This Sunday's Intro Ride will be to Rowberry's Garden Centre, Chaddesley Corbett. Male and female cyclists of all ages*, all ambition levels and all backgrounds are invited to join us for a sociable spin through the Worcestershire countryside, with a break for elevenses.
We'll wend our way on a meandering loop, nearly all of it on attractive rural lanes, where we can expect the first snowdrops to be showing and the birds to be chattering about preparations for spring. The current weather forecast is for a cool and breezy, but frost-free and dry day. However, there will have been plenty of rain in the preceding days, so the lanes are likely to be mucky and wet. And I wouldn't bet against the forecast changing between now and Sunday!
The route is just under 49km (>30 miles):-
- View and/or download route on BikeHike
The outward (pre-café) leg is significantly longer than the return leg (29km + 20km), but the general trend of the outward leg is down, whereas the general trend of the homeward leg is up. The route includes a significant amount of climbing, but we will take it very easy, with breathers at the top of any hills that people find hard. Within reason, we go at the pace of the slowest rider, so the time of our return to B'ham is hard to predict, but previous rides to the same destination have tended to follow a timetable something like this:
0900 - Meet up
0915 - Start
1115 - Arrive at Rowberry's
1200 - Start return leg
1345 - Arrive back in Northfield
A few notes for our newcomers:
- Please read our
Club Run Guidelines.
- The ride is an introduction to club riding, not an introduction to cycling. In other words, you don't need to be young, fit and fast, but it is assumed that you are capable of riding at your own steady pace for a whole morning. We'll probably be on the road for at least three and a half hours. You may struggle if you aren't used to doing at least an hour (preferably two) on your own.
- You don't need a fancy racing bike. In fact, at this time of year, a fancy racing bike probably isn't the best choice. Mudguards and tyres at least 25mm wide are recommended. However, you won't be turned away or sneered at, whatever you ride. Just make sure that your bike works and that you've got a spare tube and a pump with you.
- Bring a little money. A drink and a snack/light meal at Rowberry's is likely to cost you £5-£10, and a little extra for contingencies is advisable.
- Carry a bottle of water or energy drink on your bike.
- Don't overdress: you'll get colder if you sweat heavily. But it is winter, after all. So a windproof and showerproof outer layer is advisable. As are multiple lightweight layers that you can add/remove as circumstance dictates.
- Bring a mobile.
- Have some ID somewhere obvious on your person, so that, in the unlikely event that you're involved in an accident, we (or the emergency services) know who you are, and who to contact.
* Subject to parental consent if under 18 and those under the age of 16 being accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Click for details.
