Be self sufficient

Take the basic tools you would take if you were riding alone: tyre levers, a spare tube and patch kit, a pump and/or Co2 canisters and inflator, and a multi-tool. People will always help you if you have a problem, but you should be prepared to be self-sufficient.

Know the lingo

Know the hand signals that are used on club rides – pointing at a pot hole, waving up and down next to your hip to tell riders behind you’re slowing, or pointing behind your back to say you’re moving around an object as well as indicating left and right.

Check your bike over before your ride

Are the gears running smoothly? Are the brakes working – the pads aligned with plenty of life in them? Are your tyres in good nic, without too many scuffs or slices that could tempt waiting flints? It might also be worth checking with the ride leader before you turn up if it’s customary to have mudguards fitted– or fit them just in case. Some people don’t like being splattered with mud by the rider in front. We’ve no idea why either.

Don’t arrive late

Firstly, if they don’t know you’re coming, the ride will probably leave without you, and chasing after the tail end of a moving group is never fun (trust me…)

Ride in line

Don’t half wheel or overlap wheels. If you’re in a larger group, you’ll ride two abreast as this makes it easier for drivers to overtake you. In this scenario, try to ride next to your partner – don’t pull slightly ahead of them – this is called half-wheeling and basically means they’re constantly chasing you. Also keep square of the wheel in front – don’t allow your front wheel to protrude to the left or right of their rear wheel – this is called overlapping, and could cause a crash if they need to swerve for any reason.

Riding in a group does take some skill – check out these etiquette points and formations for more information. 

Listen to the ride leader

There will probably be someone in charge of keeping the group on course, more than likely they’ll have planned the route and they’ll probably be the only one that knows every twist and turn. Listen out for any calls from them.

Get ready to order large amount of club kit

You don’t have to wear club kit to ride with the club, but it’s nice. Once you’ve got the shorts or bibs, and jersey, it’s highly likely you’ll be tempted by the matching gilet, mitts, socks and cap. Well – what what else where you going to spend that pay day splurge on?!

At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun and meeting new cyclists. If you enjoy your rides, you might even pop along to some club time trials – read more about what to expect here…