Joining and Ride info.
****PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE COMING ALONG TO A RIDE****
Joining....
We welcome new members throughout the year, and ladies (and girls) come from different pathways, see below for some suggestions and which group you may fall into.
We have been totally inundated with new member enquiries! This is very exciting, but means that we have had to formalise our joining proceedures for the safety and enjoyment of both the new riders and our current members.
As of now, everyone who would like to join will be recquired to do an induction session, this is so that you can meet some of us, and we can make sure that you understand group riding, and the safety features involved in riding in a group. We will take you for a short ride as part of this session.
There are 2 ways that you can do this.
1) Induction session will be run once a month, alternating between Saturday and Monday afternoons. 12-3pm. These sessions will be free. Riders will need to be able to go on to a 20 mile ride from this course, so some previous recent riding experience/fitness is necessary. If you are inexperienced or not yet fit, we offer a "build you to 20 miles" short course in a small group on a Monday afternoon, each half of term. (you will need to do the induction first)
2) One to one induction session lasting 1 hour. Cost £40. This can be arranged at any mutually convenient time with one of our coaches. We will ensure that you understand the basics of group riding, and take you for a ride. We will then be able to advise you which rides you will be best suited to, depending on your fitness and riding skills. We reserve the right to defer you to the next intro course if we feel that you are not fit enough to be able to keep up on any of our rides.
DATES for upcoming INDUCTIONS 12-3pm. Free.
Monday 20th May
Monday 17th June
Saturday 22nd June
Monday 9th September
Saturday 14th September
EMAIL US TO BOOK IN.
Our members come from various different pathways- see which one is you and how to join.
Keen to get started, have little or no experience or fitness....
Contact us, we will let you know when the next induction dates are, and we will be able to advise you which rides are most suitable, we can book you onto an induction course. You will need to borrow a bike from someone, any bike will do, as long as it goes forward safely, and stops safely. We have club road bikes that you can try before you buy one. If you are thinking of buying a road bike, either talk to us, or go and see Wildside in Tunbridge Wells, or Evendens in Paddock Wood, they are well aquainted with the type of bikes needed for our rides.
Have done some riding, either alone or with one other person, perhaps you have done a triathlon, or a charity ride,(already have a road bike) you have some miles in your legs but no group riding experience, looking to getting more skilled and faster on the bike.
Join the next induction course to learn group riding skills, and then we will be able to advise you on which rides suit your ability. See below for more info on our rides. If it is too long until the next course, please do contact us and see above.
Have been group riding for years, with another club, fit and experienced.
We would still like you to attend the one off induction, before joining, that way we can show you the way we like to run our group rides, and if you are experienced, you will be able to help us to support the other newbies. Contact us to book in.
THE INDUCTION- 3 hr session.
This session is designed to teach people safe group riding skills, and act as an introduction to the club. We have found that people who have done the course (regardless of their level of cycling experience) have benefitted, and have got much more out of subsequent group rides. The course involves 90 mins of coaching (on a playground/tennis courts, as we are not allowed to coach these skills on the road) and a 90 min group road ride to put the skills into practice. All welcome on ANY bike, although all our rides except Monday afternoon are road bikes ONLY. Please contact us to book your place.
A Brief overview of the rides...
Monday 1-3pm- easy 1.5 -1.75hrs at the pace of the slowest rider, 10-12.5 mph. (most people manage 10mph even on their first ride)allow 2hrs.
Wednesday 9.15- intermediate - allow 2 hrs approx pace 12.5-14 mph. (usually a slower group and a longer group) Suitable for newbies on road bikes.
Thursday 9.15- intermediate PLUS- allow 2 hours approx pace 13-14 mph.
Friday 9.15-Advanced - allow 2 1/4 hrs approx pace 14mph, this is a more challenging ride ( this ride often splits into 2 groups, both will go at 14mph)
Saturday 9oc- easy intermediate - allow 2 hrs 12.5mph pace. Suitable for newbies on road bikes.
Saturday 9oc- intermediate- allow 2 hours ,14 mph pace, a faster more challenging ride.
Sunday 8oc (in summer) intermediate endurance- Allow 3hrs (except once a month when a 40-50 mile ride is planned, allow 4-4.5hrs) 13-14 mph pace.
Sunday 8.30- Advanced- 15+mph pace, allow 2 hours. Most riders also ride to and from Hilden.A faster paced, challenging ride joined by the KVB.
In winter we also run turbo sessions 3x per week, bookable in advance as a course per term. details on request. (October half term- March)
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