SOCIAL GROUP RIDES

Group rides are arranged on an ad-hoc basis via the Bike WhatsApp group , more frequently in spring, summer and autumn, and dependent on conditions. These are not coached sessions, but the club has a number of qualified ride leaders and coaches and, whenever possible, they’ll be on hand to lead a group.

Check the Bike WhatsApp group for upcoming rides, planned routes, and any weather-related cancellations. We have a selection of bike routes you can download .

WHEN AND WHERE

Start locations are arranged ad-hoc via the Bike WhatsApp group, but our routes mostly start and finish around Seven Dials . Ride times vary; check the group for each ride’s details.

WHAT TO BRING

Be self sufficient. Every now and then we all forget something, but everyone should have their own repair/puncture kit, their own food and enough to drink. We’ll do our best to help each other, but you need to be prepared for the worst. In winter in particular, make sure you wear some warmer clothes, always have a rain jacket with you and bring enough to eat and drink. Your body burns a lot fuel keeping warm and a winter “bonk” isn’t much fun. Don’t forget card/money for a coffee stop. For more information on winter riding check out this winter cycling guide on our training blog page.

Download the route to your GPS if you have one. If you don’t have one, make yourself aware of the route. Don’t rely on a ride leader to get you round. We use the same routes on a rotation, so you’ll get to know them after a few weeks.

Lastly, bring a sense of humour! It’s about having fun, making friends and enjoying each others’ company. Save your race face for race day.

A FEW BASIC RULES

• Club rides are for members only. Prospective members are welcome at the velodrome on Saturday mornings.
• No Helmet, No ride, No exceptions.
• No Time Trial (TT) bikes.
• Please make sure your bike is well maintained. Give your tyres a once over for cuts and embedded debris and make sure they are properly inflated.
• In the winter, fit mudguards! You might not mind getting wet, but other riders in the group don’t want your road spray in their face.
• When you ride with the Club, you represent the Club. We ask that you be kind and respect the rules of the road and other road users.
• Half wheeling: Try not to do it. It happens by accident every now and again, but don’t be a repeat offender!
• Outside of the bigger climbs, don’t ride off the front of the group. If you’re feeling stronger than the group, change to a lower gear and spin your legs instead. Then try riding with the faster group next week. As the ride progresses, the stronger riders should be doing the bulk of the riding on the front to give the other riders a break.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Before you come on a Sunday ride, please have a chat with one of the bike coaches about the level of fitness and technical ability required. If you are new to cycling, it may take a while for your fitness and skills to reach the necessary level for some of our routes. In this instance please join the Velo sessions first.

All groups are “no-drop” groups, meaning we regroup at the top of significant climbs, and no one gets left at the roadside with a mechanical.

Our Sunday group ride is your “endurance miles” (EM) workout. Similar to your “long run”. It isn’t a hammer time or smackdown. Group rides are a way for us to get some miles in and be sociable. If you need to do something specific in your training, then maybe a group ride isn’t the place to do it.

Having said that, a 2-4 hour ride at a steady pace is not a walk in the park. You need to be confident you can maintain the required pace for about two hours. The drafting effect from the group will pull you along slightly faster than you would normally ride alone. You also need to be able to “hold a wheel” on flat and rolling terrain. Getting dropped on a big climb is normal, but on the flatter and rolling sections you need to be able to hold the wheel and keep the group together. It’s important for safety that groups stay close together.

If you aren’t confident of these skills (and those in the video), come along to the velodrome on Saturday morning where we can provide coaching in a safe environment. It’s not difficult and a couple of Saturday sessions should get you out with the group.

If you’ve got any questions email us at info@brightontri.org or speak to any member of the coaching team at one of our other sessions.

Routes

We rotate through a set of club routes — roughly 70km, each with a 50km bail-out option and a 100km add-on — available on both Garmin Connect and Strava. They’re free to download and ride with the group or on your own.

Browse our bike routes