The Bicycle Club of Irvine is a recreational and social cycling club for men and women of all ages and skill levels.
We are not a racing team. We have members from all over Southern California; in fact, only 25% of the members live in Irvine. Our members ride all sorts of bicycles: road bikes, tandems, all terrain ‘mountain’ bikes, comfort/hybrids and eBikes.
We have scheduled rides to accommodate riders of all skill levels, climbing abilities and paces. All ages and abilities are welcome. Minors are requested to be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult.
History
In 1981, the City of Irvine recreation staff at Deerfield Community Park started the Bicycle Club of Deerfield for middle school students. The club went on weekend rides to the beach, overnight rides down the coast and the staff provided bicycle maintenance classes. The club members discovered that they enjoyed cycling together, membership grew and adults began to join. In 1982, the group began meeting weekly at various park sites in Irvine, not just Deerfield Community Park. As a result, the name was changed to the Bicycle Club of Irvine (BCI) to represent the entire Irvine community.
The club became a popular social, and recreational cycling club. It self-identified as a
"Non-Racing, Recreational Social" organization. Soon bicycle shops were recommending BCI for those who were new to cycling, those looking for a non-competitive environment and anyone looking for friends to ride with.
On the morning of July 30, 1983, over 30 of the 149 club members came together in Deerfield Park for a pancake breakfast and set our vision for the Bicycle Club of Irvine. Bill Sellin, staff at that time of the City of Irvine Community Services Department running the club, served pancakes and facilitated the meeting. At that meeting a group volunteered to set up ByLaws, and regular monthly membership meetings, and a ride calendar mailed to members each month. They established the first Annual Meeting on January 4, 1984 where members adopted the new ByLaws and elected the first board of directors. The club, sponsored by the City of Irvine, had become a full-fledged cycling organization and Bill served as the Program Coordinator / Staff contact.
In 1986, the city of Irvine began to phase out of the club's operation, allowing the club to stand on its own as a not-for-profit organization. The Board expanded to include a Treasurer, opened its own financial accounts, and filed as a not-for-profit organization. BCI has continued for over 4 decades and now has almost 300 active members who participate in the club’s many scheduled rides and social events. Members are issued a serial number when they join; we are up to over 5,230 members who have joined us over the years.
About the Club
BCI draws its membership from Irvine as well as surrounding communities. Some members come from as far away as Los Angeles County and San Diego County and we even have a few from out-of-state.
Meetings are held every other month and feature a guest speaker along with announcements and discussions of club business. Go to our calendar for info on upcoming events and our blog for the latest news.
For many years, the Bicycle Club of Irvine has provided input into the City's bikeway development and bicycle facilities committee, has worked with public safety by helping to teach bicycle safety, and has provided free helmets for Irvine school children.
While the club identifies itself with the City of Irvine, it is well known throughout Southern California.
Contact info:
Info@BikeIrvine.org
Bicycle Club of Irvine
P O Box 50206, Irvine CA 92619-0206
