Say hello to Mark

Hello! I’m Mark, I’m the Welfare Officer for York Rouleurs. My focus is to make sure we stay safe on the roads!

Although I have always cycled since I was a kid and for my commute, I am late to cycling as a sport.

I learned to play rugby at primary school and carried on playing until I was 43. After I retired from rugby, I needed to do something to keep active, so strangely chose triathlon. That’s the logical next step, isn’t it? I joined a gym with a pool and a running club, and soon realised that I also needed to join a local triathlon club to get some coaching. I quickly discovered that cycling was my favoured discipline, even on a 36-mile round-trip commute. While I still take part in triathlons—having represented my country in duathlon and recently completed my first Ironman—the local triathlon club is not as active as it once was, and cycling is always better in company. I was keen to join a local cycling club and chose York Rouleurs, as they seemed the friendliest, the most active and, as I have found out, the most welcoming. There really is a club ride for everyone. It is good to get out on your bike in club colours and enjoy the craic.

The Committee takes care of running the club and making sure it stays welcoming, inclusive, safe and supportive and my role focuses on ensuring everyone is safe and supported when riding with the club. This includes handling incidents, providing assistance and ensuring overall safety practices are in place. My aim is to maintain a secure and supportive environment for all members.

Rider safety is crucial because it ensures a secure and enjoyable experience for all members. By leading on safety, we can prevent accidents from happening, which is especially important as our club continues to grow. A focus on safety allows riders to participate with confidence, knowing that their wellbeing is being carefully considered and protected throughout each ride.

I’m keen to support continued improvements in how we manage incidents, support riders, enhance communication and strengthen our overall safety practices. Ensuring we have the right resources and support for everyone will help make our rides even safer and more enjoyable.

I'll usually be out on a Sunday morning ride with the club, so that’s a great time to catch up with me. If you’d like to talk before then, just drop me an email! See you on a club ride soon!

Mark Laughton (he/him)

Welfare Officer