Kemble Cycling Club’s road ride-outs generally take place on Sunday mornings, and are usually 25-50 mile road routes into Gloucestershire or Wiltshire, at 14-17mph average speed, varying according to the terrain and time of year. More or less a ‘fast intermediate’ club pace. (Faster group rides go out from Veloton in Tetbury and from some of the Cirencester clubs, if your average speed is nearer to 20mph.)
As a guide to pacing, to ride between Kemble and Siddington (via Ewen) in 15 minutes is about 15mph – try that if you’re not sure how fast you go.
A drop-handlebar road bike will always be the best choice for the type and pace of road riding in the club. A hybrid with smooth high pressure tyres could also get you going, but a mountain bike with knobbly tyres will almost certainly be too slow.
Whatever bike you ride, make sure it’s in good order, and that you have a spare inner tube or two and some basic tools with you. A helmet and rear light is strongly recommended. Mudguards on wet winter days will always be appreciated by those around you. Bring your preferred drink and snacks too, to consume while riding.
If you have no prior club/group riding experience it’s no problem, but check out British Cycling’s group etiquette page here for some basic dos and don’ts. Ultimately we are just trying to make good progress in group rides, staying together, often riding in each others’ slipstream, and minimising the risk of contact, tyre/wheel damage, or other mishaps. With some common sense it’s not at all difficult. And if you’re worried about coming out on a first group ride and not being able to maintain the pace, don’t be – either the group as a whole will adjust to you, or we might split it.