How We Ride

Club Ride Categories

CTC Wantage categorises club rides as follows:

"1*" rides
Suitable for irregular, social, beginner or family riders, pace will match the slower riders. Not hilly or long. Expect rides up to 3 hours. Gentle exercise.

"2*" rides
Suitable for regular riders who prefer to cover some distance but at a more relaxed pace. Likely to be half-day rides. Solid exercise.

"3*" rides
Suitable for experienced riders, may be hilly, long, quick, or any combination! Likely to be half or full-day rides. Challenging exercise.

"4*" rides
Suitable for athletic riders who can ride safely above the 3* standard. Quick rides for the fit.

More specific guidelines as to how these generic principles are applied to our rides can be found in the following document: Rides Descriptions - updated March 2014 (PDF - 399KB).

Riders

Riders are expected to:

  • Arrive at least 10 minutes before the advertised start time for bike preparation and registration
  • Attend a ride that’s suitable for their abilities and aspirations (if you’re unsure, please ring the ride leader as identified on the main club website)
  • Have a serviceable bike, with means to repair their own punctures
  • Be dressed appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions
  • Ride safely and within the Highway Code, being ever-mindful of the safety of their fellow riders
  • Respect the decisions and guidance of the ride leader
  • Inform the ride leader if they plan to leave the ride before the end
  • Become CTC members after a number of “try-out” rides

Generic CTC guidance for ride participants: Guide to cycling with a group (PDF - 122 KB)
New riders should if at all possible fill out the following form and bring it along to their first ride: New Rider Registration Form (PDF - 100Kb)

Ride Leaders

Ride leaders are expected to:

  • Plan the ride in conjunction with the Rides Secretary
  • Place ride details (route, map, distance speed etc) on the website at least 10 days before the ride (weekend rides)
  • Brief riders prior to the start of the ride, ensuring that everyone is clear about what the ride entails, including how hard it is likely to be
  • Appoint a sweep for the ride where appropriate
  • Buddy up new riders with experienced riders to give them a good grounding on group riding skills
  • Ensure that the ride is led appropriately to the conditions and riders on the day, with an emphasis on rider safety, taking into account the wider group needs as well as individual needs
  • Collect rider details and update the website post-ride with a ride report and the ride participants
  • Feed back any issues to the Rides Secretary

CTC Wantage Ride Leader Guidance: CTC Wantage Ride Leader Guidelines (PDF - 457 KB)
Generic CTC guidance for ride leaders: Ride leader guide (PDF - 157 KB)

Rules

We don't have many rules, but those we do have are important to ensure that our rides are fun, hassle-free, safe and that you want to come back and ride with us again.

Last modified on April 23rd, 2020
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