Last updated 28 September 2024

Our club rides are built around fun, camaraderie, and shared progress. To keep them running smoothly and safely, we ask all riders to follow some basic guidelines. These not only help ensure everyone’s safety but also minimise disruptions caused by poor bike maintenance or avoidable incidents. By respecting these principles, we can all enjoy our rides to the fullest and maintain the club's good reputation.

Check your bike before the ride – Ensure your tyres are in good condition (no cuts/flints), and check your brakes and gears. Keep your bike clean, your chain lubricated, and your tyres properly inflated.

Be self-sufficient – Bring essentials like water, food, a spare tube, tyre levers, repair patches, a tyre boot, multi-tool, and a pump or CO2 cartridges – and make sure you’re comfortable using them.

Respect other road users – Stay calm and never respond to road rage with bike rage… let it go! Keep in mind that wearing the club kit on the road reflects on the club’s reputation, so how you ride and respond to difficult drivers matters.

Report accidents – The ride leader must report any accidents to the Club Captain at the end of the ride. Members are asked to support the ride leader if asked, by providing factual accounts of what happened.

Inform the Ride Leader of any medical issues – If you have a medical condition that could affect your ride, have a quiet word with the Ride Leader beforehand. It’s your responsibility to ensure you’re fit to ride, not the Club's or the Ride Leader’s.

Please don’t join a club ride if a medical professional has advised you not to cycle, as it could invalidate your public liability insurance.

Neutralised zone for warm-ups – To promote camaraderie and ensure a proper warm-up, club rides will start with a “neutralised zone". On the Henley Road from Marlow, this ends at the Harleyford Estate entrance. Up Quarry Wood Hill, it lasts until the road junction with Dean Lane and Winter Hill Road, and for Spinfield Lane or Chalkpit Lane, it ends at the green at Bovingdon Green. Ride Leaders will lead the group at a comfortable pace to the top of these hills, keeping everyone together and easing into the normal ride pace afterward.

E-bikes during club rides – The use of e-bikes is at the discretion of the Club Captains. If you feel the need to use an e-bike to continue riding with the club, please contact the captains in advance to discuss.