On the first Sunday of each month we run a monthly social ride. Groups are organised as leisurely, medium and fast paced groups with appropriate distances for each, time wise this will be around a 2 to 4 hour ride. These are not coached sessions, but the club has a number of qualified ride leaders and coaches and, whenever possible, they’ll be on hand to lead a group.

Updates on the planned routes and weather conditions will be published via the BTC Bike WhatsApp group. We have a selection of routes you can download below. In winter the ride will be cancelled if the temperature drops below 3° because of the high risk of ice.

WHEN AND WHERE

We meet in the main car park at Withdean, people from further afield can drive and leave their vehicles there.

From March to October, we meet at 7:50am for an 8:00am start.

From November to March, we meet at 8:55am for a 9:00am start.

WHAT TO BRING

Be self sufficient. Every now and then we all forget something, but everyone should have their own repair/puncture kit, their own food and enough to drink. We'll do our best to help each other, but you need to be prepared for the worst. In winter in particular, make sure you wear some warmer clothes, always have a rain jacket with you and bring enough to eat and drink. Your body burns a lot fuel keeping warm and a winter “bonk” isn’t much fun. Don’t forget card/money for a coffee stop. For more information on winter riding check out this winter cycling guide on our training blog page.

Download the route to your GPS if you have one. If you don't have one, make yourself aware of the route. Don't rely on a ride leader to get you round. We use the same routes on a rotation, so you’ll get to know them after a few weeks.

Lastly, bring a sense of humour! It’s about having fun, making friends and enjoying each others’ company. Save your race face for race day.

A FEW BASIC RULES

Club rides are for members only. Prospective members are welcome at the velodrome on Saturday mornings.
No Helmet, No ride, No exceptions.
No Time Trial (TT) bikes.
Please make sure your bike is well maintained. Give your tyres a once over for cuts and embedded debris and make sure they are properly inflated.
In the winter, fit mudguards! You might not mind getting wet, but other riders in the group don’t want your road spray in their face.
When you ride with the Club, you represent the Club. We ask that you be kind and respect the rules of the road and other road users.
Half wheeling: Try not to do it. It happens by accident every now and again, but don’t be a repeat offender!
Outside of the bigger climbs, don’t ride off the front of the group. If you’re feeling stronger than the group, change to a lower gear and spin your legs instead. Then try riding with the faster group next week. As the ride progresses, the stronger riders should be doing the bulk of the riding on the front to give the other riders a break.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Before you come on a Sunday ride, please have a chat with one of the bike coaches about the level of fitness and technical ability required. If you are new to cycling, it may take a while for your fitness and skills to reach the necessary level for some of our routes. In this instance please join the Velo sessions first.

All groups are “no-drop” groups, meaning we regroup at the top of significant climbs, and no one gets left at the roadside with a mechanical.

Ridesmart is a series in partnership with British Cycling aimed at Sportive riders. Riding as part of a group is more sociable and can save you energy during a long event.

Our Sunday group ride is your “endurance miles” (EM) workout. Similar to your “long run”. It isn’t a hammer time or smackdown. Group rides are a way for us to get some miles in and be sociable. If you need to do something specific in your training, then maybe a group ride isn’t the place to do it.

Having said that, a 2-4 hour ride at a steady pace is not a walk in the park. You need to be confident you can maintain the required pace for about two hours. The drafting effect from the group will pull you along slightly faster than you would normally ride alone. You also need to be able to “hold a wheel” on flat and rolling terrain. Getting dropped on a big climb is normal, but on the flatter and rolling sections you need to be able to hold the wheel and keep the group together. It’s important for safety that groups stay close together.

If you aren’t confident of these skills (and those in the video), come along to the velodrome on Saturday morning where we can provide coaching in a safe environment. It’s not difficult and a couple of Saturday sessions should get you out with the group.

If you’ve got any questions email us at info@brightontri.org or speak to any member of the coaching team at one of our other sessions.

THE ROUTES

Our main route each week is approximately 70km. We have bail options on each route reducing it to around 50km. If you aren't feeling strong and need a shortcut home, it's built in. Each route has an add-on 30km option at the end if you want to ride 100km.

We'll normally rotate between these routes but may have special guest routes if we fancy a change.

The one with a sea view

Out along the coast road to Newhaven then inland to Lewes. From here it's a trip around the narrow lanes before a return over the dyke.

Garmin Connect

50km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14111317

70km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14111320

100km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14111325

STRAVA

50km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183697

70km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183618

100km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183688

The one where everyone got lost

Down the Beacon and through the lanes via Barcombe to Fletching. Return to town via Hassocks and then Devils Dyke.

Garmin Connect

60km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14147015

70km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14147071

100km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14147136

STRAVA

60km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183838

70km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183825

100km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183876

The one without a hill at the end

Down the Dyke and North via Twineham lane. Home via Partridge Green and Coombes Road. The only one with a flat finish into town along the seafront.

Garmin connect

50km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/13962166

70km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14029918

100km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/13962141

STRAVA

50km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183342

70km https://www.strava.com/routes/7183418

100km https://www.strava.com/routes/7155356

The “Tour of Flanders” one

Down the Dyke before a tour of some of the smallest lanes in Sussex. Tight and twisty with short sharp climbs. A mini Belgian treat in the winter. A Beacon finish to caps it off.

Garmin Connect

50 km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14090731

70km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14090746

100km https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/14090761

STRAVA

50 km https://www.strava.com/routes/7188641

70km https://www.strava.com/routes/7188643

100km https://www.strava.com/routes/7188667