Beginner Rides

The emphasis of the blub is on social cross-country riding, with the club running a number of activities that offer beginners, including those with limited cross-country cycling experience, the opportunity to improve their cycling skills and fitness, and progress at their own pace.

Specific beginner rides are run throughout the year and are supported by periodic skills courses, skills-assisted rides, and bike maintenance classes.

Helmets, an appropriate bike, suitable lights (in autumn and winter), spares, and clothing are all that is needed!

 

Spring and Summer Rides

Starting after the clocks go forward in April, there are weekly beginner rides as part of the club's Wednesday and Saturday rides. Check the ride calendar for specific details, or look out for rides posted on the Members-Only Facebook group.

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Rides will be in groups of up to 10 and are guided with a distance of typically about 10-15 miles at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops. The ride will take about 2 hours in total including the frequent stops. Mainly trails, there will be some road sections, hills, and occasional obstacles as we visit the local heaths. If something is difficult, don't worry, we were all beginners once and we don't leave anyone behind.

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Off-road cycling is tough and can be dangerous. Appropriate equipment is essential - a decent bike (not a road bike), a cycling helmet, and some spares are essential. We can give some advice here and being a member gives you a discount at most of the local cycling shops.

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For members, we also organise day trips outside the area. A minibus and van are hired and up to 20 riders can visit places like Swinley Forest, Haldon, Forest of Dean, and the Quantocks for as little as £10-£15 each time. Some of these rides will include specific beginner's and improvers rides as well as more advanced options.

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The rides aim to introduce cross-country cycling. Once you feel confident at this level there are other club rides to try out with easy and medium rides that become progressively faster and more technical over longer distances.

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Autumn and Winter Rides

Rides will continue throughout the Autumn and Winter. However, they will be less frequent and subject to weather conditions. Our aim is to run at least one Saturday ride and two Wednesday rides per month.

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As it is Winter, the weather will be colder and wetter - better be prepared for some mud, but we will use more trails, cycle paths, and reads. The aim will still be to provide an introduction to cross-country cycling as well as an easy ride to keep fit. Even on Saturday afternoons lights may be necessary for these rides. There are some club lights which can be borrowed, but they are limited so please let the ride leader know these are required in advance.

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Mechanical and Skills Courses

The club provides some subsidised skills courses for members to improve their cycling abilities. These are small group lessons with an experienced instructor lasting about 3 hours. These will occur regularly throughout the year and are a great way to improve.

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A Beginners Skills Course will typically cover bike set-up, ride position, and descents.

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An Improvers Skills Course will typically cover faster cornering, steeper descents, small drops, and small obstacles.

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In addition, there will be a number of Skills Assisted rides, where a qualified coach joins us for the ride giving tips and training as we go along.

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Basic maintenance courses (changing tyres, and broken chains) are given by club members throughout the year. This will also cover spares you are likely to need on a ride. The aim is to make you more self-sufficient on a ride.

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Fitness Levels

Beginners Rides are not too far, easy paced, and over fairly easy terrain. We stop regularly and wait for everyone. The rides therefore provide a good introduction to off-road cycling and an opportunity to get fitter without being pushed too hard.

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Interested?

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If you are, then get in touch and come along to one of our rides and see if you enjoy it! Membership of the club is a very affordable annual fee, and offers lots of club rides and events, gives you access to plenty of advice, an opportunity to improve your mountain bike skills, and great discounts at loads of local shops.