Getting Started

Q: Do I have to join before I can go on rides?

A: No! Non-members are very welcome to follow us on rides to get a taste of the club before joining. Check that the ride grade is suitable, and contact the relevant ride leader beforehand to let them know that you are coming.

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Q: Where do you ride?

A: Our most popular ride is the Wednesday Wobble from Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8AX. So many people turn up (often 50+ in the Summer) that the rides split into groups of different abilities. 

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Worth giving the ride leader a call just to let them know you’re coming if it’s your first one. At weekends there is always a ride to suit most abilities.

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Apart from the Saturday (Broadstone) and Sunday (Purbeck) social, there is another regular Sunday morning ride at a faster pace, and some others exploring further afield into Wiltshire and North Dorset. There is also a Wednesday morning easy ride, a Wednesday evening rides in and around the local Dorset area and starting from Broadstone and other locations for the more experienced rider, and if that’s not enough, we do a medium pace ride from Wimborne on Monday and Friday nights.

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For members, we 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. There is an annual weekend away to the Brecon Beacons and visits to the Welsh trail centres. All these rides can be found on the ride calendar. As you get a feel for you own level of riding within the group you can enjoy more of the rides that the club offer.

 

Q. What bike must I have?

A. You don’t have to spend thousands on a dream machine. Many of our members are content to ride lightweight hardtail cross country mountain bikes i.e a rigid frame with a suspension fork of around 100mm travel. What we don’t encourage are those bikes in supermarkets which can be picked up for £100 or less. Not only are they heavy and hard to ride, but they break easily and require lots of maintenance. Hybrid bikes set up for city use are generally not suitable either. The typical entry level bike to enjoy rough terrain would be in the £500 region.

 

Q. I haven’t ridden much lately, will I be fit enough?

A.  Our beginner rides are a great start and run from sprint to winter on a Wednesday evening and the last Saturday of the month. The Saturday social rides are also a great starting point if you’ve not been out on a led ride with us before, the pace is easy going, stopping as much as needed and normally a cake stop too at about the mid point of the ride to chat about all the scrapes you’ve had getting there.

 

Q. What else do I need?

A. We have two golden rules. Firstly, helmets must be worn at all times. Secondly, if you ride at night, you must have an off road front light of at least 500 Lumens of brightness. A basic light for road use will not be suitable. Information about what to get can be found on our forum. In general, bring tools and spares that you should take if riding alone. This includes a spare inner tube, puncture repair kit (in case of a second puncture), a pump, a multi tool which includes a chain breaker, a spare chain joining link and some tyre levers. It’s well worth bringing a drink and an energy bar to keep you going along the way, as well as a simple first aid kit. The kit you carry will grow, but these items should be a must for anyone starting out. Please carry a mobile phone and store the number of the ride leader.

 

Q. Any age limits?

A. Under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome and all abilities come along on the social as well, girls and guys alike.

 

If you would like to talk to a member of the team please don't hesitate to get in touch!