The aim of the longer winter rides is to provide steady base miles. These tend to be rides of 80 miles at around 17mph including a café stop to refuel. As well as improved fitness there are a lot of gains to be had from this type of training rides including confidence to ride in a group and improved bike handling skills.As riding in winter is often wet it is so it's important to follow these guidelines....
Bike maintanance
- Full mudguards with mudflaps are the number 1 priority - raceblades or similar clip on blades don't really cut it. This is as much for your own comfort as the riders around you.
- Front and back lights (not essential but strongly advised).
- Spare inner tubes, tyre levers and pump.
- Bike to be in good working order. It’s worth cleaning and checking your machine after every ride especially brakes, chain, gears and wheels. It’s definitely worth checking your tyres for cuts, thorns etc.
Personal kit
- Carry enough food and drink for yourself.
- Don’t forget gloves, hat, waterproof etc.
Meet up time for the long rides will generally be 9am with 9.10am departure, (although we may do some Audax events which start earlier). The rides will be long steady training rides and as such people will be expected to be fit enough to keep up or if dropped to find their way home ok. Ride in pairs in the group, not 4 abreast as happens on quite a lot of the beginners rides, generally for 10 minutes per pair at the front, then peel to the back and stay on the wheel of the rider in front. The reason for providing the list of cafes is to create a variety of destinations for run leaders to plan routes to. This will help people get to know a wider area of quieter roads.