Group Rides - Birmingham

[Trek_Girl]

Hello is anyone here from Birmingham or the Midlands and would be interested in arranging group rides?

 

[Milkfloat]

I go out with a couple of different groups from Warwick / Leamington on a regular basis, you are welcome to come along, although it might be a bit far to travel. You can also take a look at your local club for when they start riding post lockdown. Finally, although they are also not riding now, Breeze rides are supposed to be pretty good, so you could check there.

Where about in Brum are you?

 

[alicat]

Welcome @Trek_Girl. What sort of cycling do you do?

 

[mjr]

You can also take a look at your local club for when they start riding post lockdown. Finally, although they are also not riding now, Breeze rides are supposed to be pretty good, so you could check there.

Most non-BC clubs are back riding in sixes or less now.

In case you didn't know, Breeze rides are female only (at least officially), which some don't like.

 

[Trek_Girl]

Welcome @Trek_Girl. What sort of cycling do you do?

Well it's just casual cycling at the moment via canal towpaths with a little bit of road on an MTB

 

[alicat]

Ask in your local bike shop. They are likely to know who organises that sort of ride local to you.

 

[vickster]

Are British Cycling doing their social rides yet? Breeze rides exist for women too.
https://www.letsride.co.uk/

They are...

Birmingham https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides?find_type=/rides&location=Birmingham&lat=52.48624299999999&lng=-1.890401000000001&permitted_gender=true&has_booking_spaces=true&radius=10&with_rides=3&date_from=06/07/2020&date_to=06/10/2020

Heres a 30 miler at 10am next Saturday for example https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/saturday-base-layer-86
or shorter on Sunday https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/ride-out-from-handsworth-13
another on Sunday but more road oriented https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/flab-social-rides-birmingham-west

Ladies at the end of the month https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/summer-breeze-gor5l

just sign up and give it a go (mostly free)

Cycling UK (formerly CTC) also run rides, but may not be back up yet given the restrictions on group sizes

 

[mjr]

Are British Cycling doing their social rides yet? [...]

Cycling UK (formerly CTC) also run rides, but may not be back up yet given the restrictions on group sizes

British Cycling have allowed rides since 4 July... but I know one club that has said they're not restarting in 2020.

CUK has allowed rides in sixes for weeks now - but some groups seem to be struggling for organisers, partly due to their generally older leadership and some going off on postponed tours.

 

[Rock bus]

I go out with a couple of different groups from Warwick / Leamington on a regular basis, you are welcome to come along, although it might be a bit far to travel. You can also take a look at your local club for when they start riding post lockdown. Finally, although they are also not riding now, Breeze rides are supposed to be pretty good, so you could check there.

Where about in Brum are you?

I’m Leamington as well! Which ones do you ride with?

 

[Trek_Girl]

Are British Cycling doing their social rides yet? Breeze rides exist for women too.
https://www.letsride.co.uk/

They are...

Birmingham https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides?find_type=/rides&location=Birmingham&lat=52.48624299999999&lng=-1.890401000000001&permitted_gender=true&has_booking_spaces=true&radius=10&with_rides=3&date_from=06/07/2020&date_to=06/10/2020

Heres a 30 miler at 10am next Saturday for example https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/saturday-base-layer-86
or shorter on Sunday https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/ride-out-from-handsworth-13
another on Sunday but more road oriented https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/flab-social-rides-birmingham-west

Ladies at the end of the month https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/summer-breeze-gor5l

just sign up and give it a go (mostly free)

Cycling UK (formerly CTC) also run rides, but may not be back up yet given the restrictions on group sizes

Thanks

 

[Milkfloat]

I’m Leamington as well! Which ones do you ride with?

RLSCC and Kenilworth Wheelers, but mainly with an independent group. Yourself?

 

[PaulSB]

British Cycling have allowed rides since 4 July... but I know one club that has said they're not restarting in 2020.

CUK has allowed rides in sixes for weeks now - but some groups seem to be struggling for organisers, partly due to their generally older leadership and some going off on postponed tours.

It's certainly true BC have sanctioned club organised rides since July 4th to a maximum of six. What needs to be taken account of are the guidelines BC require affiliated clubs to follow and the "disciplines" which have to be employed which make club rides impossible.

This all falls on to committees run by volunteers. Producing and publicising club guidelines to members is simple, policing and ensuring adherence to these is impossible. How can club officers ensure only six members ride and then at two metre spacing?

The guidelines BC have issued mean, to my mind, no UK club can currently run "official" rides. BC is following government guidance, which is fine, but the reality is many club friends are simply organising themselves. I'm glad to say our guys seem to be sticking to the six rule, the same can't be said for other northwest clubs.

 

[mjr]

This all falls on to committees run by volunteers. Producing and publicising club guidelines to members is simple, policing and ensuring adherence to these is impossible. How can club officers ensure only six members ride and then at two metre spacing?

How can clubs ensure "guidelines" (effectively rules) are followed at any time? Is reasonable best efforts no defence in BC's domain?

The guidelines BC have issued mean, to my mind, no UK club can currently run "official" rides. BC is following government guidance, which is fine, but the reality is many club friends are simply organising themselves. I'm glad to say our guys seem to be sticking to the six rule, the same can't be said for other northwest clubs.

What guidelines are you thinking of? https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/a...s-reintroduction-of-club-and-group-activity-0 looks as weak as any, at first glance.

I think most BC clubs have non-distanced chain gangs riding unannounced, some even starting their customary days/times/places. Maybe this was BC's intention if they issued unworkable requirements. I'm glad to hear at least one BC club is doing better.

 

[Rock bus]

RLSCC and Kenilworth Wheelers, but mainly with an independent group. Yourself?

have pmd you

 

[PaulSB]

How can clubs ensure "guidelines" (effectively rules) are followed at any time? Is reasonable best efforts no defence in BC's domain?

What guidelines are you thinking of? https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/a...s-reintroduction-of-club-and-group-activity-0 looks as weak as any, at first glance.

I think most BC clubs have non-distanced chain gangs riding unannounced, some even starting their customary days/times/places. Maybe this was BC's intention if they issued unworkable requirements. I'm glad to hear at least one BC club is doing better.

From your own link go to this one: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/The_Way_Forward_03-07-20.pdf - and see points 2.1 to 2.5, pages 10 and 11. As a committee we accept the requirements, understand them and could publish guidance but we do not feel able to take responsibility for ensuring they are adhered to. We have faith in our membership to adhere to the guidelines but there are potential problems - for example one extra rider turns up making seven. Realistically is he going to be turned away? Of course not. If I was there and had undertaken to be on the ride and ensure guidelines were observed could I turn away a friend? Just how hard would that be?

The club is affiliated to BC and we gain many benefits from this without which we could not run the club, the two key ones being insurance and membership administration (a huge benefit). Through genuine error we once had our affiliation suspended for five weeks till changes were made to comply. Those five weeks were difficult to say the least. In our view morally the club should not be organising rides and practically the risk of losing affiliation, insurance and admin is too great. Other clubs may disagree.

Speaking personally I feel BC have taken the easy way out, permit group riding and dump all the responsibility on to local, amateur, unpaid volunteers who do their best to run a club for the benefit of many cyclists. It doesn't please me as an individual.