VC Norwich Sanctioned Club Rides
Other Local Rides Plus Available Information
Tour of Norfolk 2010
Safe Cycling
Club Rides During the Reliability Ride Season
VC Norwich Sanctioned Club Rides
Club
rides means that the group will ride at the pace of the slowest rider,
the group will stop and wait/help in the event of punctures etc, the
group will stay together as a group normally until the last couple of
miles when some may increase the pace, but new members are never left
alone1. Tuesday evening. Trowse roundabout leaving at 6:30pm prompt. Spring and Summer only. Steady but meaningful ride.
2. Thursday evening ride. Meet at the green at Cringleford to leave at 6.30 pm. Spring and Summer only. Steady but meaningful ride.
3. Sunday Club Ride at 9.30 am. Different friendly groups to fit different ride levels. Note: with immediate effect, the VCN Sunday Club runs will start from outside the Forum on the Bethel Street corner because of the 40 weeks of road works on St Augustines. Same time – 9.30am.
1. Tuesday Chaingang Training ride. Meet 6.30 pm Maid Marion Pub, Ipswich Road
Fast race pace, no waiting for slow or dropped riders, only experienced group riders should attend
2. Saturday Training Ride. Meet 9.30 am at Fitt Signs, Norwich.
Fast pace, 50+ miles, will wait and help if punctures occur but will not wait for dropped riders, experienced group rider rating
GREAT NEWS!!! THIS YEAR'S VC NORWICH CLUB WEEKEND TO WELL-NEXT-THE SEA WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY 27th & SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY 2010.
If you went on the inaugural Tour of Norfolk last year, or have spoken to anyone who was there, you will know what a great weekend this is.
We leave on the Saturday morning from Norwich, spend the day riding to Wells-next-the-Sea, enjoy the Wells nightlife, (there really is a nightlife) stay overnight and ride back together Sunday. Simples!
Neil Vaughan, who organised last year's successful trip, has once again booked us exclusive use of the Well Youth Hostel for the night. We will have vehicle support, with a van (that Ian Doe has kindly agreed to drive) in which to put your overnight kit bags.
And the cost for the weekend? Only £20 per person. This includes accommodation, breakfast, and a contribution towards vehicle support. You will need to pay for your meal Saturday night, which will be at a local pub.
There are only 25 places available, so send your cheque for £20 payable to "Velo Club Norwich" to Neil at 40 Chestnut Hill, Eaton, Norwich, NR4 6NL.
Email us here at veloclubnorwich@hotmail.co.uk if you have any questions or need anymore information.
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)
Just to clarify when club rides are happening in January and February:
There will be club rides on;
- Sun 31 Jan
- Sun 7 Feb
- Sun 28 Feb (for those not on Tour of Norfolk)
These start at 9.30 from the Forum (not Fitt Signs). But not on the dates when Norwich-based reliability rides are being held:
- Sunday 14 February 2010 - East Anglian CC 75 mile Reliability Ride
- Sunday 21 February 2010 - Norwich Velo 50+5 mile Reliability Ride.
Club member Owen Marsden has provided an online map and a Gpx file for the next VCN reliablity ride that you can download (if you have the GARMIN EDGE or similar). Thanks Owen.
The link to the website is here and the GPX is attached.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/VC-Norwich-52-mile-reliability-ride
VCN's reliability ride on 24th January was a great success. It was good to see so many riders and from a variety of clubs. 63 riders started and 60 reached the end where the cakes were up to the usual, excellent standard. So don't miss the next one. Thanks again to Malcolm and Brenda Brown, Barry and Jan Slater and their other helpers.
