Group Skills - Saturday 22 April

Group Skills is a session for prospective and current members of ICC which teaches group riding skills so that we can ride together more safely, more sociably and with less effort. It is a great opportunity to refresh and build on skills.

If you are new to the club and wish to become a member you will need to complete either a Group Skills session or an Introduction to Club Cycling training session. Please make yourself known to the ride leader when arriving so they can confirm your attendance to our membership manager.

We will look at communication skills and formations such as pace line and two up, plus how to pace/lead the ride from the front and rotate being at the front.

If you know all this, come and share your knowledge and if you don't, come and take advantage of the sharers.

Note that we will adjust the level depending on the ability of the group.

ABOUT YOU

You should have been cycling regularly in some capacity and be confident riding on London's roads.

You should be familiar with your bike, its set-up and be confident riding it. If you've only just bought your bike, take it out for a couple of spins on your own to gain confidence before you join a group ride with us.

You should have a moderate level of fitness and be able to ride 50 km at an average speed of at least 20 km/h on the flat, with several steep hills and only brief stops. If you're not yet comfortable at that distance or pace please build up with solo rides before coming along.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer this session to complete cycling beginners as we are not teaching cycling proficiency.

THE SESSION

Meet in the Regent's Park Inner Circle, at the big gates opposite York Bridge. Sessions typically last about 90 minutes.

Please read our Group Skills Guide before attending:
https://islington-cc.squarespace.com/s/I­CC-Group-Riding-Guide.pdf

HOW DO I JOIN IN?

If you wish to attend this session you should register as a user on the forum then click the 'Yes I'm Attending' button above to confirm your attendance. We will ask you to reconfirm a few days before the ride. You will need do this on the Forum.

Click Register in the top right corner and change your user name from the default User12345. To make sure you receive messages please click “Edit Profile” in the top right corner, then click “Notification Settings”, and tick “Enable Notifications”, “When you are @mentioned in a comment” and “When an event you are attending is imminent”.

If you are a former ICC member please add a note below to let us know.

These rides get booked up quickly. If no places are left, the session is full. We do not maintain a waiting list so please keep checking back in case a place becomes available.

If you do sign up but cannot attend, please remove yourself from the attendance list so someone else can take the spot. You can do this by clicking the ‘Can’t Make It’ button above which appears once you have signed up.

If you do not attend and do not remove yourself, we reserve the right to restrict your attendance of future Intro Rides and Group Skills. This is due to high demand for places.

WHAT TO BRING

As with all club rides, you must wear a helmet to take part in this ride.

Your bike must be in a good and roadworthy condition. Check your wheels are straight, that your gears shift reliably and your brakes work correctly. Ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.

Spare inner tubes, tools and a pump. Other riders may help you if you are in trouble but you should be self-sufficient and at the very least be able to fix a puncture.

Food and water. We're only doing a short ride, so an energy bar or a banana will do for food, but do start the day with a decent breakfast! Make sure you can easily carry water with you on your bike.

The weather can change quickly so check the forecast and dress appropriately (waterproofs/warm clothing when appropriate).

Money if you want to visit the café afterwards.

OTHER STUFF

ALL RIDERS MUST observe the Highway Code AT ALL TIMES when riding with Islington CC. This includes: riding no more than two abreast; riding in single file to allow traffic to pass on narrow roads; obeying traffic lights and signs; not riding on pavements; and not abusing other road users.

Please acknowledge any courtesy shown to you by other road users and stop at pedestrian crossings where necessary.

Riders attend club rides strictly at their own risk. Please listen to your ride leaders and follow their instructions.

JOINING THE CLUB

Once you have completed an Intro or Group Skills ride you will qualify to pay the membership fee and join the club. Once you’ve signed up through British Cycling our membership secretary will process your application and be in touch shortly to welcome you to the club.
See https://islington.cc/membership

Looking forward to seeing you!

David,
Development Secretary

Hi David, looking forward to attending the Group Skills session so that I can confidently join other group rides and enjoy the English summer on the bike :) unfortunately, I'll be coming back from a trip that day (22 April) and so won't be able to join you guys then. Will the next one be only in a month's time after that or any chance that it'll happen sooner? (fingers crossed for the latter!!!) thank you so very much. Nat

Hi David
Just would like to mention a few concerns that I have before I attend the group skills test. I am in my late fifties and had knee surgery on both knees 1 year ago. No problem with them as I run often 5km and 10kms quite well but cant use cleat shoes for cycling as I am very protected over my knees and wouldnt want to have a bad fall. Im a good standard cyclist with a racing bike and would like to ride out with the club on Saturday rides. Do you feel this could work for me or do you think the standard is too high.
Thanks, Juliette

Juliette, firstly its not a "test". It's about teaching you how we ride together in a group and also to give you an idea of whether you think the club is right for you. So I would definitely come along, even if you have doubts, as there's nothing to lose really, especially in Regent's Park as you're not going to be out in the middle of nowhere if its too much for some reason. On a personal note, I'm a similar age to you and haven't been running for around 25 years because I ran too much in my twenties. I certainly couldn't run 5km but I can cycle 100 miles+ as cycling is much kinder on the knees. You would probably be fine with mountain bike cleats, which release easily, but there's certainly no need to use cleats to cycle with the club. So please come along and I hope you enjoy it, Stephen

We have an Intro Ride on May 6 https://forum.islington.cc/events/8251/#comment16927585

Thanks @DavidMason! I’ve signed up to that intro ride but I heard from other fellow cyclists that doing the group skills first would be recommended, as I need to learn to cycle in close groups. I’ve been watching videos about signs and seen your very helpful club guidance, but not sure if it’s alright to jump on a 50k ride around with a group instead of starting first with the Regent’s Park one… thoughts? Thanks so much.

