Post by StevePJ on May 24, 2015 22:18:44 GMT
Our Sunday morning club rides are about two hours long and if you've not ridden with us before and you want some guidance please contact Russ Powell at secretary.waldenvelo@gmail.com
We have two ride times on a Sunday, 7.30am and 9.45am, both starting and finishing in the Market Square.
At 7.30am we provide four different groups which are based upon pace, average speed and distance (allowing for different conditions throughout the year).
Group 1 is for the experienced rider who can comfortably cover between 38-42 miles within the two hour ride, depending on conditions and the route chosen. You will be expected to be able to keep within the group, take your turn on the front and be experienced with riding in a group (suitable for a club standard rider).
Group 2 is for the experienced rider who will be comfortable completing 36-38 miles within the two hour ride, again depending on the conditions and the route chosen. This a rider with an above average level of fitness, who may not be ready for Group 1 or is looking to build on their fitness before taking a turn with Group 1. You will, again be expected to take a turn on the front, to work within the group and must act accordingly (suitable for a rider wanting to progress to club standard).
Group 3 is also for the experienced rider who will be comfortable covering between 33-36 miles for two hours. You may not have ridden within a group before, but we will help you learn these skills and help develop your own riding abilities (suitable for an experienced sportive or /solo rider looking to ride within a group).
Group 4 is for the individual cyclist who will have a basic level of fitness able to ride comfortably for two hours covering between 28-30 miles. Again, you may not have ridden within a group before or with several riders, but you will be given instruction on how to ride in a peloton or grupetto and must act accordingly (suitable for a rider wishing to learn to ride within a group and a basic level of fitness).
At 9.45 we offer three Groups 5, 6 & 7 based upon the standards outlined in Groups 2, 3 & 4 as detailed above.
Please note that the speeds and distances given are for guidance and we aim to ride to the overall strength of each given ride on the day.
So if the group that you ride with on the day rides either stronger or slower, then our ride leaders will adjust the pace accordingly.
Average speeds and distances:
07:30
Group 1 - average distance 38 miles or 19mph
Group 2 - average distance 36 miles or 18mph
Group 3 - average distance 34 miles or 17 mph
Group 4 - average distance 30 miles or 15 mph
09:45
Group 5 - average distance 36 miles or 18mph
Group 6 - average distance 34 miles or 17 mph
Group 7 - average distance 30 miles or 15 mph
Ladies Ride
As well as the usual group rides, each month a ladies only ride takes place. This rides to the pace of the group and is a social ride with a coffee and cake stop; The Blue Egg in Great Bardfield is a favourite. The ladies usually average around 15mph and road bikes are a must. Its a great chance to catch up but equally enjoy a little team sprint on a few hills, get confident cycling as a group and enjoy riding without competitive boys! This ride welcomes any female cyclist over the age of 18 who can comfortably ride for around an hour.
We're here to encourage you to get involved and join in our rides and we're also keen to train and encourage new ride leaders, so if you're interested then please let us know.
However, when you do ride out with us, we do have some rules.
Please read and respect them as you won't be allowed to ride with us unless you comply and they are there for the safety of everyone:-
Bring a full bottle, some food, an inner tube and something to pump it up with too!
Whilst we have a no drop policy, we do expect you to be a little prepared even if its your first time out with a group: Make sure you have plenty to drink, even on a cold day you will need at least 500ml of liquid for 2 hours and please bring something to eat. You should make sure that you have fuelled-up before you ride; but an energy bar or two is an essential part of your first aid kit.
Finally make sure that your bike is in good working order before you turn up: Check your tyres, pressure, brakes and gears the day before and ideally you should know how to change an inner tube if you puncture - don't be put off, we're not going to test you, but every little bit helps as we need to keep you rolling.
If in doubt about any aspects, then please contact us first in all instances, without exception.
We will only allow non-club members to ride with us by invitation and provided that you like what we do then you should be looking to join the club after a couple of rides with us.
We have two ride times on a Sunday, 7.30am and 9.45am, both starting and finishing in the Market Square.
