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.
Karaoke and Darts
A new event for 2026 which Bruno seems more excited about than anyone else. He is the chairman though so it will take place sometime during February or March. Details to follow.
Quiz Night
Gorilla quiz on Friday 6th Feb starting 7pm at Kings Heath Cricket Club. 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.
Treasure Hunt
Probably the same format as last year’s Easter Hunt but on a different weekend so hopefully more people can take part. Details to follow.
Spring TT
Not being Giro related this year, who knows what course Bruno will come up with. Rumors abound that it might be a team TT this year, but these might be just rumors so check back at some point and find out more. Details to follow.
Gorilla’s Grand Day Out/Gorilla’s Summer Excursion
To take place sometime in June. The same format as ever, but with a shorter option this year to introduce more people to the Audax format.
Please note that we may need to swap this event with the Interclub day in July. Details to follow.
Inter-Club Day
Sometime during July we will once again 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.
Please note that we may need to swap this event with The Grand Day Out in June.
Not the Mad Summer Hare
To take place sometime in September. My guess is this will be like last years Autumn classic…. but that’s all I have for now so check back for more info. Details to follow.
Gorilla Hill Climb
It’s a hill climb, almost certainly on Lea End Lane. Bruno has assured me that he’s booked better weather for this year.
AGM and Annual Club Awards
To take place sometime during November. 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.
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.