Whitchurch Social Cyclists

The Whitchurch Social Cyclists have sent this information about their activities in the Whitchurch area.

It’s the new year and a chance to begin a new healthy regime. 

Why not join the Whitchurch Social Cyclists (WSC).
This is not a club and has no constitution, no subscriptions and no commitment. You just attend when you can.

We are a small bunch of older (but active) folk, most of us are in the 50s and 60s with a couple of exceptions.

We tend to start our rides in Whitchurch but this doesn’t mean you have to live in Whitchurch.
Some of us live in the surrounding villages like Hurstbourne Priors, St Mary Bourne, Stoke, and Crux Easton.

It’s also a social club. That means we always plan our routes to either stop at a cafe (daytime rides) or a pub (evening rides).

Is this the Group for you?

We are a fairly fit and healthy bunch and ride at a steady (but not a race/club) pace. To be specific, we tend to ride at an average speed of approx. 18-21kmh (11-13mph) on flat tarmac.
If you are not sure if this is the right speed for you, that speed usually requires a modern road bike (lightweight Road or Gravel frame) and suitable clothing.

If you cannot maintain 17kmh (10 mph) on flat tarmac, then this group is probably not for you. But if you can, then please read on.

We ride non-electric bikes generally but will allow electric road bike use if it means it’s the only way you will ride. However, you would have to ride your electric road bike at our non-electric pace.

WSC members wear lycra cycling padded shorts, helmets and clip in shoes etc. Lycra clothing is the most efficient way to cycle and offers lots of back pocket storage etc. There is nothing stopping you wearing other forms of clothing, but you might stand out and feel uncomfortable if you do.

Meet Ups

Its mid-winter so a great deal depends on the road conditions. If the roads are likely to be icy or slippery then we won’t ride. But if the roads have good traction and the air temperature is not too cold, then we will ride. 

We don’t tend to set off in the rain either but it is ok if it rains whist we’re out. A decision about whether to ride or not will be made via our WhatsApp group in the days (sometime hours) leading up to the meet time. 

Evening rides are usually on Thursdays (normally meet at Whitchurch Town Hall (WTH) at 6:30pm). Thursday rides are usually around 25-30km in total and common destinations include the Wonston Arms, Fox Tangley, Jack Russell Faccombe etc. 

Sunday rides are longer (50-60km) and we usually set off from the Longmeadow Sports & Social Club (LSSC) at 08:30. 

Remember that this is a social group, so you will be expected to bring a means to pay for your cake, coffee/tea, bacon butty or pint etc at the mid route stop. We use What3Words a fair bit to pinpoint meeting places. The W3W addresses of the 2 principal WSC Meeting locations are below:

Sunday Mornings at 08:30am

Longmeadow Sports and Social Club (LSSC)

https://w3w.co/awakening.volunteered.logbook

50-60km

Thursday Evenings at 6:30pm

Whitchurch Town Hall (WTH) 

https://w3w.co/activity.rungs.extremely

25-30km

IMPORTANT: 

ALL RIDES SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION AND CAN BE CANCELLED AT LATE NOTICE. UPDATES ARE PROVIDED VIA A WHATSAPP GROUP


Organised Rides and Events

The WSC occasionally organises longer distance rides with overnight stops. So if you’re the adventurous type and have the necessary paniers/carriers for your bike, then you may be interested in our Wiltshire Brewery ride or our rides in France. 

We also inspire/encourage each other to participate in Sportive rides or even Audax rides. Riding in pairs or as a small group in a Sportive is much more enjoyable than riding alone. It’s a social group so we support each other.

What you should bear in mind?

This is a Group and not a Club. 

What does that mean? 

It means that you join the group for a ride under your own steam at your own risk/responsibility. If you fall off or injure yourself whilst riding with the WSC, the WSC is not liable.

 

Similarly, navigation to the start and bike maintenance is your own responsibility. The group will tend to meet at the same places at the same times with any timing/venue changes and route details notified via a dedicated WhatsApp group.

 

You will need to bring your own suitable clothing (waterproof, warm layers, gloves etc according to the weather) and bike repair/puncture kits etc and be prepared to repair your bike yourself. In practice, someone in the group will often step in and help you with a puncture repair etc but they are not obliged to. If you get really stuck and need recovering, you must be able to call someone who can come out in a car and recover you (admittedly these instances are rare).

 

In effect, you are riding solo but in amongst a social group. That said, the WSC will not leave you behind if you are riding slowly and we will stay with you if you have a mechanical failure (unless recovery is required). We stop at junctions or the tops of hills to let people catch up, have a drink and a breather.

What’s Next

If you are interested in riding with the WSC, then contact Grant Alexander (preferably via WhatsApp) using his mobile number: 07818 057588. He will arrange your first meet up and if that goes well, you will be added to the main WSC WhatsApp Group. 

Please don’t just turn up at one of the meet up sites on a Thursday or Sunday without agreeing your first ride with Grant. You may find no-one there if you do!

It’s also ok to show a general interest now but not ride until the Spring when the temperatures improve. If you are in that category, no problem. 

Let Grant know and he will be in contact in March/April.

Happy cycling and Whitchurch Social Cyclists (WSC) looks forward to hearing from you.

Whitchurch Social Cyclists – a Message

A Message:

My name is Grant and I live in Hurstbourne Priors.

Are you a local road cyclist and want to join a riding group that isn’t too serious?

Whitchurch Social Cyclists

Me and some other locals run a very informal cycling group out of Whitchurch called the Whitchurch Social Cyclists (or WSC).
There are no rules, no club fees and no discrimination. Anyone can join with just one proviso (I’ll come to that).

It’s just a social group with the aim of getting people on their bike so they get some fresh air, exercise and have a chat as they go.
We plan routes that are away from main roads as much as is practical and usually try to offer a destination worth going to; like a nice café or a country pub.

Group Rides
The group rides are advertised using a WhatsApp group and we try to ride on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. You’ll need to be self-sufficient i.e., know how to repair your own punctures and have suitable cycling gear (helmet, gloves, spare inner tube, water bottle etc).

Thursday rides are about 20 miles and we tend to set off at 7pm. Sunday rides are about 45 miles and tend to set off at 8:30am. 

Further details will be provided once you make contact.

The proviso 

Whilst we try and accommodate everyone, it can be frustrating if the ability range is too great. We have tried to accommodate really slow riders before, who do not have a road bike, and it just doesn’t work. 

As a result, we kindly ask that you can maintain the following minimum speeds on flat smooth ground: Thursday rides 10mph and the Sunday rides 14 mph. These are nice steady paces (no ‘Tour de France’ contenders here!) and they should be possible for anyone that rides a road bike occasionally and maintains a basic level of fitness.

Join us?
If you’d like to join us one Thursday evening, or Sunday morning, to give it a go, please contact me by text message, WhatsApp message or call me using 07818 057588.

 
You will be very welcome and it would be great to see you.