The Orange Club has been involved with various cycling associations over its 123-year history and this included the League of Wheelman club with Orange riders such as Mr J Davis in the 1890s.

Other Orange turn-of-the-19th-century riders included Mr A Wright and the Fischer family.

As the highest geographical location between Sydney and Western Australia, Orange was a regular port of call for the pioneers of Australian cycling in the exciting cycling period between the two world wars, when the nation’s cycling heroes (including Sir Hubert Opperman) where chasing the point-to-point records.

One of these records included the Sydney to Orange timed ride which, in those days was an epic trek, and a coveted title to hold.

Since the 1950s, Orange has had its own velodrome for track cycling. Many of the older racers in the region will remember the good prize money they picked up during the 1950s and 60s at the Orange velodrome which was considered one of the best track racing venues in the west.

The track is still in use today and many of the junior club members train and race at the venue every week.

In recent decades a number of Orange Cycle Club members have advanced to professional racing in the Australian National Road Series.

Orange Club members often compete in state and national cycling championships with great success.

One of our club members, Charlie Gascoyne, achieved a world title in 2007 at the Masters track points race at the Dunc Gray Velodrome.

The club works closely with Orange City Council to establish road racing over two race series per year. 

Orange has many cycling facilities which include road racing, regular triathlon events, track racing, mountain biking, bicycle user groups and a BMX race track which is in development.

The Orange Cycle Club consists of male and female riders of all ages and also puts a lot of work into junior cycling with junior members doing well at recent track carnivals.

CHARLIE GASCOYNE - Charlie started racing in the mid 1980s as a junior. In 1997 he achieved a bronze medal at the men’s NSW track scratch race.

He has developed quite a profile on the country handicap scene winning the prestigious Coota Annual and was a winner of the 2003 Orange to Bathurst race.

Charlie has also won various national and state titles including state time trial champion.

His continued enthusiasm for the sport has seen his biggest achievements come in the Masters category where he won the ultimate - a world title in 2007.

He won the title at the UCI Track Cycling Masters Championships at Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, where he took gold in the 40-44 years scratch race.

MITCH CHAPMAN - Mitch was an outstanding young Orange cyclist who represented Australia at the 2005 Junior World Road Cycling Championships and also lays claim to a National Road Series and Time Trial title for the under 19 men’s category. 

Mitch retired from cycling in 2006 to pursue other interests.

MICK TROY - Mick came to Orange to study in 2008 and, although he has now moved away for work reasons, he still nominates Orange Cycle Club as his home club. 

Mick has a swag of cycling achievements including racing for national road series team TORQ Bicycle Superstore team and currently GPM-Data#3 Wilson Racing. 

Mick has a number of podium finishes at various state hill climb, time trial, criterium and road race championships. 

He also has a very prestigious fourth place A grade finish in Australia’s toughest one day road race - 2012 Grafton to Inverell.

TIM GUY - Tim displayed a natural talent on the bike from an early age winning in the 2005 NSW under 17 teams pursuit and in 2005 winning in the NSW under 17 Madison Championship.

Tim proceeded the following year with his winning form taking the under 19s state road series title in 2006.

He went on to become NSW State under 19 hill climb champion in 2006, 2007 and under 23/overall champion 2008. 

Tim raced for a number of national representative teams and, after having a couple of years off the bike, is now back into it racing for Search2Retain, a national road series team.

ANGUS TOBIN - Angus followed in Tim’s footsteps with a long list of achievements including first place in 2004 NSW under 13 road race championships, first place in the 2005 under 17 NSW team pursuit championship as a 15-year-old, third place in the national under 17 criterium, under 19 state time trial champion and has been NSW Rider of the Year on two occasions. 

Angus has also raced in Europe and has a number of top 10 placings on and off shore.

THE Orange Cycle Club runs a junior members club that meets every week during training seasons. Whether the children are members or not, they are free to come and attend a cycle skills training session as long as they are accompanied by a parent.

Cycle skills program - The program has been put together by Cycling Australia and local volunteers. The volunteers have been trained to run the cycle skills program and first aid training has also been taken by those running the program.

The aim of the junior cycle skills program is to build skills, keep children active, encourage a family atmosphere, expose children to as many cycling disciplines as possible and develop those children that show an interest in competitive cycling. 

Juniors Racing - The children also conduct individual time trials around the velodrome track where their times are recorded and improvements for each session are noted.

A handicap race is also run for interested children who have undergone their cycle skills program.

The juniors often travel to track carnival weekends where they compete and have recently achieved some great results.

THERE’S no sign of the Orange Cycle Club slowing down any time soon.

The club continues to grow and president Jeff Stewart said a key part of that is due to the juniors.

“The current membership of the club is bookended by a strong junior core with state champions and national medallists through to our Elite NRS riders finishing with our Masters, state, world and championships medallists,” Stewart said.

“The success of the Orange Club should not only be measured by our history or our members’ racing results, but also by the increase in participation and the friendship and camaraderie displayed at our events.”

Stewart said a key aspect of the club is catering to the varying levels of cyclists in Orange - from beginners to those at the top of their game.

“The club shares a great passion with the Orange Council to develop cycling not only as a sport but also as a preferred recreational activity that show cases our regions picturesque rural landscapes whilst also improving general fitness and wellbeing,” he explained.

“Cycle racing is undergoing an amazing transformation around the world as a global sport, and Australia is consistently ranked as a top three nation in the world. This global growth of cycling also feeds back to club junior racing with the kids wanting to emulate impeccable role models such as Cadel Evans and Anna Meares.”

The club president said they will continue to provide plenty of racing options to give members the best chance to be on their bikes.

“We have increased the number of races in our summer calendar to enhance participation and improve the riders racing skills,” he said.

“In particular, our Tuesday evening track races at Moulder Park have been a success upon which we are hoping to build on.”

There is also road racing every two weeks, and junior rides in winter.

The club has a few showcase events on the horizon including the Christmas Cup on December 6, which attracts riders from across the region.

Another regional event is planned for the end of the summer season at the Orange velodrome after the track has been renovated.

“Our goal for the coming year is provide frequent quality racing to build the membership, promote cycling as a preferred sport and to enhance road safety initiatives,” Stewart said.

For more information go to www.occ.org.au.