Have you been thinking about joining a Cycling Club, but not sure if it’s for you?
Then please come and join us on a 4 week progressive course designed to improve confidence and cycling skills on the road for female cyclists!
What the course involves
Over the course of 4 weeks, we’ll take you out into the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside on rides designed to teach group riding skills and get some miles under your belt.
Dates:
- Tuesday 25th April
- Tuesday 2nd May
- Tuesday 9th May
- Tuesday 16th May
We will meet at Beeline Bicycles on the Cowley Road at 6pm for a pre-ride briefing, before setting off for the ride around 6.15pm.
With the bright evenings and warmer weather, this is a great time of year to work on taking your cycling to the next level in a very supportive and relaxed environment.
More information can be found on our website or Facebook Group.
Come and join us! 🙂
FAQ
Do I need to book?
Yes! We only have 18 places available on a first come, first served basis.
A £10 fee is payable, which is redeemable against your first year’s membership if you later decide to join the club!
Please register here
What level of fitness do I need to be at?
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 without stopping or you might have fitness from doing other sports e.g. running or rowing. However, they are not for complete beginners. If you are not sure, please contact us at [email protected] and we will chat this through with you. While we welcome women who are existing members of the Condors, these sessions are intended for those who are new to group riding and would suggest you offer to be an assistant ride leader!
Are hybrids okay?
If you have a hybrid please come along! We will definitely organise a hybrid only group if there is demand.
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! You may find it starts to get dark on the way home so you’ll need a good front and rear light.
Bring 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?
Lycra is optional! Padded shorts or leggings are ideal, cycling jersey or sports top, keep an eye on the weather forecast, but generally we would expect it to be cool in the spring evenings, so be ready to put on a layer or two and maybe a light waterproof.
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 are able to do some ‘homework’ by going out yourself on other evenings and/or at the weekend. We are happy to share the routes we’re doing so you can try them solo or with your new found cycling buddies! We also are also running monthly women’s rides at the weekend which you’d be more than welcome to join.
What if I’m too slow?
No one will be dropped on these rides, so please don’t worry about getting left behind! If you are really struggling then we will discuss this with you and look at moving you to the next course.
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 are designed for women and will be run by women. However you will 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 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 🙂
We’d love you to join us for the social at the end of the series (more details to follow!) and at Bike Oxford, on the 25, 50 or 80 mile route.
What if I can’t make this one?
We’re planning to run a similar course in the summer so keep an eye out for details and make sure you join our facebook group to get the latest news, there is something for every cyclist at this club!
What if I have a question not answered here?
Please contact us at [email protected]