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@Geoff and @AgathaTomaszewska , @Harry_Jackson , @Chris77 and any other prospective members.

I am going to see who I might get hold of, and try to arrange some sort of 'modest' type of Sunday Hertfordshire ride on which we could take two or three prospective members (guests). If anything is sorted, it'd be a morning ride, departing from some mutually arranged spot - probably Whittington Park.

I'll post a forum 'message' directly to folks mentioned here (you should see a little envelope icon at the top right of the forum page). Any other interested parties are welcome to message me. We'll see if a ride can be arranged.

Hi Chris,

For this Sunday, I was thinking about a shorter-medium sort of typical Herts loop. However, I'm posting here just to check interest from prospective members/guests in case a few folks could arrange something.

If you are already a member, then general forum access can be used to propose rides or check for proposals (with, probably, a meet up at Highbury Fields). As mentioned, rides are often suggested very close to the actual Sunday. Sometimes people can be found at Regent's Park on Saturday morning, and if I don't have anything more specific in mind, I'd probably see if I can find people there.

Just following up regarding interest from prospective members.

@Harry_Jackson , @Geoff , and @AgathaTomaszewska , are you, or any other prospective members interested in finding some sort of ride this weekend?

Probably due to forecast of some rain, there's no obvious proposals of regular club rides, so I am just wondering if I might find one or two other ICC riders for some ride, and we might even be able to accommodate a guest or two.

I also note that the intro rides have only just started up again, and, unsurprisingly, the first is full. There are apparently group skills sessions, this evening (13th) and the morning of Sat 22nd which might have a place or two left.

@SallyB , @seanW , @Wai , @ChrisTsen

Is it still the case that prospective members can join a few rides before actually joining - With the idea of then attending the intro ride or group skills to allow membership to be approved?

I can't remember if there was a protocol for riders to email someone ([email protected])? with the intent to ride as a guest?

And might we have a planned ride or two, suitable for newcomers, this Sunday?

@user89740 @user90932 @user91205 @user90790 @Clive @Craig_Bee @Hannah_Menke @AlexP and any other likely attendees, this session is on this Thursday evening.

Could you let us know if you are still intending to make it.

Also, if you have a user12345 type of user name, could you think about changing it to something more distinctive.

I have a Dahon, with 20" wheels, that I have used on a few evening club rides.

This was the bike I was using when I started to ride more, and, before joining ICC, I'd ridden it around Richmond Park on quite a few occasions (and a little further). Later, for novelty, I tried out a solo ride on ICC's NLH route, and a few evening rides when my other bike was damaged.

I did notice the difference.

The bike is, I think, marginally heavier than the 13kg tourer that I normally use, and which, itself, can probably be considered a heavy choice. I think that a 6-speed Brompton will be similarly heavier than most (basic) road bikes used by ICC members.

The larger issue was position and, I think, some more resistance to motion. I found climbing a lot harder. More effort was required in order keep up with others.

For regular club rides, I'd not consider my folder a good choice. While some ICC rides can be quite gentle, our less brisk groups can still move along at a pretty good pace (12-14mph average moving speed).

I'd suggest that, unless one is quite strong, or, at least, very familiar with club ride pace & distance, it's a good idea to make rides easier rather than harder. For initial rides, it is probably wise to be careful with choices of bike, shoes/clothing, and food & drink.

A good alternative is to come along to a Regent's Park group skills session, or possibly to meet people at the Cafe after Saturday morning laps, and get a feel for some of the riding (though laps are not so representative of Sunday rides).

@zadoc if you can't make it, could you please cancel you attendance so that it's possible for someone else to jump in last minute.

Hi @Carara

Good to see your message, which has prompted a member's thread for a ride this Monday. I'm going to try a forum message, you should get a little red envelope symbol at the top right corner of the forum window.

I think the typical/recommended joining 'route' is to grab yourself a place on an intro ride, attend that, and/or potentially one of the groups skills sessions that run, and then sign up through the British Cycling page (there's a link from the club web page):

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/club/subscriptions?&club_id=2040

Prospective members are also welcome to join up to three club rides as a guest.

A ride this evening?

Wednesday night is North London Hills night. 18:30 at Whittington Park (Holloway Road entrance).

If the road is closed, the relatively huge detour can be taken to get over the bridge.

For the group skills, the meeting place is as Alex wrote: Regents Park Inner Circle, at the gates opposite York Bridge.

For 7am or 8am laps, people meet at the Zoo entrance (outer circle).

If weather isn't too awful, and Friday night not too heavy, I'll try to make 8am laps.

Hi @RobPhillips,

I'm not out this Sunday, so I can't speak for what Sunday rides might be running, and whether there are ride leaders who would be happy to have new members (who haven't ridden with groups before). Perhaps someone else (@JasonM ?) might be able to let you know if there definitely will be a suitable Sunday ride.

I'm also not about Satuday, but, though the Regent's Park laps are not quite the same as riding off somewhere with the club, it's quite likely you could find one or two ICC members who will be happy to cruise around with one or two new members, and describe signals and the basics of group riding.

Unfortunately, there hasn't yet been much in the way of ride proposals for this Sunday (I guess things are a little bit less busy than the Summer). So, actually, it may be a little hit and miss to pop to Whittington Park on Sunday with the assumption that there will be a suitable group. There should be a ride that you could join on some Sunday, but maybe best to post and see what rides are actually happening.

Hi @RobPhillips

Almost all club rides [Edit: the regular sessions/occasions rather than particular groups/rides] can be joined by prospective members. The intro ride is particularly suitable and recommended for everyone, but since it is usually booked up quickly, it is quite normal for new members to come along to other rides and catch the intro ride at a later date.

