CYCLING GROUP 2 - MORE CHALLENGING RIDES
Classed as the More Challenging level of the Groups, we meet every Monday at the back of Finchampstead Baptist Centre, leaving at 9.30am and returning around 12.30pm. We aim for fun, friendly rides with an element of building fitness thrown in.
We cover between 20 and 30 miles on a mixture of generally quiet roads and cycle paths (though there are inevitably a few sections of busier roads) and our routes radiate in all directions. Hybrid bikes are suitable, and a good level of cycling fitness is required.
Helmets, high visibility clothing and properly maintained bikes are a necessity. When riding in traffic, we separate riders on each ride into groups of a maximum of 6, each with a leader/tailer to leave safe gaps between. We aim to have a first aider/kit on rides, and have an agreed Risk Assessment process and use pre-planned routes.
We encourage participation of all riders in the Group in the formulation and leading of routes to keep the variety of routes as wide as possible, and share the load on leads.
There is a strong socialising element on rides, with a regular coffee stop, usually at the half way point, and chances to chat on the quieter parts of rides . We also aim for some extended summer rides including a pub lunch, and a Christmas lunch, and have good contacts with the other cycling Groups.