Introductory ride 6 March 2016

Details of and discussion about club runs

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George
Posts: 2330
Joined: 18 Nov 2006 10:21
Real Name: George Barker
Location: Worcestershire

Introductory ride 6 March 2016

Post by George » 03 Mar 2016 11:40

This month's intro ride will be to Chaddesley Corbett.

Intro rides are meant for newcomers and returnees: just turn up at the start and introduce yourself. No need for an expensive bike or flashy gear!

We'll meet at the Black Horse at the usual time (09:00-ish) for an 09:15 departure. There will be a café stop for elevenses. We'll go at the pace of the slowest rider, meaning that the time of arrival back in Northfield is uncertain. But it's likely to be in the region of 13:30. The route will be 48km (30 miles), mostly on country lanes, through some attractive Worcestershire countryside. There will be a few stiffish hills, mainly on the way home, to add to the sense of adventure and achievement.
- View and/or download the route

A few bits of advice:
- Beacon intro rides are significantly easier (shorter and slower) than 'proper' club runs. Nevertheless, a basic level of fitness and stamina is required to ride for 3 hours or more in cold weather through a rolling landscape.
- The current forecast is for temperatures to fall to around freezing on Saturday night. By the time the ride starts, we should be back in positive figures. However, there is a possibility of lingering frost in shady spots, which will certainly require us to use a little caution, and might make it necessary to revise the outward route in order to stay on gritted roads.
- Dress for the conditions! You don't have to invest in a lot of branded cycling kit, but you are going to need a warm base layer, probably a mid-layer and certainly a windproof outer layer, plus things to protect your extremities (fingers, toes, ears). Obviously keeping warm is important, but avoid over-dressing: if your clothes become soaked with sweat, you'll get twice as cold whenever you go downhill or catch the wind. At least one layer should therefore be something you can peel off, screw up and stuff in your jersey pocket or saddlebag. A good helmet is strongly recommended.
- Make sure that you have something with you that says your name and an emergency contact number for your next of kin. Keep it somewhere very obvious on your person and/or give it to the ride leader. This is particularly important if you are new to the club.
- Your bike obviously needs to be legal and reliable. It's your responsibility to make sure that that's the case -- we won't be checking anyone's bike.
- You'll need a small amount of money for your elevenses and a drink to sip along the way. A bit of emergency money and a mobile phone are strongly recommended.
- Read our club run guidelines!

User avatar
George
Posts: 2330
Joined: 18 Nov 2006 10:21
Real Name: George Barker
Location: Worcestershire

Post by George » 07 Mar 2016 12:50

On today's intro ride:

George Barker (leading)
Andy Deere (riding shotgun)
Simon Harrison
Simon Foale
Henry Witkowski

We were joined at the café by Mick Cullinan, who rode a large part of the way back with us.

It was a small group, but probably the most balanced group I've had on an intro ride. No one struggled and we didn't need any pauses to regroup, enabling us to get back to the BH by about 13:00. My thanks to Andy for his support. My compliments to our three guests on a ride well ridden -- hope to see you again soon.

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