At 7.30am we provide four different groups which are based upon pace, average speed and distance (allowing for different conditions throughout the year).
Group 1 is for the experienced rider who can comfortably cover between 38-42 miles within the two hour ride, depending on conditions and the route chosen. You will be expected to be able to keep within the group, take your turn on the front and be experienced with riding in a group (suitable for a club standard rider).
Group 2 is for the experienced rider who will be comfortable completing 36-38 miles within the two hour ride, again depending on the conditions and the route chosen. This a rider with an above average level of fitness, who may not be ready for Group 1 or is looking to build on their fitness before taking a turn with Group 1. You will, again be expected to take a turn on the front, to work within the group and must act accordingly (suitable for a rider wanting to progress to club standard).
Group 3 is also for the experienced rider who will be comfortable covering between 33-36 miles for two hours. You may not have ridden within a group before, but we will help you learn these skills and help develop your own riding abilities (suitable for an experienced sportive or /solo rider looking to ride within a group).
Group 4 is for the individual cyclist who will have a basic level of fitness able to ride comfortably for two hours covering between 28-30 miles. Again, you may not have ridden within a group before or with several riders, but you will be given instruction on how to ride in a peloton or grupetto and must act accordingly (suitable for a rider wishing to learn to ride within a group and a basic level of fitness).
At 9.45 we offer three Groups 5, 6 & 7 based upon the standards outlined in Groups 2, 3 & 4 as detailed above.
Please note that the speeds and distances given are for guidance and we aim to ride to the overall strength of each given ride on the day.
So if the group that you ride with on the day rides either stronger or slower, then our ride leaders will adjust the pace accordingly.
Average speeds and distances:
07:30
Group 1 - average distance 38 miles or 19mph
Group 2 - average distance 36 miles or 18mph
Group 3 - average distance 34 miles or 17 mph
Group 4 - average distance 30 miles or 15 mph
09:45
Group 5 - average distance 36 miles or 18mph
Group 6 - average distance 34 miles or 17 mph
Group 7 - average distance 30 miles or 15 mph
Ladies Ride
As well as the usual group rides, each month a ladies only ride takes place. This rides to the pace of the group and is a social ride with a coffee and cake stop; The Blue Egg in Great Bardfield is a favourite. The ladies usually average around 15mph and road bikes are a must. Its a great chance to catch up but equally enjoy a little team sprint on a few hills, get confident cycling as a group and enjoy riding without competitive boys! This ride welcomes any female cyclist over the age of 18 who can comfortably ride for around an hour.
We're here to encourage you to get involved and join in our rides and we're also keen to train and encourage new ride leaders, so if you're interested then please let us know.
However, when you do ride out with us, we do have some rules.
Please read and respect them as you won't be allowed to ride with us unless you comply and they are there for the safety of everyone:-
- No Helmet = no ride
- No time trial bikes (these bikes are not built to work within a group ride)
- Road bikes only please for all rides. Please don't be offended, your bike is your choice - but a mountain bike, BMX, fixie or hybrid just won't work within a group ride. If in doubt, contact us first and don’t just roll up expecting a ride.
- Single file as we head out on the ride and on all narrow roads
- Shoes – sorry no open toe sandals or poor foot protection
Bring a full bottle, some food, an inner tube and something to pump it up with too!
Whilst we have a no drop policy, we do expect you to be a little prepared even if its your first time out with a group: Make sure you have plenty to drink, even on a cold day you will need at least 500ml of liquid for 2 hours and please bring something to eat. You should make sure that you have fuelled-up before you ride; but an energy bar or two is an essential part of your first aid kit.
Finally make sure that your bike is in good working order before you turn up: Check your tyres, pressure, brakes and gears the day before and ideally you should know how to change an inner tube if you puncture - don't be put off, we're not going to test you, but every little bit helps as we need to keep you rolling.
If in doubt about any aspects, then please contact us first in all instances, without exception.
We will only allow non-club members to ride with us by invitation and provided that you like what we do then you should be looking to join the club after a couple of rides with us.
