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Sunday ride program | Suggested rides | Ride guidelines

The length of club rides is always an emotive issue so I hope this year’s formula will be as equally as popular as the last couple of years with a full length club ride over an interesting route with a stop, returning to Chelmsford between 14:00 and 15:00. For those with less time a group will usually be turning for a shorter ride that is non stop, perhaps returning at a slighter faster tempo to Chelmsford getting back into town between 12:00 and 13:00. Please note that if you are planning to turn short it might be prudent to spend some time looking at a map the night before (and carrying it on the day) so you know where you are, and how to get home, this may also apply if you are planning to join the non-stop ride and you have questions about your current form! Obviously I will do my best to stick to advertised timings but on all rides there comes a point of no return where you have to push on by a set route and sometimes we may drop a little behind schedule. With a group occasionally nearing 30 riders some delays are pretty much inevitable.

1) To minimise delays, please check your bike and tyres before coming out. As before recommended puncture resistant tyres at different price points might be the Vittoria Rubino (£12.99), Michelin Erilium Kevlar (£8.99), Panaracer Pasela (£17.99), Continental Gatorskin (£20.99), Michelin Krylion Carbon (£19.99), Bontrager Hardcase (£19.99) or the Continental 4 Season (£30.99) (prices totally approximate!)

2) The worst weather is ahead of us, please try and stick to the mudguard rule from now on. Remember for serious winter riding and, to protect you, and your club mates you need full mudguards and a rear mudflap. If you do not have a winter bike and it is technically impossible to get full mudguards in your bike, then please do not be offended if you are asked to ride at the back of the group. Your club mates make considerable sacrifices to equip themselves with cycle clothing and there is no excuse for showering your team mates with road muck, grime and oil.

3) The aforementioned rides will offer a very relaxed agenda in October/November & December and then the rides should gradually stretch in distance and slightly increase in speed once we get into the new year, and hopefully culminate in a 100% success rate for all in the first club event of the year, that which signals the start of the racing season proper, the Chelmer ‘100 in 8’. Please note ‘classic’ rides will always aim to wait for any rider, training style rides will demand a slightly higher level of fitness, and total patience can not always be completely guaranteed?

4) We need to be conscious of the image we present to other road users and more critically we need to minimise the possibility of any accidents taking place on our busy roads. We will ride no more than two abreast, and we must try and minimise the length of the string of riders by riding as tight as possible together. If you are nervous, ask for help and advice from your team mates, you will find a few small tips will not only make us all safer but quite possibly faster too! As we strive to look as professional as we can, and now so many have invested in club jackets, it would be great if we are all in club kit wherever possible?

5) We will continue to ride as one group until the new year if we do not get too ungainly, as this is a good time for our newer members to learn from the ‘old hands’ time honoured skills such as even pacing, positioning, climbing techniques and clothing and equipment solutions. Once we get into the New Year we will more than likely split into two groups, the ‘Classic’ group for a more sociable ride, and the ‘training’ group for the headbangers amongst us!

6) Please be aware that the Sunday ‘Classic’ rides are between 60-80 miles and usually involve at least four hours of riding so there is a certain minimum level of fitness that will be required. If you are unsure, try our Saturday gateau rides first, and then perhaps Mick Somers 10:00 casual Sunday runs as a follow up. The participants of those rides will be able to help you gauge which of our groups you are most suited to?

7) Finally I thank you all for your support of our club rides. Once again I must take this opportunity to formally thank Trevor Walters, Mick Somers and Kevin Orrin for making such a good job of managing the various club rides throughout the summer. To see a good group of riders out every week and with so many new faces in the various groups; is very heartening. As we have continued to polish up our act we are starting to look very impressive as we glide round the lanes of Essex, a striking example of what our club is all about.

8) Feedback is always welcome; please let me know what you want from your Sunday rides?

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