Velodroom: more than a store!

Arriving at Velodroom in Roden, the suspicion quickly creeps up on me that this is not just any bicycle store. Picnic benches and oil drums, which serve as standing tables, reveal a cozy meeting place for cyclists. Upon entering, many a cycling enthusiast will feel like a kid in a toy store. A colorful mix of beautiful new bikes, a cozy bar as well as an open workshop (also Shimano Service Center) will soon make you feel the urge to take off your coat and immerse yourself for a few hours in this cycling mecca. “We have been here with the Velodrome – formerly Bikelife Roden – for almost 2 years now and have multiplied in terms of space. We try to be more than just a bike store and prefer to see ourselves as a cozy bike living room” says Sanne Bouwmeester, working as event manager at Velodroom.

The approximately 25 employees are all passionate cycling enthusiasts and are ready to offer appropriate advice and assistance to the sporty cyclist. ATBs, road bikes, gravel bikes but also sporty (electric) city bikes are clearly arranged in this trendy cycling experience in the head of Drenthe. A cup of coffee (in my case tea) is of course not lacking.

“For us, this means that we as Velodrome have gained an additional digital channel to be close to our community.”

“Also outside the shop we try to be active with our own community. We sometimes organize bike rides and last year we also participated in the Rapha Festive 500”. The Rapha Festive 500 is an annual challenge in which cyclists from all over the world try to cycle 500 km. in the period between December 24 and 31. “For this we used the Cyql app for the first time last year and this worked out very well. Every day participants could choose a new race or ATB route that we had prepared in Cyql, of course with start and end points at Velodrome.”. Within a few days, 40 participants had already signed up in the Cyql app. “The nice thing is also that my own cycling club (De Kannibaal from Peize) also uses the Cyql app so I have everything nicely at hand.”

Cyql can obviously be used as a club app for cycling clubs but can also be used to support a one- or multi-day event or to build a community around a brand or company. “For us this means that we as Velodrome have gained an extra digital channel to be close to our community. We are now also considering preparing for the Drente 200 using Cyql. This way we can explore the course in parts with our followers beforehand. Perfect!” concludes Sanne. We conclude this interview and I am already standing with a slanted eye on one of the many gravel bikes.

My decision to look around some more is rewarded with a second cup of tea. I can extend my stay in the Velodrome a little longer

Cyql welcomes TC de Batauwers as the 250th club in Cyql

Last week a great milestone for Cyql! TC de Batauwers from Tiel was the 250th cycling club of the Dutch Cycling Federation (NTFU) to start with Cyql. The cycling club with more than 100 members has recently started using Cyql, the digital platform for cyclists, clubs and groups to cycle more, together and safer.

We spoke to Willem Op ‘t Roodt, board member of TC de Batauwers, about the use of the Cyql app within their own cycling club. “The city of Tiel is cycling-minded, we have had the professional Tour of Tiel here for years. There are many small groups in Tiel who cycle together. The objective of TC de Batauwers is to collect all these groups in a large club”. TC de Batauwers was tipped off by the NTFU about the Cycl app. However, the new board first had other priorities, such as renewing the club’s clothing. After this, Cyql was started to be used. “It is surprising how quickly you can actually set up the app for your club. In an evening you understand how it works and you can actually send the QR code to the members to sign up”. TC de Batauwers has chosen to maintain a closed club environment. Cyql can also be configured to open a club to anyone who is interested.

“It is surprising how quickly you can actually set up the app for your club. In one evening you understand how it works and you can actually send the QR code to the members to sign up”

At TC de Batauwers, the road captains are responsible for the routes on Sunday. In the week before, they send a GPX to Willem and these rides, for 3 groups, are placed on the website after which the members can download the GPX files. “All in all I need about 15 minutes per GPX to put on the website, so that is easily 45 minutes per week. If this can be reduced to 10 minutes per week by the Cyql app, then I am already very satisfied and it looks like it is actually only 10 minutes!”.

The first night after Cyql’s announcement was sent out, 34 members had already signed up for the app. TC de Batauwers will use the winter period to get all members into the Cyql app and from the spring Cyql will form the central digital channel around the organization of club rides and making mutual agreements.