The Intro Ride also teaches group riding and gives a good flavour of the sort of roads we ride on.

Hi Stephen
Thanks very much for your reply to my cycling concerns. Very helpful indeed and has given me a bit more confidence now to give it a go...thank you
Juliette

Glad to hear it. I actually forgot to mention that I had exploratory knee surgery on my R knee approx 25 years ago (after excessive running) + broke my L knee cap (it took the impact of the kerb when a careless pedestrian ran into me while I was cycling) 5 years ago. The latter needed an operation the next day to pin it and then another 6 months later to take the pins out. So knee surgery isn't necessarily a barrier. Enjoy the Group Skills session and I hope it persuades you to sign up

@AdrianSami @aidanof @Amaury @Ben_Dixon @Bonnie @Carney @CharleyBircumshaw @HanHart @HugoG @JoAngusRex @Juliette @KevinGilmoor @LewisB @NMalam @OllieDiss @Patrick_Readings @Roryad @TobySands @user134198 @user142164 @user154847 @user155068 @user155143 @user155158 @user155171 @user155188 @Victor-ratier @Will_Baxter

We hope you’re looking forward to the Group Skills ride this Saturday and look forward to meeting you.

Unfortunately, sometimes people drop out without telling us. Please could reconfirm your place by copying the list below and adding your name.

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

If you reserve a space but fail to attend we may limit you from attending in the future. If you do not reconfirm, we may have to send you away if we don’t have enough leaders.

Please remind yourself of the information at the top of this thread and read our Group Riding Guide before the ride so we can spend less time standing around during safety briefing and more time riding!

If you still have an @user username it would help if you could change to something more personal. This makes it much simpler for us to process new members after the rides.

The meeting place is the Regent's Park Inner Circle, at the big gates opposite York Bridge.

Once you have completed the ride and paid the membership fee our membership secretary will process your application and be in touch shortly to welcome you to the club and give you full access to the Forum. This usually takes up to a week.

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1.
2.
3.
etc

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   2.
   3.
   etc
   
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello

1. William Baxter
   3.
   etc
   

1. Jo Costello
   
2. William Baxter
   
3. Patrick Readings
   4.
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   
2. Kevin Gilmoor
   3.
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
Kevin Gilmoor

1. Adrian Samuila
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   
2. William Baxter
   
3. Patrick Readings
   
4. Kevin Gilmoor
   
5. Adrian Samuila
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
William Baxter
Patrick Readings
Kevin Gilmoor
Adrian Samuila
Charley Bircumshaw

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   
2. William Baxter
   
3. Patrick Readings
   
4. Kevin Gilmoor
   
5. Adrian Samuila
   
6. Charley Bircumshaw
   
7. Bonnie Smith
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   
2. William Baxter
   
3. Patrick Readings
   
4. Kevin Gilmoor
   
5. Adrian Samuila
   
6. Charley Bircumshaw
   
7. Bonnie Smith
   
8. Carney Battenti
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

1. Jo Costello
   
2. William Baxter
   
3. Patrick Readings
   
4. Kevin Gilmoor
   
5. Adrian Samuila
   
6. Charley Bircumshaw
   
7. Bonnie Smith
   
8. Carney Battenti
   
9. Amaury Cabrol
   

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
William Baxter
Patrick Readings
Kevin Gilmoor
Adrian Samuila
Charley Bircumshaw
Bonnie Smith
Carney Battenti
Amaury Cabrol
Toby Sands

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
William Baxter
Patrick Readings
Kevin Gilmoor
Adrian Samuila
Charley Bircumshaw
Bonnie Smith
Carney Battenti
Amaury Cabrol
Toby Sands
Aidan O’Friel (aidanof)

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
William Baxter
Patrick Readings
Kevin Gilmoor
Adrian Samuila
Charley Bircumshaw
Bonnie Smith
Carney Battenti
Amaury Cabrol
Toby Sands
Aidan O’Friel (aidanof)
Justin Edenburg (Justin_E)

If you have booked onto the Group Skills session on April 22nd please confirm that you can attend by copying this entire message and adding your name to the list. (If you remove the @ from your name you won't be emailed each time someone new adds their name).

If you are no longer able to make it, please remove yourself by clicking "Can't Make It" at the top of this page. This means others have a chance to take your place and we don’t have to organise more ride leaders than we need.

This ride is only open to people who have booked by clicking "Yes I'm Attending at the top of page 1. If you haven't booked but would like to join this ride you should check this page regularly to see if places come free.

Jo Costello
William Baxter
Patrick Readings
Kevin Gilmoor
Adrian Samuila
Charley Bircumshaw
Bonnie Smith
Carney Battenti
Amaury Cabrol
Toby Sands
Aidan O’Friel (aidanof)
Justin Edenburg (Justin_E)
Kirsten Lodge