Frequently Asked Questions
Amersham Road Cycling Club? Who are you?
We are a relatively new cycling club, set up in 2006, but we already have in excess of 80 members. We range in age from 15 – 70 and we have a fast growing number of ladies and juniors joining the club. Despite our name we are based in Great Missenden, in the heart of the Chilterns, where we do the majority of our riding.
So what do you do?
We run club rides on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings throughout the year and we also run Wednesday evening rides during the summer months. We run a series of club time trials and we also promote the popular Chiltern 100 Sportive in partnership with Verulam CC.
Do I need to be in the club to come on a club run?
Not at first because we’d like you to be sure that you want to join the club. You’ll be more than welcome to join us on one of our weekend rides but the most important thing is that you are able to keep up. Our rides page will help you assess which ride is best for you but as a general rule we would advise new riders to start riding with our steady group on Sunday mornings. We would also appreciate it if you contact us before coming on a ride so we can try and be there to meet you.
How fit do I need to be to be able to come riding with you?
You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to be able to do one of our rides. For our steady Sunday ride we’d suggest that you should be able to ride about 30 miles, once or twice a week, in less than 2.5 hours. Our moderate and hard Sunday rides require a significantly higher level of fitness.
How old do you have to be to join in the club’s activities?
There is no minimum age for club membership. Young people can join in the club’s activities as soon as they are ready to. To take part in club rides, youngsters under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian and those between the ages of 13 and 18 must have signed parental consent. We do also run Go-Ride activities for ages 9 – 16 where young riders can improve their bike skills and learn competitive cycling skills.
What kind of bikes do you ride?
Generally we ride road bikes as most of our riding is done on tarmac. Our bikes are often quite light, with narrow tyres that help us maintain a good pace. Inevitably we have members who enjoy riding quite expensive bikes, but many others of us have quite ordinary frames with mid-range components. In winter the traditional amongst us ride with mudguards, although this is not a strict rule as it is with some clubs.
I only have a mountain bike, will that do?
The problem with mountain bikes is that they tend to be heavier than road bikes and, with knobbly tires, can make riding on tarmac seem like hard work! Some of our members can keep up on a mountain bike but usually they ride road bikes. If you do want to use your mountain bike, you will find the ride improved by fitting slick tyres, but you may still have to improve your fitness as well.
Do you ride close together in a group on club rides? Why?
Yes, we do tend to ride in fairly close formation and this does take a bit of getting used to if you’re new to cycling. Riding ‘on someone’s wheel’ as it’s called gives you the benefit of slipstream. Riding close enough to the person in front of you can save you as much as 15 – 40% of your energy, depending on the speed and size of the group, allowing us all to ride a bit faster and a bit further than we could on our own. Those new to group riding should download and read our Guide to Friction Free Riding to find out about the basics. Once out on the road it’s best to start at the back of the group where you don’t have to worry about people around you. From there you can soon learn some basic things about group riding and your confidence will increase.
Do I have to race?
No. We have a fair number of riders who do race or ride time trials but we are definately not a racing club. Most of our members have never raced, whilst others have a racing background but are now content to take things at a slower pace.
Do I have to wear lycra?
Not at all. Lycra can be a bit ‘revealing’, but we dress like that for reasons of comfort. The shorts have a synthetic pad which helps keep you comfortable. The materials used in all the clothing tend to breathe well, reducing discomfort from sweating, and they don’t flap around in the wind. Basic rules for a beginner are ride in whatever you’re comfortable, and remember to keep warm, especially in the winter months. It is better to be too warm than too cold.
Do I have to shave my legs?
Generally, no! Most of our (male) riders do not shave their legs but a number of our serious racers do. The main reason is not for wind resistance. Shaven legs are easy to massage and reduce chances of infection if you crash.
How much does it cost to join Amersham Road Cycling Club?
Membership isn’t expensive. A full year from 1 October to 30 September costs £12 per year.
How do you keep in touch with members?
This website provides up-to-date information on club rides, time trials and results as well as other club activities and events. We have a regular newsletter and an active memembers forum.
You haven’t answered all my questions!
Please do ask us any questions you may have via our contact page.
If I wanted to join, what should I do next?
Send an e-mail to our Membership Secretary at justin@amershamrcc.com .
