Riding Guide
Social and Training Rides
Saturday Wheelers Rides
The beautiful Hampshire countryside is the backdrop to our Saturday Club rides, they're a great way to explore the area and discover routes and places you may not have visited before.
As a club we meet at the Portway Inn Car Park at the top of Weyhill Road, Andover, ready to leave at 09.30am every Saturday throughout the year, weather permitting.
We generally have four groups of riders to cater for all abilities and we're happy for you to try the club rides for a few weeks to see if it's for you. To carry on riding with us after that, we'd expect you to become a full member.
If you have not been on our club rides before, please make contact our Social Rides Secretary, (insert name) in advance, to talk about your cycling experience, your bike and your expectations, so that you can be advised which ride to join and what to expect. Please note that the normal runs are not suitable for mountain or hybrids bikes.
Alternatively, during the summer months, you can come along to the Tuesday evening time trials to have a chat with any member of the committee.
We occasionally offer introduction or easy rides and if you are keen to get cycling then why not try one of the local introduction Let’s Ride or Breeze Lady Rides. These will get you going and once you have built up group riding skills, mileage and confidence, then contact us to see to join one of our club group rides.
As a minimum, the main ‘rules’ of riding should be:
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Your bike must be in a roadworthy condition, with mudguards in wet/winter conditions. An extended mud flap is an added courtesy to other riders. Tri-bars should not be used in group riding. Riders should carry at least one spare tube that fit your tyres and appropriate tools including tyre levers, pump and multi-tool.
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We recommend you wear a helmet. Also riders should dress appropriately to the weather conditions.
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Once a member of the Wheelers, riders are asked to wear club kit whenever possible, new riders please wear plenty of warm clothing, it’s better to be too hot than too cold on a bike.
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Follow the Highway Code at all times - remember we share the road with others.
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The Saturday rides are social groups with the intension of cycling together at a pace where everyone feels comfortable.
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Stay reasonably close to the wheel in front, but at a safe distance and avoid braking sharply.
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Point to or call out potholes or other obstructions, communicate with the other riders in the group.
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Ride together as a group, and follow the rotation practice (even when tired and then change again to get off the front, if the Ride Leader suggests this practice).
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Advise if a rider is off the back or has a puncture. Always look after the riders behind you.
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Do not weave, keep a constant, parallel (do not half-wheel) and reasonably close distance to the adjacent rider.
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Follow and pass on instructions from the Ride Leader, communicate within the group.
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Remember if you have an accident then you will have to cover the cost of repair yourself (you cannot blame another rider and claim it from them), so if you don't want the risk of damaging your super-duper machine then it may not be the best bike for the ride - accidents do happen (although rare).