7 Mar 2014

Where will you ride this weekend?




The weather is improving how about joining the growing throng of riders out each weekend and go for a ride in the countryside? You can go solo, with friends or out with the family but it's often good to join in with organised rides where the route is planned and stops for refreshment at suitable places are already thought out. 

There are many local groups for all levels of cyclist running rides starting from the St Albans area, often free as clubs usually offer free rides before asking for membership. If you like the club experience join up- the annual membership is often less than the cost of entering a charity ride and you will get rides throughout the year.

Here's a selection of what's on offer at the moment

Women-only rides:
Five Miles to Fabulous. Run by STACC's own Rona, the rides are for women who want to cycle, but are put off by the state of the roads and the traffic and the lack of suitable group rides.  The format is an easy ride incorporating a coffee stop, using quieter roads and traffic free-routes.  The ride thus gives an opportunity both to gain confidence in traffic and discover routes that avoid busy roads.

Family/Shorter rides
This Saturday (8th March) there is a family ride along theAlban Way to partner a factfinding excercise about a mural on the Alban Way. There will be another similar ride in April.

Skyrides do organised rides at many ability levels- these are free to join but need booking.

Longer rides

Verulam Cycle club have club runs on Sunday mornings- the social ride is a good starter, roughly 40 miles at an easy pace of 11mph with a cafe stop for tea and cake and a guarantee that you won't be left behind. Contact them in advance because VVC are keen to ensure you lnow how to ride in groups before you go out- this is done with a quick an instructive briefing. You'll also need third party insurance which you will already have of you are a member of CTC or British Cycling.

CTC south Herts do rides on Wednesdays, Saturday and Sundays over a selection of distances, starting at 20 miles, with cafe and lunch stops.

For Mountain Bikers, Harpenden's OTT Mountain bike club do runs on Sundays and midweek with newbie rides for people who haven't ridden with them before on the first Sunday of the month.

40 plus Cycle Club do midweek rides on Tuesdays  and Thursdays- these are around between 10 and 20 miles at an easy pace.

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