Club History
When NATS Club first started in mid 1989, it was one of the first (if not the first) mountain bike specific clubs in the East Midlands area. It was a ride on Sewston Lane, in the Belvoir Castle area, where a group of friends out mountain biking got talking about setting up an MTB club, as there was nothing of the sort around for them to join. The resultant club was known as N4C (short for Notts Cross Country Cycling Club). The club produced its first rides list and membership flourished. Not long after this the N4C race team was born. Four of the clubs founding members are still in the club today!
Come the early 90's and the club was boasting membership of around 100. This was long before most other local clubs had even started. As the name was becoming a bit of a mouthful, and lots of people were asking what N4C stood for, the decision was taken to 'update' the clubs name. The new name for the club was to be NATS (Nottingham All Terrain bikeS club). The club by this time had got an established race team and, in conjunction with Sshokwave in Nottingham, competing in the NEMBA race series and many other races. Sshokwave had some jerseys made up and these were given to team riders. NATS even had a race team manager! The club was also heavily into observed trials and organised many of these events before the scene lapsed in popularity. These competitions were very popular attracting competitors from far and wide.
Still not forgetting the aims of the club, many members attended the rides and enjoyed the wide variety on offer. It was great that other like-minded individuals and beginners to our sport could meet fellow mountain bikers and not get left behind.
It was in 1992 that the club decided that all members must wear helmets; this move has proved to be very well worthwhile over the years and is still our only club rule. It was the next year, 1993, that the club organised its first ORTP event, this was very successful.
More recently
Come the mid 90's the club no longer has a race team, however a few of our members do still compete in different events, from cross country to downhill, although just for the sheer enjoyment. We do concentrate more on the social side of things, making sure that everyone who comes out with us has a really good time, getting to ride in a wide variety of places and in keeping with the clubs ideals, we still make sure we don't leave any one behind!
Moving on to the late 90', we now have our own club jerseys and these have proved to be very popular amongst our members. Just recently membership is around the high 80's and this is very good considering the many clubs that are out there. In 1999 we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a garden party, this was so popular it's now an annual event. This is a great way to meet other members, as are the quarterly social meets we now organise at pubs through out the clubs region. Also being introduced for the new millennium are beginner's rides. These will be every month or there abouts. As the clubs membership is growing and our members are coming from further afield it is great to meet fellow mountain bikers who enjoy the sport as much as you do, its also a great way to get the most out of your mountain bike.
Its now 2007 ! the club is doing all the stuff it always has done, Fun rides with fun people. Almost 100 members can't be wrong! E-mail us for more info at natsmtb@yahoo.co.uk.