Derby Mercury Thursday Evening Ride “Steady Group" (>24 kph target)

PLEASE SIGN UP ON RiderHQ AT LINK BELOW. Scroll down to the next "Derby Mercury Thursday Evening Ride" event, select "More Details", and then "Enter": https://www.riderhq.com/o/p/70pf3nup/f/derby-mercury-rc/enter

Signing up in RiderHQ keeps all the entries in one place, and provides us with contact details if we need to cancel or in case of emergency. Please let the organiser know if you have any issues with RiderHQ or want any tips on how to use it easily.

The options are as follows:

1) “Steady Group” targeting >24 km/hr (15 mph) average on a hilly course.

2) “Medium Group” targeting >28 km/hr (17.5 mph) average on a hilly course.

3) “Fast Group” targeting >32 km/hr (20 mph) average on a hilly course.

4) A “women focussed” / U16 with adult ride ride on a shorter, flatter course. Just to avoid any possible confusion, women, and U16s accompanied by an adult, are also perfectly welcome to join any of the other groups above.

The “Steady”, “Medium” and “Fast” groups are training rides on a 44km hilly course starting at 18:00, 18:05 and 18:10 respectively from the Park Lane / A6 junction in Allestree, finishing at the Kedleston Road / Church Road junction - route at link below. Riders are expected to wait for slower riders in their group at the top of climbs, and when turning off one road onto another (please see below for obvious regroup points), but riders must also be self-sufficient and accept they might get dropped from their group if they cannot hold the target pace, particularly towards the end of the ride. https://www.strava.com/routes/2852816242050840088. The obvious regroup points are: Top of Farnah Green; Top of the steep section just after Belper Lane End; Top of the climb just after Middleton; Left hand turn after the Knockerdown pub; Top of Muggington Lane End

The "women focussed" ride starts at 18:15 from the Park Lane / A6 junction in Allestree, but on a shorter course. The route can change week to week and will be confirmed by the organiser before the start - please see the link below for a typical flat 38 km route. The target speed is 24-26 km/hr (15-16 mph) if it's a flat route, lower if it's hilly. U16s accompanied by an adult are also welcome. Riders are expected to wait for slower riders at the top of climbs.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35647794

Entries close end of Wednesday. You can turn up without having entered but no one will necessarily be looking out for you. Also please get in touch if you would like a group with a different target speed if none of those listed above would be suitable.

For your own safety and that of other riders you will be asked to agree to the following when entering:

1) You will have some means of getting home (e.g. someone you can phone or get a taxi) in case you have a mechanical you cannot fix by the side of the road yourself using your own tools (spare inner tube, pump etc…).

2) You accept there is an inherent danger to cycling in a group on a public road and you accept responsibility for your own safety. In particular you accept there is not necessarily anyone in your group trained as either a ride leader or a first aider.

3) You recognise this is a training ride, not a race, and will ride sensibly and in accordance with the Highway Code and your own ability and experience - if you are not used to riding in a group, consider riding at the back of your group or give people plenty of space until you are comfortable. You will point out potential hazards to the rest of the group, such as pot holes, parked cars and oncoming traffic. You will ride no more than two-abreast including if and when overtaking or being overtaken by other groups (so shout up and go single file while overtaking or being overtaken).

4) You will be polite and respectful to your fellow riders.

5) Your bike is road legal and in good working order, and you have adequate lights for the start time, duration and time of year.

6) You are aged 16 or over, or will be accompanied by an adult if not.

7) If you forward the invite to anyone else, you will ask them to also read this event description and sign up in advance.

Derby Mercury takes all allegations relating to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults very seriously. It is everyone's responsibility to report any concerns they may have. Please see the link below for details of how to do this: https://www.derbymercury.org.uk/safeguarding-2/

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• Rob S
  Organizer
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