ABOUT CLUB RUNS

Members - please stay up to date with our guidance, available via the how we ride page (and also via the Weekly Brief - a link to which is on the homepage). Then please check your chosen #pace group on Slack for the latest information. Run Leaders will post these during the week, as they arrange them, so you can express your interest to join up and download the GPX (if one is provided).

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About Club runs (members only):

Café destinations are circulated each week to all members via the Weekly Brief (our member's email sent every Friday) and routes are frequently shared by runs leaders on Slack (VCC member's messaging platform). Please register to join VCC to gain access.

Our club runs take place every Sunday - except on certain holidays such as New Year's Day.

We typically have around 50 riders out and split ourselves across 10 different pace groups. Departure is at 9.00am (meet up from 8.45am) and there is always a planned Café stop at around 11:00am, which is approximately at the half-way point, before heading back to St Albans.

Sometimes groups share the same location, so riders can ride out with a faster group and, if they wish, return with a slower one, a good way to move up as you progress. Occasionally, all groups share the same Café stop but this is rare due to numbers.

Each group will go at the speed of the slowest rider, re-grouping when necessary. No one is left behind!

Non-members, please note: It's our club policy to meet up and brief all new applicants, whatever their experience and ability level, before they ride with us. We therefore require that you join one of our Introductory Rides, which we run each month on Saturday mornings, so you know better how we ride and we know better how you ride too!

Introductory Rides: We hold these once per month on a Saturday morning, starting from the War Memorial by St. Peter's Church in central St. Albans at 9am for approximately 2.5 hours. The rides follow a looped route along Redbourn Road and Gaddesden Row to Studham and back, a total of around 25 miles, with a couple of stops for questions and to review our riding. These group rides are typically joined by three or four VCC members, the main intention being to familiarise potential new members with our style of riding and to ensure safety on our roads for all. The rides provide an opportunity to ask questions both en route and during the short stops. As pre-requisite, you will require a drop handlebar road bike, third party cycling liability insurance and the ability to sustain an average speed of 14 mph over the ride. Please note these rides are by invitation only and can get booked up, so we advise applying a couple of months in advance to avoid delay! 

Please contact Peter, our Membership Secretary (see details under Membership) if you would like to ride with us and we will arrange a time to meet with you. We will run through some important safety points, our rider guidance and etiquette and will explain other activities and facilities available to you within our club. 

Please do not just turn up on a Sunday morning because unfortunately you'll be turned away - it's in all our interests to ensure safe riding!

Please also note that you must have 3rd party liability insurance to ride with the club. Acceptable policies include British Cycling (BC), Cyclists Touring Club (CTC), British Triathlon Association (BTA) and League of Veterans Racing (LVRC - only applicable to over 40's).

Whilst we require you to join and pay the annual subscription before you ride with us, rest assured, if it's not for you, we will refund you (max 4 rides).