Cycle Ayrshire is a member group of
Covering the Ayrshire and Arran area, we are one of Ayrshire’s largest cycling clubs with a well established, all-year programme of rides varying from 10 to 60 miles.
With the emphasis on sociable leisure cycling we are always glad to welcome new faces on our rides - and you don't have to sign-up immediately.
You can participate in up to 3 rides after which we would expect you to join Cycling UK if you wished to continue riding with us.
Cycling UK
Cycling UK has its origins in the early days of cycling.
Founded in 1878 as the Bicycle Touring Club, subsequently re-named the Cyclists' Touring Club in 1883, and rebranded as Cycling UK in 2016, the organisation is UK wide and is a registered charity in Scotland, England and Wales with the aim to create a better world by bike for all,
Whilst Cycling UK is a UK wide organisation, it allocates its members to what are known as Member Groups.
If you join Cycling UK , you will be allocated to the nearest Member Group to your postcode.
All postcodes for North, South and East Ayrshire are included in the Ayrshire Member Group.
The original jersey badge design
Cycle Ayrshire
Originally, Ayrshire was a sub-group of the Glasgow District Association.
The first ride as an Ayrshire section took place in October 1987, when 17 cyclists set out from Prestwick Airport for a 40 mile outing.
The ride was successful enough that a decision was made on the 8th. December, at a meeting of Ayrshire CTC members, to form a committee to run an actual Ayrshire section of the CTC.
1989 saw the introduction of our first club badge, which could be sewn onto a jersey.
Over the years, the ride programme was expanded to include many types of rides.
In addition to local rides, the club also organised regular roughstuff rides, Audax rides, hostel weekends and cycle tours in the UK and abroad.
1998 and CTC Ayrshire entered the world wide web with its first website, branded as CTC Ayrshire.
More detail and early club images can be viewed at Cycle Ayrshire - the first 20 years.
Growth & beyond
2008 - the CTC parent organisation re-organises and replaces District Associations with Member Groups.
Ayrshire was no longer a sub-section of the Glasgow Member Group.
It was a Member Group in its own right.
2009 and Cycle Ayrshire comes into being when the group starts using the moniker "Cycle Ayrshire" for its web presence and general group activities.
2014 sees the club being presented with a cup as Runner-up in the CTC Volunteer Group of the Year award.
2016 and the CTC re-brands and re-organises itself as Cycling UK.
The first of three annual Ayrshire Cycling Festivals, organised by the club, is held in Troon.
These and other highlights can be viewed in our potted history for the years 2008-2025 by following the link below.
Cycle Ayrshire 2008-2025