FAQ

These rides are held on the first Saturday of every month, starting at 9am from Brunel Lock Road, near BW Cycling. We recommend arriving at 8:45am and looking for Brian or Danny.

These rides usually cover at least 90-100km at an average speed of 25kph. The ride will typically last until 1-2pm.

Road bikes are strongly recommended for group rides, as they provide the best performance and safety. Cycling shoes with cleats are essential. Hybrid bikes could work providing you are a strong rider and wear cycling shoes with cleats. If you are considering this please first email Brian. However, mountain bikes are not suitable for group rides. Additionally, aerobars, tri-bars, or clip-ons are not allowed on group rides, so please remove or replace them before joining the ride.

We rarely have mechanics ride with us, but will help where we can and make sure you can get home safely. It is important to ensure that your bike is in good working condition and that you have the necessary equipment, such as spare inner tubes, tyre levers, a multi-tool, and a pump.

The speed of a group ride can vary depending on the route and the members of the group. On hilly terrain, the group may split up and regroup at the top, ensuring that no one gets left behind. The average speed for a new member ride is around 25kph. This is slightly slower than the club run, which typically averages 26-28kph, and the elite group, which averages 30kph and above. Bear in mind that on average, you will ride quicker in a group compare to riding on your own.

Generally yes, but this depends upon who is riding and there is no compulsion to do so.

We ride two abreast on all roads, so you need to get used to this if you haven’t done it before. Of course, we single out when passing cars or horses on narrow lanes and whenever it makes sense to do so. Always try to stay about a wheel length away from the rider in front and then move closer as you feel more confident. It can take several rides to become confident riding in a group, but you will get encouragement from the other riders and just ask if you have any concerns.

We have various routes including to Cheddar, Usk, Tintern, Slimbridge and Fenny Castle. The route chosen is normally decided on the day based on weather, wind direction and where we went the previous week.

Not necessarily. The dedicated new member rides are once a month. If you have never ridden in a group before you should wait for one of these.

If you are confident in a group, for example, you have experience with another club, you are welcome to do join the clubrun on other Saturdays: email Brian as above. Please note, if you are dropped from a clubrun, the group may not wait for you, so if you are unsure whether you can hold the pace, the new member rides are a much more suitable starting point, as no one gets left behind.