Membership of Tuam Cycling Club

As of this morning, we are accepting membership applications/renewals for the 2014 season. The annual subscription is now payable in conjunction with your Cycling ireland licence renewal via PayPal.
We require that all "cycling" members take out a Cycling Ireland licence (category of their own choosing). Non-cycling members are of course very welcome, but they are not permitted to participate in any club-sanctioned cycling events other than as marshalls/volunteers. Details of licence types are given below.
It is our intention to have all subscriptions and licence requests finalised by the middle of December 2013. Cycling Ireland charges for the various licence categories are given under the respective headings.
Our suggestion are:
Introductory or Non-Competition for those who do not want to race but still want to join in on the Sunday Spin, and perhaps take on a sportive or two next season (An Post Tour of Sligo, Polka Dot Challenge, Ring of Kerry, Croí Charity Cycle or whatever)
Club Competition for those who would like to try out the Galway League road-races and/or time-trials and the Brian McNamara Memorial race that we host in July each year, but no other "open" races. You'll know it's an "open" race if it's described as a GP, a criterium, a kermesse, a 2-day, or anything that offers prize money
Full Competition for those who want to race in everything and anything, especially for prize money and trophies

Additionally, it is worth noting that those members who decide to take out a "Non-Competition" or a "Club Competition" licence will not be able to purchase one-day licences at sign-on for Open Races, unless Tuam Cycling Club are hosting the event. They will, however, still be able to participate fully in Galway League races and whatever in-house time-trial or road-race league we as a club decide to establish for our own members next season.

Cycling Ireland Licences
Introductory Licence - If you have never been a member of Cycling Ireland, and are not interested in racing you can select an "Introductory" licence for €15. This covers you while you are out training, on club spins, and while participating in leisure tours.

Non Competition Licence - This is a leisure licence, and it covers you while you are out training, on club spins, and while participating in leisure tours. This is available to existing Cycling Ireland members, so if you got an introductory licence last year, when you renew you get this licence for the same options. The fee is €25 if you are based in Connacht, Leinster or Munster, and is €35 if you are based in Ulster.

Club Competition Licence - This licence is €60 if you are in a club, and €90 if you are not in a club. If you are from Ulster, there is a further €10 charge. This licence allows you to race in club leagues in road racing, but not in Open Races.

Restricted Licences - You have the option of getting a restricted licence if you want to race unlimited domestically in one discipline. This licence is €90 if you are in a club and €120 if you are not in a club. There is a further €10 charge if you are from Ulster. Once you select a restricted licence you must select a category. The choices are "Time Trial", "Track", "BMX", "Bicycle Polo", and "Off Road". If you select "Off Road" you must select the type of licence you need depending on your standard. If you are unsure as to which type you need you are best off asking a member of the club for advice. The types are: elite; expert (intermediate level); masters (age 30-39); senior/sport (usually novice/beginner level); veteran (age over 40).

Full Competition Licence - This licence costs €125 if you are in a club, and €155 if you are not in a club. There is a further €10 charge if you are from Ulster. This licence qualifies you for racing in any discipline (include offroad, bmx, TT etc) in Ireland. If you want to race overseas you can get overseas authorisation for an extra €20, and submit/upload a photo ID electronically. If you want to race on the road in open races, this is the type of licence you want. The categories you can select from are based on your ability, the highest being A+, which is reserved for those road riders who are on pro-teams (with the exception of female pro riders). A1 is the next highest category, then A2, the majority of the members are either A3 or A4 riders, with the A4 category being reserved for new members, and weaker/less experienced riders. The distances vary depending on the category.

Junior - At the 2011 AGM it was decided that the Junior Category would be a stand alone category. Where there is an A3 race is part of a promotion the Juniors would race with the A3s.

Women, Vets - In previous years there were separate categories for Juniors, Women and Vets, but due to the varying speeds and abilities of riders within these categories, this old system has been replaced with the new grading system. Now riders are racing against riders of similar speeds. At the National Championships there is still a separate race for Juniors, Women and Vets. The Women's Commission also run a programme of races for women only, for those of you not ready yet to race in big bunches.