Innovation can be good. Take indexed gears for example, few would argue that they haven’t improved the cycling experience, although I imagine there was resistance when they first appeared. The jury is currently out on more recent innovations such as tubeless tyres.
An innovation in club rides this autumn is for an intermediate paced loop ride, which will happen every fortnight.
What’s “Intermediate pace”?. As with all club rides, the pace will be that of the group, but the guide is 14mph (22kmh). For older members, this is what the popular B ride used to be. This is positioned between the existing moderate and tempo rides.
A loop ride is a 40 mile (65 km) ride to get back to Gloucester for 12:00, with an optional coffee stop in or near Gloucester at the end. This allows those with time constraints to go straight home, while allowing others to enjoy a social chat over coffee at the end. It also removes that autumn experience of sitting in a cafe miles from home, watching the rain outside, and wishing you didn’t have 30 miles still to ride.
Six riders chose this ride, on 5 bikes (one tandem if you are confused). The feedback over coffee was that this was the ride that they were looking for. Perhaps one tip for regular club riders wanting to try this, is to have something in your back pocket (bar/banana/gel), if your body is tuned to coffee and cake after 30 miles.
A good morning out, getting back before the rain. 41 miles, 1800′ ascent @ 14.6mph.
See you in 2 weeks?