Frequently Asked Questions

We know that joining a cycling club can seem like a daunting step if you’re new to cycling or haven’t been a member of a club before. Here are the answers to some of the questions you might be asking yourself. 

Eligibility

Who can join the club? 

Anyone over the age of 18 can join Ronde CC. We are an inclusive club where all members should feel happy to participate in all of our activities.

Who are the current members? 

We are a friendly, inclusive club and we currently have just under 300 members. Our membership ranges from sprightly graduates at the younger end of the spectrum right up to more ‘experienced’ riders, and everyone in between. We have the die-hards who show up every Saturday, and those who ride with us now and then amongst other commitments. Some of our riders enjoy a leisurely pace with plenty of chatting along the route, and some are focussed on speed, distance, watts and even racing. 20% of our members are female, and we are working hard to increase this number. Our female members are really active in the club and there tends to be at least one female ride leader every Saturday. 

How fit do I need to be to be to join? 

You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to be able to ride with Ronde CC. We advise that you should be able to ride about 40 miles, once or twice a week, at an average speed of at least 13mph.  Our weekly club rides are held on a Saturday and are split into four groups based on pace: 12-14mph, 14-17mph, 17+mph and 17++mph. If you are unsure of your pace, you should attend a 12-14mph group ride first, and then move up the groups if you feel you can maintain a faster pace. Our more leisurely groups have a ‘no drop’ policy, which means that you won’t be left behind if you are struggling – the group will stick together. If you don’t think you are at the required fitness level yet, we recommend you keep riding and building your speed and stamina and come back when you are a bit stronger. 

Do I need to become a member before I join a Saturday club ride? 

Not at first. We encourage you to do a ‘taster’ ride before you commit to joining as a member. The most important thing for a taster ride is that your bike is roadworthy, you wear a helmet and that you are able to keep up with the ride. Following your taster ride, if you wish to continue riding with us you will need to become a club member. 

Do I have to have experience of riding in a group? 

You don’t have to have ridden in a group before. If you are new to group riding, you should read our Conduct and Bunch Riding Etiquette Guide before your taster ride so that you know what to expect when you arrive and how to use basic hand signals. At the start of your ride, your ride leader will talk you through the route, and other members will help you out along the way. If you’re a bit uncertain then it’s best to start at the back of the group where you don’t have to worry about people around you. From there you can soon learn the basics and your confidence will increase.

I am already an experienced group rider with skills to rival Cav- will you be fast enough for me? 

That’s great! We have some very strong riders in the club who ride in our faster groups of 17+mph and 17++mph. If that’s not fast enough and you are looking for an additional challenge, you can step up to leading club rides and you can join those of us who race on the local circuit. All clubs have slightly different ways of riding and communicating in a group, so please check our Conduct and Group Riding Etiquette Guide before you first come along. 

Do I have to race? 

No. Although Ronde has some enthusiastic racers, we are definitely not purely a racing club. Many of our members have only ever raced to get the last bit of cake in the café, whilst others have a racing background but are now content to take things at a slower pace. There are opportunities to get involved in racing for those who wish. Otherwise, you are welcome to enjoy informal riding for fun. 

Riding with Ronde

How often can I ride with Ronde? 

We offer group rides every Saturday, all year round, which are followed by coffee and cake at our home, Gamma Transport Division (15/24 Comely Bank Row, Stockbridge). Saturday rides depart from 9am in four different pace groups, each riding 40-50 miles. The groups normally end at Gamma between 12-1pm. In addition, you can join the Wednesday Wasters who go out on, you guessed it, a Wednesday, for a social ride which usually involves a mid-point café stop. In summer, we run chaingangs on a Tuesday evening and in winter we offer club rides on Zwift. And once a year, we travel en masse to Pitlochry for our ‘Ride of the Falling Leaves’ to celebrate the end of the summer season. 

Where do your rides depart from? 

Most of our Saturday club rides depart from Gamma Transport Division (15/24 Comely Bank Row, Stockbridge). Chaingangs and ad hoc rides may depart from other locations- you will always be notified of the start point in advance. 

Do you do anything else other than ride bikes? 

Yes, we certainly do! Please keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for details of social and community events throughout the year. Most years we hold a summer social and a Christmas Ceilidh, as well as ad hoc social catch ups. 

Joining

How do I join Ronde CC? 

All prospective members are encouraged to join a ‘taster’ ride on a Saturday morning before committing to membership. You can do a maximum of two taster rides. After your taster ride, to join Ronde CC, you will need to sign up via British Cycling. Once your membership is processed and approved, you will receive a welcome email and an invitation to join our closed Facebook page. Click here to join. Valid 3rd party insurance is required before joining up. Any British Cycling membership except ‘Fan’ includes 3rd party insurance, and so we recommend you become a member of British Cycling at the same time. Insurance is available through other cycling organisations such as Cycle UK. 

How do I sign up to a taster ride? 

