INTRODUCTION TO CLUB CYCLING / group skills

"An Introduction to Club Cycling" and “Group Skills” are monthly rides run by ICC for people who would like to try out club cycling in a non-pressured and supportive group.

If you wish to join ICC you must complete one of these introductory sessions. This ensures that all new members are familiar with our procedures and can ride in a group with a level of competence, confidence and safety.

Your ride will be led by an experienced club member and a support rider, who have given up their morning to introduce you to club riding. We hope you will reciprocate by volunteering to support Intro and Group Skills rides and other club activities once you have been riding with the club for a few months.

YOU AND YOUR BIKE

You should be used to cycling regularly, familiar with your bike and confident riding it on London's roads. If you've only just bought your bike, take it out for a couple of spins on your own before you join a group ride with us.

You should have a moderate level of fitness and be able to ride 50 km at an average speed of at least 20 km/h on the flat, with several steep hills and only brief stops. If you're not yet comfortable at that distance or pace please build up with solo rides before coming along.

Most club members ride road bikes for club rides and laps sessions. If you are riding another type of bike please be sure you can maintain our minimum pace. We do not allow TT bikes on these rides.

Please make sure your bike is in good order as a courtesy to other riders. Consider getting it serviced if you haven’t done so recently. Other riders may help you if you are in trouble but you should be self-sufficient and at the very least able to fix a puncture.

Please read our Group Riding Guide before the session.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer this session to complete cycling beginners as we are not teaching cycling proficiency.

Group Skills

Meet in the Regent's Park Inner Circle, at the big gates opposite York Bridge. Sessions typically last about 90 minutes.

We will look at communication skills and formations such as pace line and two up, plus how to pace/lead the ride from the front and rotate riders at the front.

Note that we will adjust the level depending on the ability of the group.

HOW DO I sign up?

If you wish to attend one of our introductory sessions you should first register as a user on the forum. You can see and sign up for our Intro Rides here and our Group Skills rides here.

Once you have completed an Intro or Group Skills ride you will qualify to pay the membership fee and apply to join the club. See our Membership page.

What should I bring with me?

Stuff to fix your bike - a pump, puncture repair kit, spare inner tubes, and tools. Plus snacks and water to keep you going. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and have a set of lights for early morning/evening rides. Read the guide here.

If you have a bike computer you can download our Intro Ride route here.

CAN UNDER-18s TAKE PART?

Children aged 14-17 who want to attend one of our introductory rides should identify themselves when they sign up.

ICC has adopted British Cycling’s policies for safeguarding children. Children aged 14-17 may attend club rides if accompanied by a parent, guardian, carer of person acting in loco parentis.

If they are on their own they must have a signed consent form with emergency contact numbers for parents/guardians.

Parents/guardians must be contactable during the ride in case of emergencies and they must advise the leader who will be collecting the rider or how they will leave the session.

For more information contact our Youth Programme Coordinator – youth@islington.cc