Kitted up: Seymour and Broadford Cycling Club president Jeff Hibbard stands by his bike.
When most of us picture cycling clubs we might imagine something like the Tour de France. Athletes in peak physical condition riding in an extremely competitive manner.
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This is not the vibe that Jeff Hibbard has fostered as the long-standing president of the Seymour Broadford Cycling Club; instead, he has aimed to create an inviting atmosphere for all.
Hibbard has been cycling since 1963, and first became involved with the club in Seymour when he moved to town with the railway as the station master in 1984.
Cruising along: Jake Lay on the bike.
“We have a lot of riders come up here and race with us because they enjoy the companionship of the Seymour club,” Hibbard said.
“After the race we usually have a few drinks and have a bit of a sit together and a bit of a chat before the presentation.
“We always like to welcome and talk to newcomers to the club and we always get return visitors because they just enjoy the vibe so much.”
The club is highly active, with members racing almost every Saturday at meets across the region.
Hibbard says a highlight of the year is the season of shortened races held on Tuesday evenings during daylight saving.
“We get a lot more people that don’t come on Saturday, in terms of spectators,” he said.
“They like to come out and sit on the grass and watch while having a few drinks and just enjoy the weather, given that it’s okay.
“You get a nice balmy night and you could have 25 riders and another 15 people that come just to watch. It’s just as much of a get-together as it is a bike race.”
Seymour and Broardford Cycling Club has a diverse range of riders who take part in its events, from 12-year-olds starting to race 25km to 77-year-olds who are just as passionate.
The club also has its standout stars such as Finbar O’Sullivan, who at 17 competed as part of the Victorian team at the Australian Road Titles in Wollongong last year.
Watching the club continue to roll on and seeing riders find confidence in themselves is what Hibbard has found most rewarding in his role as president.
“It’s the thing that the club has kept going over the years because as your volunteers and riders get older they tend to leave the club,” Hibbard said.
“We’ve got about five volunteers who are over 70 and they’re the core of the club, and it’s seeing the advancement of the younger ones that come along, and the older ones as well.
“They come along and they’re thinking, ‘this is going to be too hard’ or, ‘I don’t know about this’, and we say to them, ‘you’ll be surprised after just a few months of riding and racing how you’ve advanced’.
“There’s a great culture where the more experienced riders will help the younger ones by pointing out a few ways they can improve after a ride.
“It’s hard to believe that people come from a place where they are quite unsure of themselves to three months later saying they should have joined years and years ago (as they have improved so much).”
It’s safe to say that under Hibbard’s guidance the Seymour Broadford Cycling Club will continue to attract new riders and returning visitors from around the state, as it remains one of the most welcoming and community-driven teams to ride with.
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