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Post by TimmyC on Nov 19, 2016 12:48:27 GMT
Hi Folks,
At last night's AGM there was a lively discussion about Safe Cycling , so the new committee is making this a priority. Safety must always be the first and second consideration in everyone's mind and we all have a responsibility for it.
1. Groups to have no more than 8 cyclists, up to 10 at leaders discretion, if more than 10 two groups must be formed.
2. Each group must have a road Captain.
3. Calls must be made and repeated through the group, for potholes, car back, etc. Some calls will need to be specific eg. Pothole left, pothole centre or pothole right.
4. As much as possible cycle directly behind the bike in front of you and directly opposite the bike inside/outside you. No half wheeling as this can cause accidents.
5. Descend at a pace that's within your limits, let the group stretch out to 2/3 bike lengths apart if necessary. Keep left so faster descenders can pass on the outside.
6. It's vital that all bikes are regularly maintained because faulty brakes, worn tyres, etc can cause accidents.
7. Avg speeds are dependent upon conditions. Safe and enjoyable cycling should be the goal of every spin.
We ALL have a responsibility for following and enforcing these Safety Guidelines.
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Post by Muller on Nov 20, 2016 13:08:16 GMT
Group cycling etiquette There are a series of basic rules to follow in order to ride properly in a group, and yet it is often surprising how few people know these rules. You might think this doesn’t apply to you,but "OH YES" it does. If you are new to the sport, this will help for your next group ride, if you are old to the sport, this should be a useful recap of what you already know. It’s Not a Race"A group ride is NOT a race". You are not to “Attack” off the front or try to show everyone how strong you are. "That’s what races are for." Bar-to-Bar"This is probably THE most important rule". Whenever riding in a group you should be riding 2 by 2, side by side (with only a few centimeters between you, you should not be able to fit a bus between you and rider beside you) and be perfectly handlebar to handlebar.
Do not at any time sprint ahead and disrupt the flow. Even if there is a corner coming up, stay side by side and go through the corner like a well oiled machine. Riding with your bars ahead of the rider beside you is called “half-wheeling” and is a major faux pas. It’s up to you to keep up with the speed of the slower rider next to you. And for goodness sake, "please try to keep to the side of the road, there is no need to take over the whole lane and annoy car drivers". Too Tired To Go To The Front If you do not want to go to the front, sit at the back and let the riders coming back from the front of the group slot in ahead of you. It is not acceptable to work your way up to the front of the group and then look around acting lost and confused, slowing down because you don’t feel strong enough to be at the front. If for whatever reason you do find yourself at the front, go through and take what is known as a “token pull”. You go to the front for a couple seconds, agree with the rider beside you that you are peeling off. Gaps "There should be NO gaps in a group ride". As soon as you see a gap, fill it by riding into the space in a steady and controlled manner. There is no need to sprint into the space and then slam on the brakes, just gradually fill in any gaps as soon as you see them.Moving About In A Group If you need to go to the back of the group, or need to move out away from the side of road because the road is damaged (for example), just steadily move in whatever direction you want to go in. The key to all group riding is to do things gradually and steadily. Even if there is a rider right next to you as you pull out to the side of the road, if you do it gradually, the other rider will naturally have time to move over with you. If you do anything sudden you will likely cause a crash. This is also very important when “peeling off” and “filling a gap”. Obstacles and Hand Signals Now, this is a very important rule, Obstacles and other such problems of the road are easily indicated with a "simple point". If you only see the obstacle at the last minute, ride through it! Better to get a flat than to take down the whole group. On the subject of obstacles, please only point out those that are worth pointing out. What obstacles are worth pointing out? That’s simple. An obstacle worth pointing out is one that will damage a bike or person behind you. Slowing and Adjusting SpeedThis is probably the biggest crash causer on group rides. For some reason, when someone slows down ahead of them, a lot of riders jump for their brakes and yank the heck out of them, almost skidding and taking everyone down with them. You should be riding ever so slightly to the side of the rider in front of you; so when they slow down, you either stop pedaling and start to slightly overlap your front wheel with their rear wheel, or you touch the brakes gradually, once again using the “wheel overlap” as a buffer zone so as not to slow down too suddenly for the riders behind you. These may seem like a pointless bunch of snotty old rules, but they come from very simple principles of general safety for a group ride. So stick to them, and spread the good word to your fellow new-comers to the sport. For any MEMBER worth his/her salt, these are not even thought of as “rules”. They are instinctive and are a natural part of riding. This may by why some road riders can come across as rude and arrogant. Ride etiquette is so second nature to them, that in their eyes, the only reason anyone would break them, would be on purpose.
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Post by TimmyC on Nov 30, 2016 22:50:38 GMT
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SAFETY
Dec 10, 2016 20:17:16 GMT
via mobile
Post by KieranG on Dec 10, 2016 20:17:16 GMT
Guys, it's very foggy out there tonight. So please check your lights, batteries or recharge them etc. And if the fog is still there in the morning be sure to light up well.
