It is great that we are now getting lots of riders on our club runs. For the benefit of newer riders, and regulars who might need reminding I have been asked to publish some

Guidelines for Good, Safe, Riding on a Club Run,

The first topics are Pace and Duration.

Club runs are essentially social rides. They are very helpful as an endurance element of anyone’s training, but are not really meant for hard training. The whole point is to ride as a group, with all the benefits that brings, and that means staying together.

The published target for the Cappuccino Ride is around 40 miles at about 15mph average, starting at 9.30 and stopping for tea and cakes at about the halfway point. The Expresso ride is supposed to do around 55 miles at nearer 18mph average, starting at 9 am and similarly stopping for refreshments at about halfway. The Wednesday ride normally does about 60 miles, at a pace to suit those on it. But these targets are only a guide, and actual distances will vary according to the weather, the composition of the group, etc.

Rumours that the Expresso ride is only for super quick riders are not true. Many of the stronger regular riders on the Cappuccino ride would probably be better suited to the Expresso ride, rather than pushing the Cappuccino ride along faster than some riders really want to go.

Best practice for riding in a group is covered by these guidelines

• Ride in pairs, never more than two abreast, but single-out if a car is behind and when this would enable the car to pass. (Note: when filing-out, it is normal for the rider on left to go forward, and the rider on right to drop behind.)
• Keep in a nice tight group, keeping close to the riders in front, normally within a metre, without leaving big gaps.
• Communicate with the other riders by pointing and calling out holes, walkers, joggers, parked cars and horses.
• Repeat calls up and down the line; assure the front knows if the back are struggling with the pace.
• Slow down for horses, give them lots of room.  Call ahead "bikes-up" if approaching horses from behind, so as not to startle them.
• Call out "stopping" or "slowing" if that is what you are doing, to avoid the rider behind you crashing into you. Use your brakes gently.
• When pulling out at junctions, you have the best view of any traffic coming from the left or right.  Call back to the riders still at the junction "clear", "car left" or "car right" as appropriate. After negotiating the junction check that all riders have restarted together, wait for any that got detached.
• On tight bends and narrow lanes call out "car down" or "car up"; remember that cars go down your throat and up your a**e.
• Do not overtake the lead rider.  The lead rider is controlling the pace. The exception to this is when "rotation" action is being used to share the load against a headwind.  If you are unfamiliar with this, you will be briefed on what to do.
• Do not overtake another rider on the left without shouting out a warning to the rider first.
• If the group breaks-up on a hill, due to differing rider pace, slow right down at the top of the hill for everyone to catch-up before picking up the pace again when everyone has got back together.
• There will always be some riders who insist on racing for village signs as ‘primes’ ~ this is OK as long as it does not become dangerous ~ two or three riders at the most, and only when the road is clear. Those indulging should then slow right up and let the group reform.
• Punctures and breakdowns: the Club runs will stop for these, but this needs the victim to loudly proclaim his/her problem. All riders are expected to carry a spare tube or two, and a pump and tyre levers.
• We have no rules on mudguards, but there is no doubt that these are of great benefit on wet winter rides, keeping the rider and his/her companions a little cleaner than without.
• Road bikes are best but mountain bikes are perfectly OK; remember that it will be at least 20% harder than on a road bike! Tri-bars are not allowed on road races, as they are considered dangerous for group riding. We therefore ask riders not to use them whilst riding in Club run groups.
• And finally riding kit. In the summer there is nothing more impressive than seeing a club run with everybody wearing club colours. This is not currently possible in the winter, as we have no club winter kit, and everyone wears a mixture of colours and styles. We are looking into this and hope to have Club winter jackets for winter 2010/11. As regards helmets, we recommend them, but if you want to ride helmet-less, it is your choice.

I think that’s most of the points I’ve been asked to address, and I must say that I can’t claim to be innocent of some of the ‘faults’ covered !

Enjoy your riding,

Barry Denny