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alexD

Member since Mar 2014 • Last active Aug 2017

Cycling = coffee + cake

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  • in An introduction to club cycling
    Avatar for alexD

    'An Introduction to Club Cycling' is a monthly ride run by ICC specifically for people who would like to try out the club cycling environment in a non-pressured and supportive group.

    Next ride: 4th March 2017 at 08:30 am.

    You must be signed up for this event to take part. If you are not signed up here on the forum, you will not be able to participate. Details of how to sign up below. PLEASE READ

    Unfortunately we cannot offer this session to complete cycling beginners as we are not teaching cycling proficiency. See below for information.

    ALL ABOUT YOU:

    1.You should have already been cycling regularly in some capacity and be confident cycling on London's roads.
    2.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.
    3.You should have a moderate level of fitness already. Capable of riding 25 miles at an average speed of at least 12 mile per hour, 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.
    4.You should be interested in learning how to ride with a group, and open to improving your cycling skills and communication with other riders. A helpful overview on group riding can be found on the GCN website

    THE SESSION:

    We will cycle a 25 mile route and discuss group formation, signals, group communication.
    There will be a cafe stop at the end of our ride where we can discuss things such as endurance fitness, hill climbing and any other questions about the club. Depending on pace, we should get to the cafe stop in East Finchley between 11.30am - 12.30pm.

    HOW DO I JOIN IN?

    If you wish to attend this session you need to sign up to the ride here on the Islington forum.
    Register as a user on the forum (please help us by creating an actual name rather than the default username) then click the 'Yes I'm Attending' button to confirm your attendance. If you see no places left, it is because the session is full. We do not maintain a waiting list so please keep checking back in case a place becomes available.
    Places are strictly limited - this is to ensure we can safely guide you on our route. Because of this, please do not attend this session if you have not signed up on the forum - you will be turned away.

    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 true, that your gears shift reliably and your brakes work correctly. Ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres risk being punctured more easily.
    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.
    We're only doing a short ride, so an energy bar or a banana will do for food. Make sure you start the day with a decent breakfast!
    Bring water, making sure that you can easily carry it with you on your bike.
    The weather can change quickly so make sure you have checked the weather report and dress appropriately (waterproofs/warm clothing when appropriate).
    Money for the cafe stop or in case of an emergency (you might be in a situation where you need to get a train or taxi home so bring enough cash or your cash card!)

    WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME:
    BIKE LOCKS. Please leave your heavy D lock at home! You will not need it on this ride.
    RUCKSACKS. You should be able to stuff all your things into jersey pockets or a saddle bag. Please aim to travel light.

    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 and 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.

    • 22 comments
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  • in An introduction to club cycling
    Avatar for alexD

    Message sent, please let me know if you can't see the yellow envelope in the top right corner of this page!

  • in An introduction to club cycling
    Avatar for alexD

    The intro ride will start from another location - all of those details will be sent out on Thursday. It's mainly to make sure we know how many people to expect as for safety reasons we don't want people randomly turning up as group sizes become too big too quickly!

  • in An introduction to club cycling
    Avatar for alexD

    I'll be sending the full ride details to all attendees on Thursday so keep your eyes peeled for the yellow envelope in the top right hand of the page

  • in An introduction to club cycling
    Avatar for alexD

    Hi Nick,

    Mudguards are recommended on all wet rides - a mouthful of mud/road dirt is never nice!

    Cheers!

  • in Group Skills
    Avatar for alexD

    Group Skills is a chance to learn and share our group riding skills so that we can ride together more safely, more sociably and with less effort. This is a great opportunity for current and prospective members to build on skills, especially for those unable to find a place in the Introductory Rides.

    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.

    Note that we will adjust the level depending on the level of who shows up.

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

    Meet in the Regents Park Inner Circle, at the gates opposite York Bridge.

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