New Joiners Guide
Whether you are new to cycling and nervous about what to expect or are more experienced and would like to know if South Bucks Midweek is right for you, we hope this section will answer your questions. Our rides are mixed rides for all adults and are open to all members of Cycling UK and those interested in joining the group.
Ride Leaders
All our rides are led by experienced volunteers from the club who will welcome you to the ride, lead you on the pre-planned route and keep an eye out so that no one gets lost or left behind. The leader, and other members of the group, will be on hand to help with any difficulties (e.g. Punctures!), so you can feel comfortable that there will be plenty of support available.
The ride leader will plan the route to make the most of our gorgeous countryside and whenever possible, will aim to keep to quieter country lanes and minimise riding on busier roads.
Ride leaders have a knowledge of local roads and routes but we often seek out new areas to ride so risks such as new potholes and roadworks cannot be anticipated. We therefore rely on Dynamic Risk Assessment by all riders during the rides
Grades of Ride
We have the following categories of Road Rides:
"E" - Easy Pace: 25-35 miles @ 10 mph
"M" - Moderate Pace: 35-50 miles @ 12 mph
"MF" - Moderate Faster Pace: 45-60 miles @ 14 mph
"FL" - Faster Longer: 50 miles + @ 16+ mph
If you are new to cycling it is best to start with the Easy Pace rides and progress through the categories as your fitness and confidence improves. If you are new to group riding please leave plenty of space, don’t overlap wheels with the rider in front and avoid sudden braking and movements. Warn others of your intended manoeuvres and any road hazards you see.
Riders gather at the meeting point about 10 minutes before the departure time, which is typically 9:30am, cycle to a cafe for elevenses (cake!), then on to a lunch stop at a cafe or country pub. Following lunch people make their way home but most of the time there will be someone going in the same direction as you to ride with. Our Typical Ride page gives a flavour of what an actual ride is like.
Rider ID and contact information
Riders are expected to carry “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) information, readily accessible if needed. ICE helmet stickers are a simple way to do this and are available for purchase from the club secretary.
Bicycle Safety and Repairs
Riders have the responsibility to ensure that their bicycle is in a safe working condition with appropriate brakes and lights before each ride. All riders are expected to carry basic tools for simple roadside repairs and spare inner tubes or other puncture repair accessories to suit their bicycle.
Rides Schedule
All rides are listed in the Rides Schedule along with the Meeting Point, Elevenses stop and Lunch stop locations. The Ride Categories each have a WhatsApp group to help with communications and deal with any last minute changes, for example caused by bad weather. Once you have established which riding group suits you, email the club secretary to ask for a WhatsApp joining link.
Other Events
Every Friday we have Coffee Pot meets where members make their own way to a cafe for a coffee, cake and chat. Often people will team up to ride to the Coffee Pot and go on ad hoc self-led rides.
During the summer we also offer off-road rides along the bridleways and gravel lanes of the Chilterns.
For the more adventurous, there are the occasional Century rides (100 miles); rides starting with a train or car journey and also trips away for several days to other parts of the country such as the Cotswolds or the New Forest.
Club Membership
The club is made up of a cross section of people: some retired, some working but able to take Wednesdays off. Some are pretty fit and speedy but many are just ordinary people who just want to enjoy the countryside with some like-minded souls and get a little bit of exercise. All are friendly and welcoming. You can do three trial rides before you are required to join Cycling UK. There are no local membership costs so once you join Cycling UK you can ride with any member group.
Data Protection
Your name and contact details will be needed for us to inform you about our cycling activities, but they will not be passed on to other organisations or used for other purposes.
Equipment
Cycling equipment can be a bit daunting, but don't worry if your bike is a bit old or you don't have all the Lycra gear; you won’t be the only one, so just come along.
There is a lot of great information on how to get started cycling on Cycling UK here
Photography
Most people have a smart phone with a camera, so pictures are often taken on rides for sharing in our WhatsApp and Facebook groups. If you don’t want to be in them, please make that known and perhaps just turn away.
Next Step
If you are interested in joining us why not come for a couple of rides. Just join us at the meeting point or if you would rather speak to someone first, contact our Club Secretary (or if this link is not working for you, send an email to: secretary@southbucksmidweekcycling.org ). After you have done a couple of rides and wish to continue it will be necessary to join Cycling UK.