If something needs to be done Martin Cain is one of those people who is the first to put his hand up.

In terms of his involvement in sport he’s done it all his life and the current beneficiaries of his can-do attitude are Cheltenham and County Cycling Club.

He took over as interim chairman when Robin Mainwaring stood down in February – it’s a post he will hold at least until the club’s AGM in November – and he is also the club’s race captain.

That means he is a pretty major player at a club that he only got involved with some four or five years ago.

His role as race captain is certainly full on, organising as he does a regional category road race involving 60 riders who are all pretty decent.

It is a 60-mile race involving category 2, 3 or 4 riders and last year’s race was staged at Bourton-on-the-Water.

This year’s race will be at Winchcombe in July and Martin said: “It’s a big regional event and we stop the traffic. There are motorcycle riders at the front of the peloton and there are processional cars with officials at the back, it’s quite spectacular.

“It’s an Open event for individuals and teams and there are points for places with the competitors aiming to reach national standard.”

Martin, who lives in Bishop’s Cleeve with his wife Michelle, has been a keen cyclist for many years.

“I’ve done a lot of mountain bike riding,” the 54-year-old said, “but I’ve done more and more road riding recently.”

He gets plenty of opportunity to pursue those pastimes at his club, of course, a club which also caters for those who enjoy cyclo-cross, time trials and endurance riding.

“We’re one of the biggest clubs in the country,” said Martin with some pride.

And with people like Martin, a chartered engineer, involved, the club can only continue getting bigger and better.

“I’m passionate about people contributing,” he said. “I’ve always been happy to volunteer and the more volunteers the better.

“I like being involved. When one of my lads was playing rugby in the junior section at Cheltenham Tigers I helped coach his team.”

Martin, originally from Bolton – he still has quite a strong Lancashire accent – also managed a football team before he moved to glorious Gloucestershire and as far as his cycling is concerned he couldn’t have chosen a better place to live.

“I love cycling riding around the Cotswolds whether I’m on my own or with members of the club,” he enthused. “It’s a wonderful part of the country, you see little country lanes and tiny villages that you would never normally see.”

Martin isn’t alone in enjoying the freedom that cycling brings, of course, and he reckons more and more people will be getting on their bikes in years to come.

“You see more and more electric bikes and they are making cycling accessible to people who wouldn’t normally ride,” he said. “They still have to pedal but they are having a go because they are getting some assistance.”

Martin is also keen to see more women to take up the sport.

“British Cycling is trying to promote a million new women into cycling regularly,” he said.

“We would like to grow our ladies’ membership at Cheltenham and have a ladies’ captain, Sally Reid, who is an ex-national standard mountain bike champion and is passionate about supporting women cycling.

“Sally has introduced ladies’ coaching sessions to help grow confidence and riding abilities for ladies and works in conjunction with other cycling clubs in the area.”

Sally Reid is just one of a good number of people who do so much for the club and Martin is happy to continue as chairman after November if no-one else comes forward.

He’s also happy to continue in his position as race captain for a while longer.

“I’ll train someone up for a year and then they can take over,” he said.

Martin Cain is a true club man!

Any ladies interested in knowing more about what the club offers should contact Sally Reid through the contacts page on the club website https://www.cheltenhamandcounty.cc/contact/