Forum rides

[totallyfixed]

Ah it was going so well

See theres a target been set already, and I hate targets. I'm a solo/leisure rider, and a commuter. My commute is almost fradulant at 3 miles (i walk it sometimes) so I go out twice a week for a 25 miler to make up for it, but its a 'my pace' 25 miler and if I want to stop and stare at flowers I do.

I'm up for the leeds ride, I'll stick with it failing acts of god but please dont go setting targets.

You have to have some kind of minimum speed on an organised ride otherwise sods law says someone will turn up with basket on front having only cycled to and from the shops at less than 10mph ave. My last club became successful because they published average speeds for each level of ride, it wasn't unusual to have 70+ riders of all abilities meeting up on Sunday mornings. On top of this once a month we took out absolute beginners on a Saturday with 2 or 3 experienced riders to teach them. It works. On Colin's ride this Sunday, which was very relaxed my overall average was just under 14mph, if it had been hillier or windier that would of course come down quite a bit.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Its not that it doesnt suit me it just worries me I'll be the one holding up people or worst case just saying 'you go on, I'm going to make my own way back'.

I hope your not reading it as negative as more nervousness TBH I've done one 'organised' ride in the past and the level of arrogance I came accross when I rocked up on my Halfords special with flats and no clips was astounding. One rider even expressed surprise I had finished at all.

The leeds ride reads like something I'd like, its in a area I'm familiar(ish) with and it seems theres a few newbies also interested in it, I'm looking forward to it

 

[4F]

As for days I can only do Sundays as I work Saturday evenings starting at 6

 

[ianrauk]

Its not that it doesnt suit me it just worries me I'll be the one holding up people or worst case just saying 'you go on, I'm going to make my own way back'.

I hope your not reading it as negative as more nervousness TBH I've done one 'organised' ride in the past and the level of arrogance I came accross when I rocked up on my Halfords special with flats and no clips was astounding. One rider even expressed surprise I had finished at all.

The leeds ride reads like something I'd like, its in a area I'm familiar(ish) with and it seems theres a few newbies also interested in it, I'm looking forward to it

You would be hard pressed to find any sort of arrogance on a CycleChat ride in whatever part of the country.

 

[wiggydiggy]

You would be hard pressed to find any sort of arrogance on a CycleChat ride in whatever part of the country.

It was just very strange TBH It was a charity ride, not timed yet once at the finish I found it hard to engage anyone else in conversation with most going no further than 'you did it on that' and pointing. I ride a Carrera Subway BTW

Like I say, looking forward to what I expect will be a quite relaxed day out

 

[PK99]

Organised rides are just that, they need to be organised. You really can't hold up a whole group ride just because one of the riders want's to stop and stare at some flowers.

... and pub stops need to be warned in advance.

stopped at a pub yesterday for lunch, we had been in the 5 minutes and the landlord came nervously over and asked if there were any more of us to arrive?..... apparently one Friday a week or so 42 cyclists turned up unannounced at 1pm all looking to be fed!

 

[ColinJ]

Ok, open for questions, criticism etc, just need to think of a date. I am toying with doing an easy taster on a Saturday at the end of November, plenty of trains to Oakham from Birmingham / Nuneaton £14.60 ret.

I won't be riding in the Midlands again this year, but I'll certainly keep an eye open for the main event next year. I'll do my best to come down for it.

I had already checked out the trains to Oakham. Yes, they are fine on Saturdays, but (as expected) useless on Sundays unless rides start after lunch!

 

[ianrauk]

It was just very strange TBH It was a charity ride, not timed yet once at the finish I found it hard to engage anyone else in conversation with most going no further than 'you did it on that' and pointing. I ride a Carrera Subway BTW

Like I say, looking forward to what I expect will be a quite relaxed day out

I have a Subway 1 myself. They are pretty much bombproof bikes that are very well made and of which got/get very good reviews. They are a certainly a 1000 times better then the run of the mill shyte that Halford sell like Apollo etc. Certainly not a bike to be looked down/frowned upon.

Great for normal everyday riding, throw on some skinnier tyres and they are also great for short to middle distance riding. For longer and faster rides then a speedier steed would be preferable, either a flat bar road/hybrid, tourer or road bike.

 

[totallyfixed]

I don't use trains that often and didn't realise how dire the Sunday service is, pathetic. If this ride goes ok the next one in Spring probably will be on a Sunday. If I get enough positive feedback I will decide on a date and post it up at the weekend. Looking forward to Becs forum ride on 30th Oct.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I have a Subway 1 myself. They are pretty much bombproof bikes that are very well made and of which got/get very good reviews. They are a certainly a 1000 times better then the run of the mill shyte that Halford sell like Apollo etc. Certainly not a bike to be looked down/frowned upon.

Great for normal everyday riding, throw on some skinnier tyres and they are also great for short to middle distance riding. For longer and faster rides then a speedier steed would be preferable, either a flat bar road/hybrid, tourer or road bike.

Space at home limits me to the one machine (in a flat), tried leaving it in the 'foyer' once and has met with abuse/attempted theft otherwise I would have had a MTB and a Tourer, coincidentally its coming up to my C2W scheme time and I'm eyeing up the crossfires as a replacement (the ones with lockout forks) but thats another thread another time

 

[colly]

I'm up for the leeds ride, I'll stick with it failing acts of god but please dont go setting targets.

The only target on the 29th will be ............' we must get back before midnight.'

 

[lukesdad]

A couple of questions that I am intrigued about. Do you try any forum rides and if not, why not? This weekend was a blinder as far as the weather was concerned and a great couple of days for cycling. I did a forum ride and met others I had previously only heard of on the forum. Turned out to be a lovely gentle ride along roads I had never been on before, all in all a very pleasant day and worth the hour spent travelling to get there.
The second part of the question [and I know a few others are wondering the same thing], is why are there are so many forum rides in the north and south but next to nothing in the middle? When someone kindly makes the effort to do so there is little response.
Cycle Chat has I think getting on for 18,000 members, so if only 10% made the effort to meet others and do rides that would be 1,800 CC'ers.

We dont get a large take up on CC rides In Wales.

 

[david k]

could admin support this by creating groups or threads for areas, then like minded people from that area can join?

 

[wiggydiggy]

The only target on the 29th will be ............' we must get back before midnight.'

Hehe like I say I think I'm just being nervous when I shouldnt be

 

[ColinJ]

could admin support this by creating groups or threads for areas, then like minded people from that area can join?

What's wrong with starting threads of the type "Forum ride from [Place] on [Date]" in the CC & Informal Rides and Events forum, like this: Forum Ride from Hebden Bridge to Slaidburn, Sun 10th July or Yorkshire Dales forum ride from Settle, Sun 26th June?