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New starters - your questions answered

Rides dedicated specifically for new members are aimed at people who are new to cycling in groups, who are interested in joining the club and group riding. You should be a competent and confident cyclist used to doing distances of at least 50 miles regularly at an average speed of 15mph. These are training rides but they do have a social side.

Each new member ride will be led by an experienced club member who will be happy to support you during the ride. They are not usually qualified coaches but maybe able to give you some tips if you want them.

New member rides are not designed for those who are new to cycling or for children. HSBC and British cycling organise Let's Ride which cater for new and inexperienced cyclists and children, details at https://www.letsride.co.uk/. 

When are they?

These rides are on the first Saturday of every month. Rides start from BW Cycling at 9.00. Please aim to arrive at 8.45 and ask for Brian or Danny. We return to BW between 1pm and 2pm. BW Cycling opens from 8.45 am on a Saturday so you can buy energy bars, spares etc on the morning if you need them. They also have a track pump you can borrow.

Before the ride

Read the section on group riding on this website at http://www.bristolroadclub.com/group-riding.

Email Brian O'Kelly (brian.okelly@bristolroadclub.com) and Danny Cox (dannycox1965@gmail.com) to give them an idea of your experience and let him know you will be coming.

On the day it's important to have a good breakfast to avoid the dreaded "bonk" (running out of energy) which is common for those pushing harder over longer distances for the first time – we have all done it. Bring drink, 2 water bottles if the weather is hot, and energy bars or similar as snacks. You'll also need money for the café stop, and a phone and some ID in case of emergency.

How fit do I need to be?

We normally ride for around 50 - 60 miles, with around 1,000 to 1,200 of climbing, over 4 and a half hours including a café stop at halfway. These are training rides. You need to be a competent and confident cyclist used to doing distances of at least 50 miles regularly at an average speed of around 15 miles per hour.

Do I have to ride a road bike?

No, but most people do and it is recommended you do. Hybrid bikes may be ok as long as they are not too heavy and the tyres relatively thin (otherwise you will struggle to keep up). Mountain bikes are not suitable. Please make sure your bike is roadworthy and you have spare inner tubes, tyre levers, multi tool and a pump (worn tyres are the biggest cause of punctures). Aerobars, tri-bars or clip-ons are not allowed on a group ride. If you have these on your bike please remove or replace them before coming on a ride.

What happens if I have a mechanical problem?

We rarely have mechanics ride with us, but will help where we can and make sure you can get home safely.

How fast are the rides?

The speed varies depending upon the group and the route. On the hills the groups tend to break up a little as we go at our own pace and then regroup at the top. No one gets left behind. A fair average is around 16 mph for the whole ride.

This compares to the clubrun which averages around 16/17 mph and the elite group which averages 19 + mph. On average, you will ride 1 or 2 mph quicker in a group than on your own.

Do you rotate so that people take a turn on the front?

Generally yes, but this depends upon who is riding and there is no compulsion to do so.

Riding two abreast

We ride two abreast on all roads, so you need to get used to this if you haven't done it before. Of course we single out when passing cars or horses on narrow lanes and whenever it makes sense to do so. Always try to stay about a wheel length away from the rider in front and then move closer as you feel more confident. It can take several rides to become confident riding in a group, but you will get encouragement from the other riders and just ask if you have any concerns.

Which routes do you use?

We have various routes including to Cheddar, Usk, Tintern, Slimbridge and Fenny Castle. The route chosen is normally decided on the day based on weather, wind direction and where we went the previous week.

Can I leave the ride and come back early?

Yes, but please let the leader know before you do.

I am new to the club do I have to wait until the first of the month to ride?

Not necessarily. The dedicated new member rides are once a month. If you have never ridden in a group before you should wait for one of these.

If you are confident in a group, for example you have experience with another club, you are welcome to do join the clubrun on other Saturdays: e mail Brian as above.  Please note, if you are dropped from a clubrun, the group may not wait for you, so if you are unsure whether you can hold the pace, the new member rides are a much more suitable starting point, as no one gets left behind.

Questions

Cyclists love talking about cycling and sharing their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask, whether about kit, nutrition, riding tips, racing, best places to ride, which sportives to do etc. There is a huge amount of knowledge in the club with many members still riding having joined in the 1960s: we have members who are ex-pro’s, people who have won national and world championships, as well as those who race track, road, time-trial, cyclo-cross and mountain bikes.