Club run Dates for 2010 are listed opposite with links to the "mapmyride" routes.

 

 

DATE	DISTANCE	ROUTE	START TIME	START LOCATION	LEAD RIDER
Sunday 7th March	100miles	Forest Foray	0830hrs	Broadstone Sports Centre	Mark Dobbs

Winter Club runs

Winter is the time of year when club rides become the focus. Those new to cycling will want to know a little more about the club runs and what is available locally. The basics are outlined below.

This Page will be updated to show all the local rides that are taking place to make sure you make the most of the down season.

The traditional old school cyclists will tell you that the winter is the time to get the stamina built. Long slow rides getting the "miles in your legs" to build a base fitness ready for next season. They will also tell you that riding in the "fat burning zone" will keep you trim or reduce your waistline which will assist your preparation for the next season. Folk lore or fact ?

I remember being told off for using the "Big ring" on a reliability ride......... "We don't use that ring this time of year"

The one thing you can be sure is that riding in a group and riding at a medium tempo for a few hours will do you no harm whatsoever. Treating every ride as if its a sprint up and down the bypass will not actually help out much in December. Cycling is after all, about having fun and sometimes in the company of others.

What do you need?

A Bike is a good start, consider clip on mudguards, you will need spares such as inner tubes tyre levers patches and a pump. Winter is when you will suffer the greatest number of punctures the flints stick to the tyre and penetrate kevlar, carbon fibre, armour plated tyres...... Lights? certainly a small rear flasher is a good investment  

Warm clothing, always a personal thing but "longs" in the winter prevent muscle strains and keep you warm, I prefer bib versions to keep the lower back warm, a good waterproof jacket that isn't going to steam up inside like a crisp packet is a good investment, waterproof warm gloves are my priority, A helmet, as ever, is recommended, glasses to protect your eyes from spray and road grime make it more enjoyable. Overshoes? protect your expensive footwear and keep your feet warm.

You may be out for anything up to 8 hours, a mobile phone for "home recovery" is useful.. Food and drink to sustain you is essential. After 90 mins of cycling your body will need to be topped up and continue to be topped up until you get home, forget and you will eventually see stars and have a very long slow crawl home feeling very miserable.

Some of the longer rides may include a cafe stop, do your research try out the different products from all the drink and food companies. If you get on well with it now you will know what to use when you compete in your next 12 hour time trial or 3 day stage race. This is the right time of year to make mistakes with feeding....

Club ride etiquette

This is not a race, we ride together, assist one another, warn each other of dangers such as drain covers, potholes in the road, parked cars, whatever......... Riding in a group has been be done carefully and sensibly, you can't ride 3 abreast on a single track road..!!!!! 2 abreast on a reasonably big road is sensible. You need to take a turn at the front now and then....... the group should slowly move around so that everyone gets a turn doing the work at the front and its a great opportunity to have a chat with everyone.............  If the group breaks up don't go leaving the "newbie" alone out the back, blown up and vowing never to come out again.

If there is anything you don't understand or need to know more about, Ask. The discussion pages give you the opportunity to find out more from the more experienced members....