Ideas for cycling club 'do'.

[Dave Davenport]

I've somehow agreed to organise our clubs annual awards night early next year. For years we've had a formal dinner with a guest of honour / speaker but costs have gone up and attendance has dropped, despite the number of members vastly increasing. So we've decided to book a hall with a cash bar and put on a basic buffet for about 120 people for the next one. We'll have the usual presentations and raffle but I'm looking for ideas for other 'stuff' to fill the evening. A few years ago we had Mat Rendell and a couple who did a talk with slides of their South Africa to UK charity ride (both of which went down well) so that's the type of thing I've got in mind.
Anyone got any ideas / suggestions???

 

[PK99]

I've somehow agreed to organise our clubs annual awards night early next year. For years we've had a formal dinner with a guest of honour / speaker but costs have gone up and attendance has dropped, despite the number of members vastly increasing. So we've decided to book a hall with a cash bar and put on a basic buffet for about 120 people for the next one. We'll have the usual presentations and raffle but I'm looking for ideas for other 'stuff' to fill the evening. A few years ago we had Mat Rendell and a couple who did a talk with slides of their South Africa to UK charity ride (both of which went down well) so that's the type of thing I've got in mind.
Anyone got any ideas / suggestions???

A mate and his mate have just done an unsupported 45 day ride across the States.
Pacific coast to Washington raising funds for a cancer charity.
Nothing booked ahead everything on the fly. He lives in Salisbury.... I can put you in touch if you like.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Strippers or a blue comedian maybe.

 

[MarkF]

My eldest lad is available, he can dance, do gymnastic tricks, ride a unicycle, fire breath and bounce about on Pistorius stylie "legs". Got to be better than some old codger droning about their last tour?

 

[Milkfloat]

Could you get a live action street trials team in? Something like - http://thinkbikes.com

If you really want a live speaker, how about http://www.ayearinthesaddle.com

 

[biggs682]

why not all go for a ride infancy dress

 

[Markymark]

Why don't you host a live helmet debate?

 

[seraphina]

Cycle treasure hunt? Starting early evening.

 

[HertzvanRental]

why not all go for a ride infancy dress

What, all in romper suits?

 

[Levo-Lon]

Dump the formal and slide shows for starters .people have more fun in casual wear with a buffet to graze on. Unless its all a bit masonic
bit of quality live music? Or a good disco
Maybe a decent comic..

 

[Dave Davenport]

I can put you in touch if you like.

yes please

 

[Dave Davenport]

Dump the formal and slide shows for starters .people have more fun in casual wear with a buffet to graze on. Unless its all a bit masonic
bit of quality live music? Or a good disco
Maybe a decent comic..

It's not formal but we do need to present various awards (usually takes about 45 mins.), the talk with slides was well received last time, I'd like to do something similar if possible.
Music / disco was dropped a few years ago and the consensus was nobody wants it back.

 

[Globalti]

Why not do what I did for my 60th birthday and hire a road circuit and stage a race? A coach/marshall ought to be able to set up a good session for those who want to partake.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Why not do what I did for my 60th birthday and hire a road circuit and stage a race? A coach/marshall ought to be able to set up a good session for those who want to partake.

We run three road races a year (plus two cross and loads of TT's), It's got to be an evening social event, there a lot of long term members who would be put out if we changed things too radically, it's been agreed that it will be less formal with a buffet instead of a sit down dinner, I just need to sort out the venue, food and 'entertainment' (baring in mind a 14 to 90 year old age range).

 

[Globalti]

It's a tough call then. What about a speaker from a slightly different discipline to road cycling? For example the world of fell running has some athletes who are absolutely prodigious but completely unknown because fell running can't be televised. Also potholing, climbing or mountaineering; there are plenty of people who will do a talk with slides that would be very enjoyable.