Cycling  for fun

Membership of the Cycling for fun group is open to all Southport u3A members on the understanding that their cycles are in a roadworthy condition for all events. 

  Rides

* Take place on a regular basis between spring and autumn, March to September and will vary on the day of the week as well as the frequency of rides. We plan to have at least one per month with an odd one now and again.

* Are usually between 10 and 15  miles in length and ridden at a steady pace, at the speed of the slowest rider. Some Rides maybe a little longer but again we will be driven by the membership

* Are ridden on cycle tracks / paths & minor roads where possible but do use main roads occasionally

* Routes are local to the area but some will make use of the Merseyrail from time to time enabling most members to utilise train passes.

* Where possible all rides will include a comfort / refreshment break

* Group members are encouraged to suggest routes and/or be leaders for the day

• Please note that you should send apologies if you are unable to attend. If you miss three sessions, without contacting the leaders we will assume that you no longer wish to be part of the Group and the Group Leader will reserve the right to remove you.

Road Safety

When a route includes roads with traffic, if we have a large group we may split riders into small groups (pelotons) of 5 to 6 cyclists.

All groups will start and finish at the same locations.
Start times will be staggered to reduce congestion.
Where appropriate, some groups may ride the route in reverse.
Helping Everyone Stay on Route

Although we may sometimes start as one large group, we now have more ride leaders and volunteers available.

For each ride, we aim to have:

A front leader
A middle marker
A rear marker
This will help ensure nobody feels left behind or gets lost.

Distance

We plan to keep rides within the current distance range.

If you'd like a longer or more challenging ride, we encourage you to cycle to and/or from the start point. As we use different starting locations such as Marshside, Ainsdale, and Crosby, this option is available to anyone who wants to do extra miles.

Speed

The front leader will aim to maintain a steady, reasonable pace that suits the lead group.

The second group leader will ride at a pace that suits that group.
The rear marker will stay with riders at the back or anyone who needs to stop.
To help everyone stay together, leaders will follow the planned Plotaroute route or other published cycle route.

More Variety in Rides

To encourage a wider range of rides, route descriptions may include notes such as:

Roadworthy bicycles required.
Some sections may be off-road.
Certain bikes may need to be pushed on parts of the route.
The ride may not be suitable for all types of bicycles.

How You Can Help Ride Leaders

If you plan to leave a ride early or take a different route home, please let the group know via WhatsApp, either:

Before the ride (Ideally), or
As soon as you leave the group.
This helps ride leaders make sure nobody is left behind and prevents other riders from following by mistake.

Membership

Our current membership limit is 25 riders.

Anyone interested in joining the group are encouraged to register on the website or contact a Cycling For Fun group leader for further information.