FAQs

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Most of our rides start at Hart Leisure Centre, Emerald Avenue, Fleet GU51 5EE. Occasionally we have an "away day" and might start at a remote location. All this can be seen in our Calendar pages. We meet for our medium paced "Club" weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. See "our rides Calendar" or look at "Our Rides".

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If you want to do our club rides then a road bike would be preferable, although some of our members use a hybrid or gravel bikes, particularly in the winter when the roads are in a poorer condition.

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No any well maintained road worthy bike is fine - see the answer above.

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It is not compulsory but it is polite to have mudguards in the winter or on rainy summer days to keep the spray off of you and your fellow riders. Most of us do not like cycling behind a bike without mudguards in the wet. On fine days, when the roads are dry most members will cycle with bikes without mudguards.

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You should have suitable clothes for the weather especially a waterproof top, a water bottle, a snack, such as energy bars, a pump, tyre levers, at least one spare inner tube and a puncture repair kit. You want to bring some money/cards to buy a drink and cake as we usually stop for a break at a cafe.

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Yes, definitely, you should also have a pump, tyre levers and at least one spare inner tube. Don't worry if you cannot change an inner tube there is always lots of help on-hand. We will show you how to change your inner tube and repair a puncture if all this is new to you.

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Sometime or other every cyclist has a breakdown. Usually it is not too serious and there are riders on-hand who know how to effect a temporary repair. We will never leave you in the countryside on your own. One way or another we will get you home.

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If you are a Guest Rider then the Cycling UK third party insurance will extend to you in the event that another rider makes a claim against you, but that insurance would not extend to other third parties. We expect our regular riders to join Cycling UK which provides third party insurance worldwide except in Canada and the USA. Full Cycling UK membership also provides legal help for you to make a claim against a third party who you believe to be at fault.

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It is personal choice and really depends whether your local club is affiliated to British Cycling or Cycling UK. Both offer similar insurance although British Cycling are more aligned to competitive events (racing and time trials) where as the Cycling UK is more about enjoying cycling for the freedom it brings, enjoyment of the countryside and just messing about on bikes.

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We always stop for a break, usually at a cafe or garden centre, to enjoy a coffee, tea and a cake. It is also a good time to chat to friends.

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You will not let the group down as you are right be wary of traffic. We avoid the Classified "A" and "B" roads other than to cross them or to cycle a short distance to traverse between minor roads. We try, whenever possible, to cycle on the minor roads (unofficially the "C"), and unclassified roads. The latter comprising 60% of the UK road network. Cycling is safer and more enjoyable on these roads.

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No, you can cycle in ordinary everyday clothes if you wish but you will be more comfortable on your bike if you are wearing some form of sports wear that is appropriate for the weather conditions. We nearly always carry a waterproof top in case it rains and it is good for keeping the wind at bay if you feel cold.

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See our club kit page.

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No, you can wear your own stuff although we prefer members not to wear kit of other clubs on our rides. No problem for Guests though.

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On our Weekly Club rides, particularly mid-week, most of the riders are retired people. At weekends there is more of a cross-section of ages. We are keen to encourage younger people to cycle with us and are always looking for ways to promote that.

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We cycle on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday year-round except when the weather is particularly bed, e.g., ice, snow, torrential rain, high winds. Check our upcoming rides page for the next few rides, and especially the Facebook posts available on that page to see if a ride is cancelled at late notice.

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We pride ourselves on having a wide range of routes, mostly within 30 miles or less of Fleet. The Rides Calendar shows the coffee stops and, where applicable, the lunch stops, but the route to the stop is planned by the leader to provide a variety of routes while making it as cycle-friendly as possible. Most rides start at the Hart Leisure Centre but we also have occasional rides starting at other venues. The venue is always shown in the calendar entry.

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We don’t formally enter as a club, but sometimes members post on our Facebook closed group to see if others would like to go to an external event, sharing transport and/or riding as a group.

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Yes. These events are published on the Open events calendar, and publicised in our newsletters. Anyone can subscribe for free to our newsletters by just providing a name and email address on the left-hand side of our Home page.

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No, there is absolutely no requirement to race. Fleet Cycling is a social cycling club and not a racing club.

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No, that doesn't matter. But if you are new to cycling in a group then please take a look at the CTC's How to cycle in a group page.

The ride leader will help you and explain the important points. Also it is a good idea to contact the ride leader beforehand to let him/her know that you are thinking of joining the ride. The leader for each ride is shown in the Calendar entry.

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The most important thing is to be aware of the riders around you, and avoid making sudden unexpected changes of direction or stops. If you have any questions on the ride, just ask!

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See About our rides. The Calendar shows the approximate distance in each individual event. The star ratings of the events are explained in About our rides.

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If you are concerned about your fitness, feel free to call a ride leader to discuss. If your bike is in good condition and the tyres well pumped up, you’ll probably be surprised at how far you can ride in a social group. We’re not a racing club, and will happily wait for the slower riders. We never leave anyone behind unless they wish to leave the ride.

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Take a look at the advice under About our rides. We’re not a racing club, and will happily wait for the slower riders. We never leave anyone behind unless they wish to leave the ride.

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Some of us like to raise the pace at times and get a rhythm going. But you may have to wait at the next junction for directions from the leader, who has a responsibility to the slower and less confident riders. If one or several riders intend to leave the leader’s group, please tell the ride leader, to save time searching for you.

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Take a look at the advice under Our rides. If you are concerned about your fitness, feel free to call a ride leader to discuss. If your bike is in good condition and the tyres well pumped up, you’ll probably be surprised at how far you can ride in a social group. We’re not a racing club, and will happily wait for the slower riders. We never leave anyone behind unless they wish to leave the ride.