MY CYCLING WEEK
There is a lot going on for you to take advantage of...
Official and un-official Club rides:
Club runs are one type of official ride organised by the Club. Other official rides include, Wednesday Chain-gangs, Tuesday Evening 10s, Hardriders TT, Saturday 10s, Verulam Open 25 / Club 25 TT, VRR (winter no-stop reliability ride) and V100 (100 mile summer club run). Club runs and most official Club rides are member only, although a few are designated open events.
By comparison, self-organised 'impromptu' rides are not official rides organised by the Club. Consequently, they may include non-members, who may not have third-party liability insurance.
Please note: All Club members are required to have third-party liability insurance and to have completed our Inroductory ride. In ALL cases, you choose to ride at your own risk.
Here are some of the ways to enjoy your cycling with other Club members...
Official club organised rides through the week:
Sundays - Club runs
Some 10 groups with different speeds and distances are well established and highly popular. In addition, there is a regular 'Early Birds' group and also an occaisional 'Back by Eleven' group on some Sundays. Details are circulated in the weekly comms email sent to all members each Friday. The aim each week is for each group to have a nominated Runs Leader and we ride in groups no greater than 10. There is a channel for each group on Slack where Runs Leaders usually post the GPS route for your Garmin or bike computer. More details available here.
NB: If there is no Run Leader or only one and the group is greater than 10, then any group without a club trained Run Leader is welcome to ride as a group but is, by default, an impromptu ride. This is not a club organised ride and any self appointed 'leader' isn't acting on behalf of the club.
Tuesday - Evening 10s (TT)
See here.
Wednesday - Chain-gangs
See here.
Non-official, self-organised 'impromptu' rides through the week:
Check the Slack #meet-up and other channels for the latest plans!
Mondays - Club nights from 8.00pm at Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre - once or twice each month.
OK, its not a ride (unless you ride to the venue!) but it's our social get together for a varied list of talks on cycling topics, discussions, meetings and shows of cycling related items. Or just meet up and talk cycling, with fellow club members! No meetings on Bank Holidays or throughout August (when we often organise trips to local pubs). More information here.
Tuesdays - A group of generally older VCC members meet at Vanstone Garden Centre for tea and chat. Also a venue for the Lanterne Rouge who are an invitation only club to which some VCC members belong.
There is also an impromptu group which starts at the Hub in Redbourn, meeting at 10:00am. This ride is between 30 and 50 miles at an average of around 12-14mph with a cafe stop returning to the Hub by 14:30. A great unofficial ride to complement the regular Sunday club run for those wanting to get in some extra miles during the week.
Check out the #meet-up channel on Slack.
Also in the summer months the Tuesday evening 10s (10 mile time trials) take place on the Codicote to Hitchin road. A popular event with prizes awarded on a points basis. More informatuion available here.
Wednesdays - an impromtu group have a morning ride of around 40 to 50 miles (Mods/Inters pace) to a wide variety of venues, often to places that the club runs don't go. Everyone welcome. Leaving from Harpenden Green, near Chef Peking in the center of Harpenden at 09.30am (9.00am during school summer holiday).
Thursdays - a group of retired members meet at the Ashridge House cafe, near Berkhamsted for coffee and banter. Make your own way there and ride back as a group.
Friday - an imprompyu group rides quite regularly from the Beech House, St Peter's Street, St Albans (Intros / Social Inters pace). If interested, check out the Intros and Meetup channels on Slack for details.
Also, in the summer a great evening's entertainment can be had at the Welwyn track meeting with races for all ages. Bikes for hire so you can try a ride on a bike with a fixed wheel and no brakes!
Saturday - an impromptu group, frequently lead by Andy Flint, do a round trip of 35 to 40 steady miles (Mods+ pace), sometimes non-stop (weather dependent). From outside the Cricketers, Redbourn Common at 09:30am.
Also, on the last Saturday of every month, Peter Hordern runs the club mountain bike ride which is increasingly popular. Usually taking in local trails, the group does 20-25 miles at a pace to suit the riders taking part.
Additional Activities:
In addition the club helps to organise other cycling events each year including:
The club organises the Verulam Open 25 mile time trial each year (usually in July) which is in its 54th year. Normally held on the F1, a fast course based on the A1, see here, it often produces some very fast times.
We are also organise the Fete du Velo, held on Redbourn Common (see here).
The club also has members travelling across the UK and overseas to ride Sportives, Audax, Randonnees, and even L'Etape du Tour, a stage of the Tour de France!
Training weeks take place on an ad hoc basis in places with warm climates, normally early in the season. This year the club is going to Mallorca again for a 'training' week in May (more info here).
There are also other ad hock trips organised to venues such as the Lee Valley and Manchester Velodromes to see events like the World Cup Series and some real cycling pros!
Anything else? Well the club is always open to suggestions on what it should take part in and welcomes people with the energy to organise these activities. Got a suggestion?
