Events
This is what’s coming up in the world of GCC. If you have an idea for an event you want to orgainse get in touch with the committee and make your pitch. They will be more than happy to be constantly badgered about your unicycle team time trial.
AGM and Annual Club Awards
Friday 27 November 2026
The annual club awards are a chance to celebrate the great and good of the club ; from the Shepherding award for most rides led by a volunteer ride leader, to the Riders rider. From celebrating the most epic ride to the newest members in Rookie of the year. From awarding the biggest achievement in the club to highlighting the Spirit of the club. A fun night out.
Gorilla Hill Climb
Our Gorilla Hill climb will be on 17th and 18th October with 4 trophies up for grabs.
Autumn Classics
As the weather turns away from the heat of summer so the annual migration begins.
Gorilla's Grand Day Out/Summer Excursion + Club BBQ
Grand Day Out is back for a 4th year and the most ambitious event yet. Not only do we have the traditional 200km Grand Day Out ride, but for the first time we also have the 100km Gorilla’s Summer Excursion.
Inter-Club Day
Once again we will be inviting our friends from other clubs to ride with us, and join with us in raising funds for our charity of the year. There will be the usual multitude of rides led by Gorillas own volunteer ride leaders over various distances and speeds, a cycling bric-a-brac stall (donated by club members) and an auction to boost the fund raising further.
Always a great day where local clubs come together for a good cause.
Spring TT
The Giro time trial routes, that we usually try and mimic are so unfriendly this year - a 40KM time trial for the men, or a 12KM uphill time trial in the Giro Donne. As such we are doing our own thing - a team time trial with 4 personnel ( no tandems) along the 10 mile Broad lane course. Ideally a mixed team, with at least one female member (all male teams can still compete but will incur a time handicap).
So start making friends and tuning in your changeovers.
Treasure Hunt
Plan your own route to collect as many points as possible by visiting Places, riding “Parcours”, and completing Challenges within the time limit.
This challenge is about route planning, creativity, and teamwork.
An Evening with Dr Sarah Ruggins
Experience an unforgettable night at Gorilla Cycle Club with Dr Sarah Ruggins – one of the most inspiring voices in endurance sport and the woman who turned a bold idea into a history-making world record.
Gorilla Spring Classic
“March, master of winds, bright minstrel and marshal of storms that enkindle the season they smite”
Wrote Algernon Charles Swinburne in his Ode to March.
It feels all too familiar when we think back to past March rides, especially for those who suffered and enjoyed the Hare in equal measure in the late 2010s.
This March, however, we’ll make sure you aren’t alone on the road. We’re launching a 3‑rider team event to conquer our own ode to March, the Hare, and the Classics.
Expect hills (fewer than last time!), lambs, and if fortune smiles some watery sunshine on this southward jaunt.
Quiz Night
Gorilla quiz on Friday 27th February, starting 7pm at Venue 2 in the Hare and Hounds. Expect an evening of ridiculousness, guesswork and at least one moment of staring into the middle distance wondering how you ended up here.
AGM and Annual Club Awards
The annual club awards are a chance to celebrate the great and the good of the club; from most rides led, and Spirit of Gorilla, to most dramatic ride and ridiculous Strava post. A fun night out.
This event will take place Friday 14th November 2025. Venue TBC.
The Gorilla Hill Climb
No exact date yet for this event but it should happen sometime during October.
The Hill Climb this year is slightly different, but should be more readily accessible to all members of the club. In October we will race to The Peacock pub, either:
The Hard way - up Icknield street
The Intermediate - up the classic Gorilla climb route ( Lee End lane)
The Sporting route - along the Legsapper Strava segment.
Gorilla Autumn Classic
In time honoured fashion Gorilla Cycling Club will bid farewell to summer and welcome Autumn in with a ride to the Cotswolds.
This isn’t a “mad hare” event, more of a “deranged gorilla” with a couple of options for your ride - the question is ‘one lump or two’?
A scenic route through the Alnes and Bidford-on-Avon has been devised for the way down, followed by a visit to Broadway and then Snows Hill. This could be the one big climb of the day, or you can do a loop back to the bottom of Saintbury Hill for the second climb.
After that you have options for lunch before the way home, which will bring you back via Wooten Wowen and other such silly named places.
There are plenty of stopping points on the way there and back, and on the Sunday we will have some little monkeys at the top of the two climbs to cheer you on as you power your way to the top.
The full route is just under 90 miles(144km), but you could shorten this by taking a more direct route down to the Cotswolds via Honeybourne.
So one lump or two? The choice is yours!
Inter-Club Day
Sunday 13th July is Inter Club day, a day where we invite our friends from other clubs to ride with us, and join with us in raising funds for our charity of the year. There will be the usual multitude of rides led by Gorillas own volunteer ride leaders over various distances and speeds, a cycling bric-a-brac stall ( donated by club members) and an auction to boost the fund raising further. Always a great day where local clubs come together for a good cause.
Gorilla’s Grand Day Out 2025
Gorilla’s Grand Day Out returns for 2025. For some this will be your longest ride of the year, for some your longest ride ever, whilst for others it might merely be a stepping stone to other challenges. Whatever category you fall into, the event will give an opportunity for a great day out on the bike.
Gorilla Giro Time Trial
The Gorilla Giro Individual Time Trial this year will be held on the weekend of 10th and 11th May, on the same weekend as the ITT of the Giro D'Italia being held in the Albanian capital - Tirana, as part of the Grande Partenza.
Easter Egg Hunt
An Easter egg hunt with a difference... Locations and challenges will be rewarded with points. Get yourself a group of 2-4 to hunt down those Easter egg points. Which team can hunt down the most. Instructions will be issued 48 hours before so teams can plan their point hunting strategy.
Gorilla Spring Classic
'March, master of winds, bright minstrel and marshal of storms that enkindle the season they smite'
…wrote Algernon Charles Swinburne in his Ode to March. Seems all too familiar, thinking back to past March rides, especially for those of us who suffered and enjoyed the Hare in equal measure in the late 2010s. This March, however, we'll be making sure you aren't alone on the road with a 3-rider event to conquer our own ode to March, the Hare, and the Classics. There will be hills, scenery and inevitably wind and showers on this westward jaunt.
Club Re-launch
First ride of the club re-launch will be Sunday 2nd February ( we’ll have 8 rides out that day from 12-18mph, including a gravel option, all finishing at the Hare and Hounds around 11.30 for a spot of brunch. It would be great to see as many of you there who can make it, and bring your friends (the new website has a free weeks trial option).
Quiz Night
As part of the opening weekend fun and games we will be holding a Gorilla quiz on Friday 31st January starting 7.30 at Kings Heath Cricket Club. So sort yourself out into teams ( or just come along and we can find a team for you ) and be ready for some ridiculousness and guesswork.