To join a taster ride, please complete this form and our secretary will add you to a Saturday ride. Providing there is space available, we’ll get you signed up for your preferred date. Depending on your level of fitness and group riding experience, you will join one of two groups based on pace: 12-14mph or 14-17mph. Both groups will ride for 40-50 miles. Please let us know which pace you would like to join – we are happy to give you some advice. If you are a faster or more experienced rider, you will be able to move up to a quicker paced group if you choose to join the club. We will let you know what time your ride is departing and where you need to be. On the day, you should arrive at the start point at least ten minutes before your ride is due to depart, and ask someone to point out your ride leader. We hope you will join us at the end of the ride for a cup of coffee and a slice of well-deserved cake.

How much does it cost to join Ronde CC?

You can join the club or renew your membership for £15 per year, which includes a £1 administration fee. Membership runs from 1st October to 30th September the following year. If you join after 1st July, your membership will run till the following September. A benefit of Ronde’s affiliation to British Cycling is that Ronde members can get up to 20% off British Cycling membership when joining British Cycling for the first time. Existing and previous members of Ronde are eligible for a 10% discount when they set up their first direct debit instruction or renew or rejoin their British Cycling membership. 

Kit and Equipment 

What kind of bike do I need? 

Most of our club riding is done on tarmac roads, and therefore we request that you use a road bike for club rides. Road bikes are usually quite light, with narrow tyres and an aerodynamic look and feel. In winter, all members are expected to use mud guards to protect themselves and other riders from muck and spray from the road. Don’t worry, we’ll remind you when it’s time to put your mud guards on. For those who enjoy off-roading, we also offer gravel rides from time to time. If you join a gravel ride, we recommend you use a gravel or mountain bike. 

My bike is only cheap, does that matter?

While we have some members who enjoy riding expensive road bikes, the majority of us have ordinary frames with mid-range components. We welcome any bike, as long as it is well maintained and you have fun on it. 

I only have a mountain bike, will that do?

Mountain bike handlebars are flat and can catch on to other bikes and riders when riding in a group. For safety reasons, you will therefore require a road bike for all rides taking place on the roads, which includes the majority of our club rides. You can use a mountain bike for gravel rides, which occasionally take place in winter. 

Can you help with bike maintenance? 

A well maintained bike will run smoother, have fewer mechanical problems, and will be more fun to ride. Some of us maintain our bikes ourselves at home, but most of us need help from professionals. As a club, we ride from Gamma Transport Division which offers excellent servicing and repairs (as well as custom builds, kit and equipment, bike fitting and great coffee), so we recommend you ask the team at Gamma for help if you need it. 

Do I have to wear lycra? 

Not at all! Lycra is not mandatory, but you may find it the most comfortable clothing option on the bike. In particular, ‘bib shorts’ and ‘tights’ have a synthetic pad in them which helps keep your backside comfortable. ‘Jerseys’ have pockets on the back where you can stuff a waterproof jacket and some snacks. The materials used in all cycling clothing tend to breathe well which reduces discomfort from sweating, and they don’t flap around in the wind. Some people are more comfortable riding in jogging bottoms, but these may not be comfortable on a long ride. Basic rules for a beginner are to ride in whatever you’re comfortable, and remember to keep warm, especially in the winter months. It is better to be too warm than too cold. If you decide to join us as a member you can purchase Ronde kit here.  

What sort of shoes should I wear? 

We encourage you to wear cycling shoes with cleats on the underside which allow you to ‘clip in’ to your pedals. This will make you more efficient and help you to maintain a good pace. If you are new to cycling and you are not yet comfortable clipping in, you can wear a pair or trainers to ride with one of our more leisurely groups, but you will have to learn to clip in before riding with a faster group.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Yes. Helmets are mandatory on club rides, for your own safety. 

What are the basics that I will need to get up and running? 

To get started, you will need: a bike; front and rear bike lights; bicycle pump; puncture repair kit; helmet; jersey; shorts; shoes; socks; emergency contact details, water and snacks. If you want to up your game and make like a pro, you could add: sunglasses; gloves; a bike computer; heart rate monitor; coach; masseuse and rights to your imagery. 

Welfare

What’s your stance on member welfare? 

Ronde CC is committed to ensuring the cycling-related welfare of its members and we expect our members to treat each other with dignity and respect at all times. We are an inclusive club where all members should feel happy to participate in all of our activities. We welcome anyone interested in cycling, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. The club is run entirely by volunteers so members are encouraged to take a proactive role in respect of any welfare-related matters. 

How do you keep in touch with members? 

The website provides up to date information on Club rides and racing. We also have a closed Facebook group for members which is growing in popularity and is proving to be the quickest method of communicating with the majority of members. We send members a club Newsletter by email every second month. 

What happens if I have an accident on a club ride? 

Whilst we all look out for each other on club rides, members are responsible for their own safety on the road. If you have an accident on a club ride, your fellow members will do what they can to help you. We recommend you carry details of your emergency contact person whilst riding, and keep this information up to date on your British Cycling membership profile. If you don’t feel well before a ride or you have an injury, you should consider resting until you feel fully fit again. 

COVID-19

What is the club’s approach to COVID-19 precautions? 

We ask all members to use personal judgement to manage their own risk. While cycling presents a low risk of transmission and most legal restrictions on social contact, distancing and gathering have been lifted, it remains important that we all regularly assess ourselves for symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms of if you have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, you must not attend, deliver or take part in any cycling or social events with Ronde CC. 

You haven’t answered all my questions!

Please do ask us any other questions you may have by emailing rondecc@gmail.com.