FAQ

Yes, the club has a handful of riders who regularly ride electric bikes, and they are welcomed. Most of the club’s rides will require a certain type of bike (road bike, hybrid bike, mountain bike, etc), and your e-bike should be of the same type as stated for that particular ride. For example, if a ride requires a mountain bike then showing up with an electrically-assisted touring bike will be impractical, it won’t cope well with the rough terrain and the gears won’t be low enough to tackle bumpy sections.

It is encouraged, but not essential, however Ride Leaders will state that helmets are essential if you attend their ride.
For off-road rides (e.g. mountain bike), for which you must have a suitable helmet.

While not essential, some riders choose to get their own insurance.
Note that paid-up members of 1066 Cycle Club are entitled to a discount on insurance bought from CyclingUK. Other providers are available.

You are welcome to come to as many, or as few rides as you wish.
The only thing which the club insists on, is that you “book in” beforehand for each ride (usually this involves calling or texting the ride leader). Similarly, if you have told the ride leader that you are attending a ride and for some reason you change your mind, we ask that you contact the ride leader again to let them know.

All details about joining the club can be found here

The club doesn’t have a great deal to offer new riders, but we do try! The majority of club rides are for people who can ride a bike confidently and safely, on roads, interacting with other road traffic. In the summer months the club will run some “Level-1” rides which are suited to those starting off or returning to cycling. The Level-1 rides are nearly always flat, away from traffic, and go at a very leisurely pace. Keep an eye out for them on our ride programme.

We always advise that you are visible to other road users, and that clothing is safe. For example don’t wear trousers that might get caught in your bike chain, or wear unsuitable footwear which might slip on your pedals! Beyond that, there are no specific requirements.
Lycra is not essential ! , but more riders wear padded shorts for comfort rather than fashion! For short rides in good weather pretty much anything will do, however most club members will almost certainly be wearing at least one item of cycling-specific clothing because it has benefits over everyday clothing . Cycle clothing generally gives good freedom of movement, it ‘breathes’ easily so you don’t get sweaty when riding (also important in cold weather as damp clothes will make you cold very quickly!), copes much better with hot, cold, wet or windy conditions, and is often more comfortable especially if cycling long distances. It’s often lightweight and compact too, for example a waterproof cycling jacket will fold up small and can be carried on the bike just in case the weather turns

Essentials
Suitable clothing is probably the most important thing to get right, and while the subject is too large to deal with here, you should have protection from wind, cold and rain. In the summer months sun protection is equally as important, as you may be exposed to the sun for many hours.
Some water is nearly always essential, maybe a snack bar in your pocket too. The ride description will usually show what lunch & coffee stops there will be. Carrying a card and some cash is always useful, for food/drink, train fares maybe, and some spare for an unforeseen emergency. We know of some cafes that only take card payments

Safety
A mobile phone is very useful, and you may want to store the ride-leader’s number in your phone before the ride.
If you can do so, storing your ICE number (“In Case of Emergency”) on your phone is a wise idea. Some of our riders have bought small stickers that stick onto their bike helmets, containing their own personal emergency information.

Bike Accessories
An inner-tube which fits your bike is recommended, and a pump which fits the valves on your tyres. If you can bring along a few tools then that will help too. Even if you’re not sure how to use them yourself, someone else on the ride will do. A “multi-tool” is good as they are compact and light, some tyre levers will be useful when dealing with a puncture, perhaps some latex gloves to stop your hands getting dirty. There is no limit as to the amount of spares that you could bring along, but to be honest not may of our rides are very far away from civilization and assistance!
A bike lock is a good idea, although the choice is beyond what can be written about here.
Some lights will be useful at certain times of the year, there is a huge choice out there but anything is better than nothing.