VC Norwich Club Rides
Club rides means that the group should ride at the pace of the slowest rider, the group stops and waits/helps in the event of punctures etc, and the group stays together normally until the last few miles when the pace often increases, but new members are not left alone.
1. Sunday Club Run. The Forum, Norwich to leave at 9.30 am. The club’s main weekly event, which takes place all year round. There are regularly 20 to 40 people on these rides, which are split into two or three groups, based on fitness & ability. As a rough guide, group 1 averages about 16 mph, group 2 averages in the region of 18 mph and group 3 averages maybe 20+ mph. The rides are about 50 miles long, with a stop at a cafe half way round for tea and the ever important cake. We get back to Norwich at between 1.00 to 1.30 pm.
2. Tuesday Evening Ride. Trowse Roundabout at 6.30pm. Spring & Summer only. For 2011, this will be the meeting point for all Tuesday rides, when members can team up into different groups for a ride that suits them. So this might include a chain-gang, a moderately paced training ride or some riders doing their own thing with a few others. Usually 25-30 miles, dependent upon light. The rides try to get back before dark, but bring lights just in case. Generally faster than Sunday’s Club Run, so novices should try Sundays first.
3. Thursday Evening Ride. The Green, Cringleford at 6.30 pm. Spring and Summer only. Similar to the Tuesday evening rides described above.
4. Ladies' Evening Ride. Spring & Summer only. Details for this ride for 2011 to follow in due course.
5. VCN Team Training Ride. Outside Pedal Revolution on Saturdays at 8:30 AM. A steady and continuous ride for approx. 3 hours, with an average speed of around 18mph. There will not be a cafe stop on the ride, but there is always an option to stop once the ride is back in and around the outskirts of Norwich. Each ride will be led by Mike Auger, Dieter Rowe and/or Simon Asher.
Safe Cycling
The most important factor of VC Norwich club rides is that everyone has a safe ride. With that in mind, we would like to remind members about safe group cycling.
There have been a couple of collisions between riders on recent group rides. These were not official VCN club rides but involved VCN members. Though painful and expensive for these involved, fortunately the injuries were not too serious. To try to ensure no repeats, we are issuing some basic safety reminders for group cycling. This list is not intended to be comprehensive.
All riders must:
1. Give warning* of obstacles and approaching vehicles (but do not take risks with riding one-handed);
2. Ride no more than 2-abreast;
3. Keep to the correct side of the road;
4. Avoid sudden braking or sideways movements except in emergency;
5. Be aware of the cyclists directly in front of you, in case they slow or stop;
6. Be aware that if you stand up in the saddle abruptly your bike will suddenly move "backwards";
7. When singling out, communicate clearly with the riders around you (the recommended technique is for the inside cyclist to go ahead. The outside cyclist is then able to see immediately when it is safe to move in.
8. Move to the back of the bunch if you need to remove clothing, check you phone (not recommended) or something else that might disrupt the bunch or involve risk.
9. Keep your position in the bunch as it rotates. If you do not want to ride on the front, move forward in position and rotate immediately when you reach the front.
* Warnings commonly used include
* Car up! (ie behind)
* Car down! (ie in front)
* On the left/right! (ie an obstacle on left/right)
* Hole!
* Loose! (ie loose gravel etc)
* Sharp bend!
* Slowing /Easy!
* Stopping!
* Clear left/right! (ie at junction, no traffic approaching from left/right)
* Single out! (ie move into single file)