A Sunday ride, particularly the shorter and less brisk 'C' rides are a good choice, even for strong riders.

The Regent's park laps on Saturday morning are very social, and a good way to say hello and get used to riding with others.

Evening rides are also fine, but since it is darker now, numbers of attendees are falling off a little.

Gosh, what did you buy?

Hi Cath,

There's no specific pre-arranged club 'C' ride for a Sunday. There will usually be different members who plan/suggest different rides, and post up suggestions on the areas of the forum visible to ICC members.
However, it is also the case that rides are organized without such postings, often on the Sunday morning itself.

As yet, there's been no 'C' ride details posted up for this weekend. I reckon this is partially to do with the fact that Prudential Ride London will be taking place, and quite a few ICC riders will be riding that.

There should still be a few rides heading out from Whittington Park at 08:30. Ride distances will vary, 30 -55 miles (55-90km) is typical for a 'C' ride. Some can be moderately lumpy, including bigger hills that are easily reached, but typical 'C' rides won't involve challenging climbing and are usually fairly flat - perhaps 500-1000m.

Details about hills and stops (for coffee + cake) are normally called out on the day, and rides are usually somewhat dependent upon group members.

I think that there may have been a change to the visibility of the forum for non-members. The threads in which ride proposals are posted might not be visible.

However, until one has some idea about the ICC rides and routes, being able to see a few specific suggestions shouldn't be terribly important.

There should be a good social group of ICC riders for the Saturday Morning 8am Regent's Park laps.

There should be a selection of ride options at Whittington Park on Sunday Morning 08:30. It is often the case that there will be some juggling and arrangement of rides to suit the riders at the park.

Following on from what @BlakeG has said, keep an eye on the threads about Tuesday and Wednesday rides: http://forum.islington.cc/conversations/265856/newest/ and http://forum.islington.cc/conversations/132/newest/. Also keep and eye on the weather. There will nearly always be someone out, but, unsurprisingly, the good weather will bring out more.

What sort of pace are you imaging? It's generally considered sensible for newcomers to get used to the club on a more relaxed ride, hence the suggestion to try Sat or Sun when there are multiple groups. However, I've not noticed any problem with one or two prospective members joining less specifically gentle rides - provided that they are comfortable with the pace (we don't drop riders, but it's not a great or sensible intro to be stretched for the whole ride).

Yep. This is what I was told last summer. I turned up at Whittington Park and joined a few rides (I think a mid-week evening ride was actually my first).

The 'C' rides are a modest pace, and make a more relaxed ride in which to get accustomed to riding with the club. So these are recommended for newcomers (of all abilities).

It's probably worth keeping an eye on the introduction rides, and trying to grab a place on one of these even after trying out other club rides.

Some riders will organize a ride and want the group to be a reasonably compact size - typically this will mean a limit of 8-12 riders. In these cases, there may be some prearrangement of places.

More generally, there will also be route/ride suggestions on the day and/or slightly more flexible group sizes (12 is still a sensible upper limit). If a choice is popular, the riders may split into several groups for the same route. Many (most?) riders will simply reach Whittington park a little before 8:30 and tag onto a ride (or organize something).

Occasionally, there will be a few too many takers for certain rides, and one or more stronger riders might need to opt for joining a more gentle ride. If there is a shortage of 'C' rides, recommended for riders newer to group riding, some juggling/swelling of groups will usually take place.

Turn up to the park, with a few minutes to spare, and there should be a ride that you can join.

The introductory rides may be the best way to come along and try out riding with the club, but prospective members are welcome to join other rides. Sunday 'C' rides are usually recommended. Saturday 8am Regents Park is also a good social session.

I'd be tempted to go along the whole of Swains Lane, starting where it's flat at the mini-roundabout on Highgate Road, rather than turning in from Chester Road. It's not really better, but you get to go along the whole lane and the brief little run up the top of Highgate road and past the few shops at the bottom of Swains Lane is reasonably pretty.

If you are keen, and can make it to an intro ride, it's probably a good idea to sign up for that regardless (before the places are all taken up).

And, as @kos suggests, come along to a Sunday ride as soon as you want. Saturday 8am Regent's Park laps are also a good chance to say hello and I think there's a group riding session at the Park on the morning of the 26th: http://forum.islington.cc/comments/12840194/

I think Graham's suggestion worth bearing in mind - and strategy probably depends upon what one is looking for.

I reckon it's tricky since getting something (anything) in which you don't have confidence will probably make for less fulfilling riding, but, I gather, it's easy to spend more than is justified - on items that can still be unsuitable or break or be stolen.

Moving from my folder to road bike, I had a good idea about what I wanted - similar to the kind of thing that @CliveR describes. This set a budget and, somewhat in-line with what others have suggested, I ended spending a bit more and being quite happy with my bike.

However, this was never a bike for life, and though I wouldn't want to switch bikes, My riding has evolved*, and I wouldn't mind another, slightly different, steed.

*club rides are a great way to build fitness etc (and I should take care on Sat mornings to avoid being mistaken for an escapee).

I just checked to see what foods they chose. They were looking at glycogen recovery (only), and it seems that carbohydrate was the main thing. An initial fast food feed of hotcakes, hashbrown and orange juice, and a second feed of a hamburger, fries (small) and coke. These were compared to carbohydrate rich supplements.

I believe that they selected products, e.g. hash browns and orange juice, and, for recovery they found that the results were the same - the sports products weren't providing more of an effect than their nutritional content (which you can mirror to quite a good extent with selected fast food).

No suggestion that typical fast food is as good... until we reach hallowed publications such as the mail online:

"Hooray! You CAN eat fast food after exercise: Burgers and chips are just as good as supplements for workout recovery, study claims"