Skills on a Club Run

I am considering joining a cycle club - to assist me in finding better routes - and improve my
cycling performance (relative - as I am nearly
40).

I have been told the best thing is to join a local club run - which I intend to do. Just wondered
what techniques should someone who has never ridden in a bunch before employ on there maiden club
run. - I do suffer from weak and stiff ankles - so clicking into my SPD'S isn't always as crisp as I
would like.

Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would
be to slow.

Pete Halesowen Birmingham

 

>Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would
>be to slow.

Are the CTC members of Birmingham so unfit??? The CTC members of Norfolk put them to shame, then ;-)
I have great admiration and not less than a tad of jealousy at the speed at which Norfolk CTC
superpensioners and other members can cycle along on their bikes!

Cheers, helen s

~~~~~~~~~~
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Any speeliong mistake$ aR the resiult of my cats sitting on the keyboaRRRDdd
~~~~~~~~~~

 

On 5 May 2003 13:09:36 -0700, [email protected] (Pete Rollason) wrote:

>Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would
>be to slow.

Your CTC May Vary. Our Wednesday rides divide into slow and fast - with the fast group being quite
quick enough for me, and attracting several members of the local racing club. Sunday rins tend to be
more about steady progress than speed, but you can't do 80+ miles in a day without moving at least
moderately fast. I'm quite fit, can average 20mph for a coupole of hours, and I find some CTC Sunday
runs a challenge, others (those of only 70-odd miles) a nice relaxing trundle.

Guy
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There is a club run that leaves the island, corner of Walter Somers Club around 9:30 on Sunday
mornings. Or, you could pop in to the Halesowen A&CC Track on Manor Way and ask the club coaches for
some advise.

Chopper

"Pete Rollason" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am considering joining a cycle club - to assist me in finding better routes - and improve my
> cycling performance (relative - as I am nearly
> 40).
>
> I have been told the best thing is to join a local club run - which I intend to do. Just wondered
> what techniques should someone who has never ridden in a bunch before employ on there maiden club
> run. - I do suffer from weak and stiff ankles - so clicking into my SPD'S isn't always as crisp as
> I would like.
>
> Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would be
> to slow.
>
> Pete Halesowen Birmingham

 

"wafflycathcsdirtycatlitter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Are the CTC members of Birmingham so unfit???

they must be as i won the North Birmingham section hill climb last year

i knew a few members of the Stourbridge section and they used to go at a decent touring speed
(especially when heading towards the cafe).

 

[email protected] (Pete Rollason) wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...

> I have been told the best thing is to join a local club run - which I intend to do. Just
> wondered what techniques should someone who has never ridden in a bunch before employ on there
> maiden club run.

The main thing is not to bring the group down. Just make it clear at the start that you are
new to group riding. From a sense of self preservation they will tell you everything you need to
know, and should lead you in nice and gently. Listen carefully, concentrate, and you will be
amazingly popular.

> Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would be
> to slow.

You don't intend to race now, but you could find yourself strangely drawn towards it as your
technique and fitness improve and you start to enjoy the feeling of being swept along in the chain
gang. Don't be too dismissive of the CTC either, some of those guys might surprise you.

--
Dave...

 

"Hatchet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> There is a club run that leaves the island, corner of Walter Somers Club around 9:30 on Sunday
> mornings. Or, you could pop in to the Halesowen A&CC Track on Manor Way and ask the club coaches
> for some advise.
>
> Chopper
>
> "Pete Rollason" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I am considering joining a cycle club - to assist me in finding better routes - and improve my
> > cycling performance (relative - as I am nearly
> > 40).
> >
> > I have been told the best thing is to join a local club run - which I intend to do. Just
> > wondered what techniques should someone who has never ridden in a bunch before employ on there
> > maiden club run. - I do suffer from weak and stiff ankles - so clicking into my SPD'S isn't
> > always as crisp as I would like.
> >
> > Although I don't ever intend to race - I would consider that at the moment CTC rides would be
> > to slow.
> >
> > Pete Halesowen Birmingham

Sorry this thread has got sidetracked into the speed of CTC club runs. I didn't mean to offend CTC
riders. I suppose what I mean is that i have a racing bike and wear racing gear - think I might feel
a bit out of it on a CTC run.

Anyway my original question was more asking for tips on your first club run, as I have never ridden
in a bunch before.

Pete.

 

Pete Rollason <[email protected]> wrote:

: I have been told the best thing is to join a local club run - which I intend to do. Just wondered
: what techniques should someone who has never ridden in a bunch before employ on there maiden club
: run. - I do suffer from weak and stiff ankles - so clicking into my SPD'S isn't always as crisp as
: I would like.

To answer the question asked:

The skills you need depend on the group. Groups like (most) CTC rides ride fairly loosely - all you
need to do is keep with the other riders. Ride side by side. When someone shouts "single out", if
you are on the inside slow down a smidge (no brakes!) and let the rider on the outside in. If you
are on the outside, slip in in front of the rider on your inside.

If someone points at the ground, they are warning of a pothole/something in the road. *Don't* stare
where they are pointing, just move a little in the opposite direction.

Never brake sharply in a bunch.

If you have a puncture, shout "Puncture". This lets people behind move around you and means people
will wait for you.

That covers the basics really.

Faster groups ride much closer and it all gets much more hairy, so start with the basics and go
from there.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune http://www.clune.org Power is delightful. Absolute power is absolutely delightful -
Lord Lester

 

"Arthur Clune" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> riders. Ride side by side. When someone shouts "single out", if you are on the inside slow down a
> smidge (no brakes!) and let the rider on the outside in. If you are on the outside, slip in in
> front of the rider on your inside.

interesting - our lot seam to do it the other way - rider on the outside pulls in behind. With a new
group it's probably best to check with your run leader which it is or could cause some comedy
situations with you and another rider coming to a virtual stand still waiting for the other to pull
forward...

 

wafflycathcsdirtycatlitter wrote:

> Last local CTC club night I was at, four of the members were in full race kit as they'd been out
> on a time trial event immediately before the CTC meet

All of these things will vary on who exactly shows up. A CTC run will go as fast as the slowest
rider, but if that's quite fast then the run will be too.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email protected]e.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/