Training
Please note: Anyone taking part in a club ride must read the Club Handbook and Health & Safety Policy (for both see our club policies page), comply with the rules laid out within and then submit the Health and Safety form.
For more information about the weekend rides, please see the weekend clubrides page which details the various groups and has information about what to bring.
The club organises road training rides every week. These leave from the same place at the same time. Routes will be advertised in advance in the weekly newsletter and on the CUCC Facebook group or WhatsApp chat (the links to join the WhatsApp can be found at the bottom of all mailing list emails). There is no team distinction in training, rather self-selected based on fitness and handling skills. Rides may be split or combined depending on numbers on the day.
See the calendar for up-to-date information on training and events.
Click here for meeting points and route maps. For all club news, including club rides, training sessions, turbos, talks and trips sign up to the mailing list here.
What to bring
Rides (warm)
- Bike – in full working condition. We recommend you check your bike before every ride and have it serviced regularly. No tri-bars are allowed on group rides.
- Helmet – this is essential for our insurance. No helmet means no ride.
- Two spare inner tubes, hand pump, tyre levers, and a puncture repair kit. Don’t rely on others always having a spare tube. If you do borrow one, be sure to replace it on the next ride!
- Multi-tool, including chain tool if possible
- Water – a couple of 750ml bottles for long rides is advised. Each individual is different and your water requirements will vary with the weather, but it’s better to bring too much than not enough. Expensive energy powders are not needed – full-sugar squash from Sainsbury’s is a cheap alternative.
- Food - eat something every ~1/2 hour, bring slightly more than you think you will need. Energy bars can be expensive but flapjacks, bananas and cereal bars do the job!
- Money for café stop/taxi home in case of an unfixable mechanical
- Phone to call for assistance in case of emergency
- Lights – particularly for afternoon rides, essential as even if you plan to be back before dark, you may be delayed. Small LED lights are unobtrusive and greatly improve your visibility.
- Sunglasses/glasses with clear lenses – not only in sunny conditions, but to prevent grit being thrown into eyes in the wet. If you’re a cheap stem student, lab goggles do the job...
- Decent tyres – there is nothing more annoying than getting punctures. Good options include Conti Grand Prixs/4 Seasons, Schwalbe Marathons or Ultrasports.
Rides (cold)
In addition to the above:
- Overshoes – neoprene or similar. These stop the wind whistling through your shoe vents and keep your feet a lot warmer (or at least delays the onset of the cold!).
- Long-sleeved jacket – dedicated cycling jackets can often be found on sale, but rowing splash jackets also do the job if you’re that way inclined.
- Long-sleeved leggings/leg warmers – you’ll want to keep your knees covered when the temperatures drop!
- Decent gloves – neoprene gloves by the likes of Castelli or Altura are recommended for very cold days. This is wetsuit material so leaves you with a tight fit and good control of your shifters while keeping fingers toasty warm
- Under helmet cap/ buff – extra layers which can make a big difference on a cold day!
- Always bring one more layer than you think you will need in case of emergency
Rides (wet)
In addition to the above:
- Waterproof jacket
- Mudguards with long flaps (makes wet group rides infinitely more pleasant for everyone and saves your components from grit). Try to fit proper full length (e.g. SKS Chromoplastic P35) as these protect brakes better. If you don’t have mudguard mounts, we recommend Crud Roadracers as providing the best coverage but there’s a host of options that are all better than nothing.
Turbos
- Bike
- Water – lots
- Layered up kit- shorts and a jersey to ride in, then layers to ride over/ home in (jogging bottoms and a jumper will do it)
- Lights to get home
- Towel
- A turbo tyre/wheel, if you have them. Let the session leader know, and it might be possible to store your turbo wheel with the trainers in the sports centre.
- Turbos and turbo skewers are provided at the Sports Centre. Please remember to remove these when you leave.