Condor Ladies: Summer Sessions

Update 15th July – Fully Booked!

The course has been an overwhelming success and is now fully booked.  Fear not though, we plan to run another one early next year, and we’re also investigating adding a new slower paced ride to the regular rides, so keep an eye on the facebook group for details of all of that.

Introduction

Are you thinking about joining a road cycling club, but not sure if you are fit enough? Have you enjoyed coming out for a Condor social or newbies ride but found it quite a challenge? Then this course is for you!

Here at the Condors we recognise that there can be a big jump up when joining a cycling club, and that some riders would enjoy a more gradual introduction. So we’ve come up with a programme designed to help.

What the course involves

Over the course of 8 weeks, we’ll take you out into the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside on rides designed to build fitness and stamina. Starting with 25 flattish miles, we’ll build up distance and climbing elevation, culminating in a sneak preview of a large section of the Bike Oxford 50 route. Each session will have a designated topic, where more experienced members of the club will share general tips and advice with you on the different skill areas.

Date	Time	Route Name	Miles	Topic
Tues 07 July	6.30pm	Chalgrove Change Up!	25	Group Cycling
Tues 14 July	6.30pm	Otmoor Opener	28	Bike Setup
Tues 21 July	6.30pm	Bicester Booster	31	Gears
Tues 28 July	6.30pm	Heyford Hammer time	33	Cadence
Tues 04 Aug	6.30pm	Boarstall Breakaway	33	Pedalling
Tues 11 Aug	6.30pm	Cumnor Classic	31	Climbing
Tues 18 Aug	6.30pm	Jingle Bells	33	Nutrition
Tues 25 Aug	6.30pm	Long Crendon Leg Turner	34	Maintenance
Mon 31 Aug	10.00am	Bank Holiday Funday	46	Sportives

All rides will start at Beeline Bicycles and finish at Rick’s cafe for post ride refreshments and debrief.

With the brighter evenings and warmer weather, this is a great time of year to work on taking your cycling to the next level in a supportive environment.

Come and join us!

Cheryl and Jo

PS: We’ve set up this facebook event for the sessions too, feel free to post any questions there too 🙂

FAQ

What level of fitness do I need to be at?

These sessions are not designed for complete beginners, or those just getting back on their bikes after many years. Ideally you should be riding around town or to work regularly and have a reasonable level of fitness, e.g. be able to ride comfortably for 20-25 miles. A good benchmark would be if you have gone out with the Isis ladies on a ride and felt they were too slow for you. Alternatively, you might have fitness from doing other regular sport, e.g. running. If you are not sure, please contact us at [email protected] and we will chat this through with you.

Are hybrids okay?

For these sessions, yes we welcome riders with hybrids. Ultimately the Condors is a road cycling club and you will find that all members have a road bike. If you are thinking about upgrading and joining a club but not sure if it’s for you, this course is a fantastic opportunity to try it out! Our members have lots of experience with buying bikes and are happy to give advice and guidance during or following the course.

What do I need to bring with me?

Definitely your bike and helmet! The usual things you would normally take out (phone, money, keys), plus a bottle of water/energy drink and a small snack. Something that can be stuffed in a pocket and doesn’t melt is ideal (think flapjack or cereal bar, rather than chocolate). Please try to bring some bike maintenance essentials: inner tube, tyre lever, a pump, and a spanner if you need one to take your wheel off. We will do our best to help with mechanical problems that crop up during the ride.

What should I wear?

Keep an eye on the weather forecast, but generally we would expect it to be very warm in the July and August evenings. So leave the big commuter coat and fleecy tights at home! If you have a lightweight rain jacket you can stuff in a pocket or padded shorts then that’s an added bonus.

What if I can’t make every session?

Don’t worry, we know that people have holidays booked or life sometimes just gets in the way! We hope you can make as many sessions as you are able to, and to do some ‘homework’ by going out yourself on other evenings and/or at the weekend. That way you will get the most out of this experience. We are happy to share the routes we’re doing so you can try them solo or with your new found chums!

What if I’m too slow?

Firstly, no one will be dropped on these rides, so please don’t worry about getting left behind.

Over the course we aim to gradually increase the pace as fitness levels improve. To start with, we will aim to pitch this at approx 13/14 mph on the flat, and obviously less on the hills.

If you are really struggling then we will discuss this with you. It might make sense for you to you take some time out to work on your fitness before joining the next course. Hopefully though this won’t happen as the routes are designed to ease you in gently.

What if I’m too fast?

Then you are ready to join the club and should check out the next social ride!

Will there be men there?

These sessions for designed for women and will be run by women. However you might find a Condor fella or two present during some of the rides – they have lots of experience and can offer great advice on the different skill topics.  The condors is a mixed cycling club, and while we do run some women’s only rides, the majority would be mixed.

Is this free?!

YES!

Do I need to book?

No, please just turn up on the day. Please be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the designated start time for a pre-ride briefing.

For us to get an idea of numbers, we would appreciate if you would please join the facebook event group here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1081995318496596/

Is this covered by insurance?

As with any bike ride on a public road you need to ensure that you have a level of insurance you are happy with. We’d recommend any cyclist riding on a public highway to have 3rd party liability insurance (to cover you in case of an accident involving a pedestrian, motorist or another cyclist). You may also want insurance to cover your bike in case of damage or theft. This type of cover may well be part of your existing household insurance policy, or can normally be added reasonably inexpensively to your policy if not.

What happens at the end?

There is no obligation to do so, but we hope that you’ve enjoyed cycling with us so much, that you sign up to join the Condor family 🙂

What if I have a question not answered here?

Please contact us at [email protected]