In Praise Of…Volunteers

It’s time we warmed up our vocal chords in support of the unsung heroes of domestic cycling.

- Trevor Ward

At the very heart of cycling is a force of goodness that’s best summed up by two quotes from opposite ends of the literary spectrum. The famous one attributed to science fiction writer HGWells is: ‘When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.’

The second is more recent, from maverick bike designer Mike Burrows: ‘Unlike a tennis racquet or football, the bicycle is the one piece of sports equipment that can save the planet.’

It’s fitting that such a force of goodness should be fuelled by the selfless motives and generous intentions of thousands of volunteers who devote their time and energy for no other reason than a deep love of the sport. If this all sounds a rather florid and elaborate way of singing the praises of the bloke who hands you a banana at a feed station or your number at the start of a time-trial, I make no apologies. It’s precisely because of their anonymity, the fact that we take them for granted, that they deserve some purple prose in their favour.

Grass roots, bread and butter, bottom of the pyramid – no description or colloquialism quite does justice to the vital role played by cycling’s army of volunteers. They are as fundamental to the sport aswheels and pedals.