Forecast is for temp 2-4 degrees, and there may be some frost inland, so as always when it's frosty it's best to stay close to the coast
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Post by TimmyC on Feb 19, 2017 19:55:22 GMT
Hi Folks, A few people asked recently how you would know when to change your bike tyres, or what to look out for when checking them. They do need checking out other than just pumping up! Here are some examples of undesirable qualities in your tyres. Tiny cracks like these are not good, it means the tyre is old and the rubber is dried out and prone to punctures and/or ready to explode under the hapless cyclist above them! Tiny cuts like these can appear on tyres after a spin, its best to check them out with a small screw driver for any embedded debris like small stones etc. If you deflate the tyre and pinch it at the cut you can apply a drop of super glue to seal it. If the cut has gone thru to puncture the tube that's only a temporary fix. If there are a lot of cuts consider changing this tyre or at least have it on the back wheel. This tyre has a flat spot along the center, it happens to back tyres only from weight and propulsion,when this happens it is prone to punctures and ready for the bin! These are just a few things to watch out for in your tyres. Thread wear indicators (TWI) are on some tyres and when they are worn off the tyre should be replaced. The front tyre is your best friend and the most important tyre on the bike, keep it in perfect condition always. A puncture in this means loss of steering control and more than likely a crash! So do check your tyres regularly and if in doubt please ask an experienced cyclist.
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Post by niallk on Feb 19, 2017 23:08:38 GMT
Suggest new tyres twice a year. Start of spring/ summer season and start of winter, regardless of how "good" they look. Might sound expensive but cheaper than a couple of weeks or more out of work after a crash?
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Post by KieranG on Mar 7, 2017 10:47:48 GMT
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Post by niallk on Mar 13, 2017 17:53:27 GMT
After my little spill on Saturday on the oil I had a quick look at my helmet on Sunday morning before heading out for more. It looked like there was just a tiny dent on the outer skin. However, on closer inspection and a little bit of a pull on the inner shell I found a couple of small cracks. It didn't take much more effort to tear it apart!! Scary. Moral of the story. Don't chance it. If you bang it, bin it. It's cheaper than a new head! 😳
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Post by TimmyC on Oct 13, 2017 19:42:02 GMT
Hi Folks,
As I'm sure we all agree it's winter time, cold, wet and foggy, dirty roads, potholes and fallen leaves make for some interesting cycling conditions. Winter cycling can still be fun though, with just a few things to keep in mind, to keep us upright on our bikes this winter.
1. Fallen leaves and gravel on the road should be avoided if possible, you can get away cycling straight over them but no braking or cornering as they are slippery and grip is limited.
2. Potholes are the bain of our lives as many of us will agree, what with falls and punctures, but in winter they can be concealed in a pool of water on the road so be diligent. If you can't avoid the pothole, standing on the pedals can help to go though some of the smaller ones.
3. Visibility is a good thing on dark and foggy winter days, lights on our bikes and hi-vis jackets can help us to be seen and does not leave all of our safety to other road users.
4. And finally the dreaded word 'Mudguard' for those of us who like dry bot bots!
So folks enjoy the winter cycling and stay safe.
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Post by niallk on Oct 14, 2017 22:01:07 GMT
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Post by niallk on Feb 13, 2019 14:28:19 GMT
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Post by niallk on Mar 8, 2019 19:15:56 GMT
Alert! Any group heading west this weekend on the old road between ballinhassig and halfway village. Beware halfway down the descent into halfway ( just before the stone cutting place) the road is badly damaged from the recent rain. Tarmac has lifted and lots of loose gravel on the road. It’s passable but take care!
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Post by ronanjordan on Mar 13, 2019 21:12:15 GMT
Just for info. West cork rally is on this weekend. Saturday morning clonakilty, ring, timoleague area. There will be road closures. Sunday, will be some road closures over toward timoleague again. Just in case anyone planning on a long route out west.
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Post by ronanjordan on Mar 30, 2019 9:16:18 GMT
Just for info: Vintage car and bike show in belgooly 31 March. Starts at 1.
May be increased traffic in this area
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Post by TrevorDC on Apr 30, 2020 13:56:49 GMT
Green Spin this Saturday leaving from the Pharmacy at 8.30am. Distance 120km with coffee in Clon. Remember the days so sweet. If only this spin was true. I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. If anyone needs to have a chat and a laugh give me a buzz cos I know how much you're missing my jokes. Once this is over and we're allowed to venture onto the roads again I proposed we have a big club get together cycle with all colours covering the same route. Until then stay safe everyone and we will ride again.
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Post by psweeney on May 5, 2020 21:26:50 GMT
Fair play Trevor..
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Post by MurphNo1 on May 8, 2020 9:43:36 GMT
Great idea Trevor. Hope the family are surviving your entertainment.
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