Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bikes do you ride?
We ride road bikes as most of our riding is done on the road. Our bikes are usually quite light and have narrow tyres.
I only have a mountain bike, will that do?
Probably not. Mountain bikes are much heavier than road bikes and, with knobbly tyres, can make riding on the road hard work! This doesn't matter except if you are trying to keep up with the faster riders on a clubrun.
My bike was only cheap, does that matter?
No! Some of us still ride cheap bikes. It doesn't matter to us.
I don’t like riding on busy roads.
Neither do we. The majority of our rides are on quiet minor lanes, away from cars as much as possible.
How fit do I need to be to be able to come riding with you?
To ride a club run, ideally you should be able to ride 40 miles with an average speed of 15mph.
Do I need to be a member to ride a club run?
Not at first, a new rider would be more than welcome (assuming their bike was road worthy).
Not everyone is fast, the riders always ride to the pace of the slowest rider. If riders loose touch with the bunch the lead riders will wait for the slower riders to catch up, on a hill for example the riders would wait at the top.
What if your club runs are too slow for me?
All riders are expected to ride at a pace that suits all. The club only organises one club run per week, however there are other less formal rides during the week and weekend, one of these other rides may be at a faster pace that suits you. To find out more pop along to one of our Friday club nights.
No! However, the 'Walsall Roads Cycling Club' do promote races, which rely heavily on volunteers, and members are encouraged to assist by marshalling these events.
Time trials are against the clock. Sometimes known as the ‘race of truth’. Riders set off at one minute intervals and race on a measured course as fast as possible, alone and unassisted. Taking pace from another competitor or vehicle is not allowed. If you get caught by a faster rider he should be allowed to pass and you should not attempt to sit closely behind his slipstream. Competitors usually wear cycling vest and shorts or skinsuit (rules govern advertising and sponsorship). Riders must use the same type of clothing in a TWO UP time trial. Time Trials are held under the rules of the Cycling Time Trials (CTT), (see links for website). Open events can be entered by members of affiliated cycling clubs on the official CTT form (obtainable from Racing Secretary, or from the downloads section of this website), details of these events are in Cycling Time Trials (CTT) handbook and on their website (see links) and usually have to be entered approx. 2 weeks in advance (earlier for South Staffs Events). Club events can be entered on the day, but you should arrive early enough to allow officials to take your details and entry fee. Members of the organising club usually start before ‘private trials’. Competitors under l8yrs need parental consent (see Racing Secretary). The Veteran Time Trials Association (VTTA) promotes over 40s events with age related ‘Standard Times’.
Bunch racing on roads or closed circuits under the rules of the British Cycling (BC). To compete you must first join the BC, then take out a racing licence (see Racing Secretary or BC website, see links for website). Racing licences are issued in categories, with the higher categories based on performance. Moving up depends on points gained for placings in the season’s races. To enter road races, send off BC entry form 3 weeks in advance. Day before race, check your bike. Take club vest and hard hat. Juniors & Juveniles restricted to max. top gear. On race day arrive at HQ an hour before start time. Take bike through mechanical check. Present licence, ‘sign on’, and pick up race number. League of Veterans Racing Cyclists (LVRC) caters for over 40s.
Audax UK (see links for website) organises ‘randonee’ type events throughout the year. These range from 50k to 600k, usually done at speeds between 15 - 30kph (9 to 18mph). You may ride singly or in a groups and there are control stops to record progress (+tea and sympathy) at about 40/50k intervals. Routes are ‘scenic’ (hilly!) so a bike with a wide gear range is a help. Most riders use touring bikes but you’ll see everything from recumbents and small wheels to tandems, trikes and mountain bikes, also a hard core of fixed wheel nutters. Mudguards rule OK. For your safety and to promote the Clubs image, please ride single file in traffic, keep well to the left on blind bends and use good lights and reflective gear at night.
Cyclo Sportives are long distance, organised, mass-participation cycling events - not races - typically held annually. Sportives are the cycling cousin of running’s marathon: as with the 26-mile event, rather than racing other participants, sportives see cyclists challenge themselves in a personal battle against the distance and then ultimately, the clock. A cyclosportive falls between a traditional road race and a non-competitive Audax event. Riders normally carry a number and the time they take to complete the course is recorded. There is usually an upper time limit within which the course must be completed (unlike many randonnée events, there is no lower limit preventing riders from completing the course quickly). The already lengthy course will traditionally include climbs and difficult riding conditions, adding to the merit of the event. The routes will usually be well sign-posted and/or marshalled (some cyclosportives take place on roads which have been closed to motor traffic for the duration of the event), riders will be able to use feeding stations positioned at intervals along the route to replenish their food and drink supplies and mechanical and medical support may also be provided.
Members are encouraged to help out by marshalling at least once per year if possible at one of the clubs open events. Without the support of club members and friends we would not be able to hold these events.
For further information talk to a club member, see contact.
