So you’ve arrived at your first ride! It’s a good idea to join a group a little lower than your ability level, so that you know you’ll be comfortable. If you find the pace is too slow – deal with it. You won’t make any friends from sitting on the front and making everyone else work harder than they want to!

If you find the ride is a bit too much of a challenge, just be honest – someone might want to drop back and take it easy with you.

Ready, Steady, Pee – 5 Toilet Friendly Bib Shorts to the Test

Most club rides will have a ‘leader’ and someone ‘back-marking’. The leader is responsible for the route,  listen to their instructions, and of course have a laugh and join in when everyone rips into them for the mean hill or for taking a wrong turning.

The back-marker hovers around the back of the group, and will sprint on to the leader should anyone suffer a mechanical, or require the group to slow for any reason.