which has supported my cycling for about 7 years now. I have cycled since I was a child but passing the Valley 10 TT in my car made me think there was something more to cycling. I nervously joined a social ride about 7 years ago, and was warmly welcomed – was encouraged to get cleats, and the club has seen me progress through Wild Wales challenges, and with the encouragement of Sue Williams, the Maratona in 2017. Despite trying, I still don’t really like TTs, but the club ride in stunning North Wales is a part of my week I look forward to.

Graham Hartley

Club President

I joined the Rhos as a school boy in 1953. I took part in road races and won the Llandegla Road Race and North Wales Junior Championship. After National Service I won team prize WCTTCA 12 hour event with Dave Rutherford (236 miles) myself (237 miles) and Tom Jones (238 miles) also won North Wales Senior Champs Road Race (96 miles). I left the UK for Australia and road raced with an Italian club – Australian Italian Peoples Association. Returned to the UK did road racing and TTs and became North Wales Vet’s Road Race Champ. I have been in the Rhos Cycling Club on and off for about 70 years and have enjoyed every minute social events and racing. I was the Chairman of Rhos for 30+ years then Secretary then Social Secretary and now honoured with the position of Club President.

Herbie Roberts

Vice President

I joined the Rhos in the early 1960’s. Started riding Time Trials, the kit in those days was loose fitting tops, baggy shorts and a yellow rain cape – no lycra or helmet. I used to travel to open TTs in Liverpool and Cheshire area with Gil Taylor (club member for 75 years). In the early 1990’s I organised a 45 mile road race based in the Conwy Valley on behalf of the Rhos. I am pleased to be Vice President of the club and still enjoy meeting my fellow vets in the café in Betwys four or five times a week.

Hughie Hughes

I joined the Rhos in late 1949 just out of my teens. I rode Time Trials and Road Races in North Wales and many summers in Europe (different to riding in Europe today). I became club secretary in the 1950’s followed by the club press secretary along with being North Wales registrar (not a position today). I left North Wales in 1960 returning in 1989 and re-joined the Rhos and have been a member ever since.

Gareth Atherton

I joined the Rhos at 16. I became a keen TT rider club and open events. I rode many distance events Wild Wales and Audaxes where with my fellow vets a pint in the pub at lunchtime would be the order of the day. I held various positions in the club  – 30 years as Treasurer, 5 years as club secretary and I was chairman of the Gwynedd series for a while. For the past 10 I have audited the club accounts, officiated at Rhos promoted events and been a timekeeper and marshal for the TTs.

Ivor Wild

I joined the Rhos aged 13 in 1953 and won the  Junior TT Championships in 1957.  I left the club in 1962 to bring up my family and returned in 1984. I raced from 1985 to 2009 competing in 641 races. I won the coveted BAR cup 5 times, was hill climb champion and held the club record for 25 and 30 mile TTs. I also won the LVRC World event once and came second on 3 occasions. For a number of years I was on the club committee.