New members are expected to have prior sufficient riding experience prior to joining the club in order to meet the Club Ride pace and distances covered. Please reach out to us at vcnorwich@gmail.com in orer to discuss your riding experience.and your bike arrangements. We encourage all new riders to join the Club Ride first instance.
Sunday Rides
VCN meet at the Norwich Millenium Forum at 9.00am
Club ride destination and cafe will be decided on the day by those riders present.
Members have access to the VCN Whatsapp Commnunity. We ask all members to indicate using the weekly VCN Members Group Ride Poll whether they intend to ride and in which group.
The Club recommends that each group is up to 8 riders at the discretion of the Ride Leader.
Club Group 16-17 mph
A Ride Leader is usually available each week to lead this ride . The group will be of varied ability but will go at the pace of the slowest rider typically 16-17mph. The distance of the ride will be determined by the ability of the riders present typically about 50 miles .
We encourage all new riders to join this group in the first instance to learn the ropes of club riding.
Newcomers and Non-Members are welcome to join the Club ride to get a taste of club riding. Please email us at vcnorwich@gmail.com and after 2 rides there is an expectation that riders will become members – see membership page for more information.
Middle Group 17-18 mph
This group will do about 50-60 miles at an average pace of between 17-18 mph depending on the ability of the riders present. The group will remain together until the last few miles into Norwich when the pace may increase.
Fast Group 20+ mph
This group will do an average pace of 20+mph. Fast group riders should be experienced with high pace and be prepared to return to the City on their own if they are unable to remain with the group
Sample Club Ride Routes
25 Mile Tuesday Evening Training Rides
VCN meet at 18:30 from May to August at the County Hall Colmans Roundabout, Trowse, Norwich. The route is from Trowse, Loddon, Brooke, Shotesham, Stoke Holy Cross returning to Trowse for a well deserved refreshment
These are intended to be training rides so try to hang on with your group as long as you can!
- Grupetto (Club/Middle)
- Fast Group 22+mph (Warning this is a drop ride)
Safe Riding
Click to access vcn-ride-smart1.pdf
The most important factor of VCN rides is that everyone has a safe ride and adhere to group ride discipline.
All riders must:
- Wear a suitable helmet
- Ensure your Road Bike is suitable and well maintained for all Club Rides
- Carry sufficient spare inner tubes or equivalent to be able to return home
- Give warning* of obstacles and approaching vehicles (but do not take risks with riding one-handed);
- Ride no more than 2-abreast;
- Ride to the Pace of the Front nearside Rider – no half wheeing;
- Keep to the correct side of the road;
- Avoid sudden braking or sideways movements except in emergency;
- Be aware of the cyclists directly in front of you, in case they slow or stop;
- Be aware that if you stand up in the saddle abruptly your bike will suddenly move ‘backwards’;
- When singling out, communicate clearly with the riders around you (the recommended technique is for the inside cyclist to go ahead. The outside cyclist is then able to see immediately when it is safe to move in.
- Move to the back of the bunch if you need to remove clothing, check you phone (not recommended) or something else that might disrupt the bunch or involve risk.
- Keep your position in the bunch as it rotates. If you do not want to ride on the front, move forward in position and rotate immediately when you reach the front.
- Be in control of your bicycle at all times.
* Warnings commonly used include:
- Car up! (ie behind)
- Car down! (ie in front)
- On the left/right! (ie an obstacle on left/right)
- Hole!
- Loose! (ie loose gravel etc)
- Sharp bend!
- Slowing /Easy!
- Stopping!
- Clear left/right! (ie at junction, no traffic approaching from left/right)
- Single out! (ie move into single file)
Note – lists are not exhaustive
It is the responsibility of each cyclist to ensure that they ride safely at all times and that they do not cause danger, risk, damage or injury to themselves or their bicycles, other cyclists or their bicycles or other road users.
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