Author: Andrew Bernard

E Bikes on Club Rides

Whilst the legacy of Lance still drives a hole through the heart of the cycling community, nothing seems to create a schism in the cycling world like the adoption of new tech  [or old tech like mudguards maybe? Ed.]. And whilst the adoption of disc brakes in the pro-peloton was anything but friction free, the next highly charged debate looks certain to revolve around the use of e-bikes…although hopefully not at World Tour level.  As we recently had the first instance of an e-bike on a club ride, we thought we should pen a few guidelines covering their use within organised group rides.

Firstly, and most importantly, as a point of principle, we are advocates for all forms of cycling and would always encourage participation among those for whom an e-bike is the most practical cycling option.  In time it is likely that there will be sufficient e-bike users to run e-bike only group rides but, in the meantime, we would like e-bike users to stick to the following on mixed assist/non-assist rides:

1. If you wish to ride an e-bike on a group ride then it must comply with current UK law which as of January 2022 means it produces no more than 250W and cuts out at 15.5mph.
2. As e-bikes become visually less obvious, as a courtesy to other group members, please let them know that you are riding assisted to avoid Cancellara Flanders type accusations.
3. On certain sections e-bikes could be much faster than unassisted bikes so make sure that you are riding with consideration for those riding unassisted and not riding off the front or setting an unrealistic pace.
4. Make sure you have sufficient battery capacity to complete the planned route.
5. Additional systems present additional potential for mechanical failures and ones with which other groups members are unlikely to be able to offer assistance owing to a lack of experience.  Make sure you have tools/expertise to deal with these.
6. Lastly, don’t be alarmed when everyone else wants to have a shot on your e-bike!

Apologies to anyone who has emailed to reserve a slot on the training camp next year and hasn’t heard back just yet. Tony is currently away on holiday wild camping in the rain so doesn’t have great access to technology to deal with the emails. All will be sorted once he gets back to civilisation at the weekend.

Suspension of normal BM# group rides this weekend as we make way for a festrival of cycling fun.Activities start 8.00am onwards at St. Ann’s Well Cafe.There are two ride options on offer:

• Rachel’s Radical Road Ride: up to the Surrey Hills for the climb of Box Hill.
• Morris’s Monster Mud Mash: round the local gravel trails with a guarantee of zero punctures and nettle stings.

Groups of like minded (and paced) individuals can be sorted at the cafe ready for 8.30am roll out.

In the evening we have the first club get together since the (expertly compèred) 2019 end of season award ceremony. This takes the form of…

RECKLESS RACHEL’S RAMPANT RAVE

7.30PM UPSTAIRS ROOM

POETS ALE AND SMOKE HOUSE

This is an event certain to ensure that future generations speak of 4th September 2021 in the same hallowed tones as 27th May 1990. Make sure you don’t miss this one.

For the ride & social on Saturday 4th – meet at St. Ann’s Well Gardens 8am for 8.30am rollout. Road route is Box Hill n Back. A shorter route can also be arranged for those that wish – make it known and we can put people in touch with each other who want to do that. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24733374…

Also gravel route for those that like it rough: https://www.strava.com/routes/2859153963502778302

Pub will be confirmed very soon!

As today is ‘freedom day’ we are all now free to spread Covid amongst our number in whatever fashion we so choose. This means that we can organise our very own super spreader events every Saturday, and on the first and third Sunday of each month, in St. Ann’s Well Park Café. To this end, we can dispense with Love Admin bookings for the time being, a loss that I know many people will mourn.

Back in the ‘good old days’ it was quite simple. Everyone rocked up at the café from 8.00 onwards ready for an 8.30 roll out. Come 8.30 I would stand up and suggest we make a move and would be largely ignored. I’d shout first for anyone wanting to ride at a fast pace to move to the front ready to set off. One or two people would step forward and others, who were clearly going to end up riding fast anyway, would declare themselves “on an easy day today” before joining a slower group and then ripping everybody’s legs off. We’d then go down through the speeds splitting people, often reluctantly, into appropriately sized and paced groups and everyone would set off on BM# and have a wizard jolly time riding through the sunlit uplands. Hurrah!

Slightly different now in that we’ve started running short and long options which will add an extra layer of complexity to the split. But much easier in that everyone knows who rides at their pace and you’ll be able to buddy up with them more easily at the café than you could on LA. So from this Saturday forward procedure will be:

8.00 onwards: Arrive at St. Ann’s Well Café

8.30 get into groups riding your distance and pace

On a Sunday, the same procedure will apply but: meet time is 9.00 onwards for 9.30 departure and the sorting hat will allocate people to CATi and Sunday Social rides.

We will limit groups size to eight people max as this is the size recommended by British Cycling.

When I’m there on a Saturday I will try to herd the cats into appropriate clowders but, when I’m not, someone else with a loud voice will need to step up to that role. This is going to be the case this week and the following week as I’m away on staycation…assuming my ferry to the Isle of Wight doesn’t fall victim to the pingdemic.

It goes without saying that should you test positive for Covid, have any Covid symptoms or be told to self-isolate that you must not join a group ride.

Exciting times for us all and fingers crossed that we don’t need to revert to LA once again.