Sunday Club Ride 18th May 2025.
First this week, a little housekeeping.
Thanks to all for making the Sunday club ride such an enjoyable and popular club ride.
Running a number of groups at different paces with both regular and irregular participants can (and often will) lead to the rides becoming a little disjointed, untidy and potentially less safe.
So a few notes on the culture of Sunday club rides whichever group we choose to ride in:
Please tick the attending box on SPOND, it’s useful to know how many are planning to attend (I know sometimes it’s a late decision, no worries). With that in mind please turn up at 8.50.
Arriving at 8.59, when the number of groups have already been chosen and populated isn’t helpful
Sunday club ride is always a no-drop ride. If someone drops off the back, we have a re-group at the next junction or hill top. If you notice someone getting dropped, let those at the front of the group know so that they can reduce the pace and/or have a re-group at the next junction or hill top. If you are getting dropped and want to drop back to the group behind let someone know so that they don’t come looking for you or wait for you.
Download or know the route. It’s useful if, as many as possible have downloaded the route, not only so that whoever happens to be at the front doesn’t miss a turn but also so that those at the back are expecting the turn and can give clear and timely signals to motorists behind.
Don’t jump the junction. When navigating a junction, we should always wait until it is clear that everyone can get across before making the turn. Jumping a junction on a faster ride particularly can be as annoying as it is dangerous. if those behind you don’t make it or are tempted to ‘risk it’ rather than getting gapped it can also lead to some irritation.
Note: I am currently re-examining all of the routes that we ride to see if I can make any of the turns a little safer and avoid the worst sections of road.
The club prides itself on the standard of it’s group riding. People often comment on how well organised the NFCC groups look. A clear riding culture is important both for our safety, the enjoyabilty of the ride and in public relation/advertising the club.
Riders at the front have the responsibilty to decide and indicate whether the group should ride single or two abreast. Those behind to communicate any risks from behind.
When riding two abreast, ride behind the wheel in front or no more than an inch or so to the side. Riding halfway between the two riders in front will force the rider next to you to into the middle of the road. Don’t half wheel the rider next to you. If we are single file, everyone rides single file. If we are a large group and riding single file leave a gap between the 6th and 7th rider so that traffic can navigate the group.
Here Endeth…
Le weekend
This weeks route is a little longer than usual to take advantage of the glorious weather and in recongnition of the stella levels of fitness that the group is currently enjoying
Route downloadable here:https://www.strava.com/routes/3358002112288164668
Usual watering hole.
Hope to see another great turnout.
Phil H