.
Frequently Asked Questions
Amersham Road Cycling Club? Who are you?
We are a relatively new cycling club, set up in 2006, but we already have in excess of 80 members. We range in age from 15 – 70 and we have a fast growing number of ladies and juniors joining the club. Despite our name we are based in Great Missenden, in the heart of the Chilterns, where we do the majority of our riding.
So what do you do?
We run club rides on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings throughout the year and we also run Wednesday evening rides during the summer months. We run a series of club time trials and we also promote the popular Chiltern 100 Sportive in partnership with Verulam CC.
Do I need to be in the club to come on a club run?
Not at first because we’d like you to be sure that you want to join the club. You’ll be more than welcome to join us on one of our weekend rides but the most important thing is that you are able to keep up. Our rides page will help you assess which ride is best for you but as a general rule we would advise new riders to start riding with our steady group on Sunday mornings. We would also appreciate it if you contact us before coming on a ride so we can try and be there to meet you.
How fit do I need to be to be able to come riding with you?
You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to be able to do one of our rides. For our steady Sunday ride we’d suggest that you should be able to ride about 30 miles, once or twice a week, in less than 2.5 hours. Our moderate and hard Sunday rides require a significantly higher level of fitness.
How old do you have to be to join in the club’s activities?
There is no minimum age for club membership. Young people can join in the club’s activities as soon as they are ready to. To take part in club rides, youngsters under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian and those between the ages of 13 and 18 must have signed parental consent. We do also run Go-Ride activities for ages 9 – 16 where young riders can improve their bike skills and learn competitive cycling skills.
What kind of bikes do you ride?
Generally we ride road bikes as most of our riding is done on tarmac. Our bikes are often quite light, with narrow tyres that help us maintain a good pace. Inevitably we have members who enjoy riding quite expensive bikes, but many others of us have quite ordinary frames with mid-range components. In winter the traditional amongst us ride with mudguards, although this is not a strict rule as it is with some clubs.
I only have a mountain bike, will that do?
The problem with mountain bikes is that they tend to be heavier than road bikes and, with knobbly tires, can make riding on tarmac seem like hard work! Some of our members can keep up on a mountain bike but usually they ride road bikes. If you do want to use your mountain bike, you will find the ride improved by fitting slick tyres, but you may still have to improve your fitness as well.
Do you ride close together in a group on club rides? Why?
Yes, we do tend to ride in fairly close formation and this does take a bit of getting used to if you’re new to cycling. Riding ‘on someone’s wheel’ as it’s called gives you the benefit of slipstream. Riding close enough to the person in front of you can save you as much as 15 – 40% of your energy, depending on the speed and size of the group, allowing us all to ride a bit faster and a bit further than we could on our own. Those new to group riding should download and read our Guide to Friction Free Riding to find out about the basics. Once out on the road it’s best to start at the back of the group where you don’t have to worry about people around you. From there you can soon learn some basic things about group riding and your confidence will increase.
Do I have to race?
No. We have a fair number of riders who do race or ride time trials but we are definately not a racing club. Most of our members have never raced, whilst others have a racing background but are now content to take things at a slower pace.
Do I have to wear lycra?
Not at all. Lycra can be a bit ‘revealing’, but we dress like that for reasons of comfort. The shorts have a synthetic pad which helps keep you comfortable. The materials used in all the clothing tend to breathe well, reducing discomfort from sweating, and they don’t flap around in the wind. Basic rules for a beginner are ride in whatever you’re comfortable, and remember to keep warm, especially in the winter months. It is better to be too warm than too cold.
Do I have to shave my legs?
Generally, no! Most of our (male) riders do not shave their legs but a number of our serious racers do. The main reason is not for wind resistance. Shaven legs are easy to massage and reduce chances of infection if you crash.
How much does it cost to join Amersham Road Cycling Club?
Membership isn’t expensive. A full year from 1 October to 30 September costs £12 per year.
How do you keep in touch with members?
This website provides up-to-date information on club rides, time trials and results as well as other club activities and events. We have a regular newsletter and an active memembers forum.
You haven’t answered all my questions!
Please do ask us any questions you may have via our contact page.
If I wanted to join, what should I do next?
Send an e-mail to our Membership Secretary at justin@amershamrcc.com .