Frequent Questions

Here you will find some answers to common questions about Kendal CC. If you would like to make further enquiries then please use the contact form or email.

• I'm new to the club how do I get involved?

  We are an inclusive club and welcome all ability of cyclist.
  
  Before you join the club ride, please take time to read our group riding etiquette booklet. Any person who wishes to join the club ride but hasn’t experience of cycling with a club must come along to one of our non-members’ introductory rides. These are held on the 1st Saturday of the month, 9.30 am at the Leisure Centre and pre-registration is required. Non-members can take part in one ride. If they wish to take part in subsequent rides then they must be club members. First-time riders are covered by British Cycling’s club insurance. Repeat non-member riders are not covered by club insurance and may be held personally liable for any injury or damage they may cause.
  
  Once you’ve joined the club you will be entitled to take part in all future club events until your membership runs out.
  
  You can take out a membership subscription for Kendal Cycle Club using our online system. To join, fill in the online membership form, and pay your subscription by using the secure online card payment service.
  
  Membership is £15.00, £8.50 for under-18 and £30.00 for families.
  
  

• What equipment do I need to join the rides?

  · An appropriately serviced bike
  · A helmet (wearing helmets on a club ride is mandatory)
  · At least one, but preferably two, spare inner tubes
  · A working pump
  · Puncture repair kit – for those awful days when two tubes aren’t enough
  · Tyre levers – 2/3
  · A multi tool – to adjust gears etc
  · Other optional tools eg chain breaker
  · Even in winter hydration is important so each rider should carry a water bottle
  · Personal first aid – plasters, antiseptic wipes etc
  · Money – for the cafe stop
  · Waterproof
  · Water and/or carbohydrate drink
  · Solid carbohydrate source eg banana, raisins, jelly babies
  

• What memberships and licences do I need to race?

  If you plan on road, track or time trial racing you will need to consider membership and a racing licence from British Cycling (BC), the UK’s governing body for cycle sport. A Provisional Racing Licence is awarded automatically with all Bronze, Silver and Gold memberships. A Full Race Licence may be bought as an addition to Silver or Gold Membership. Provisional licences are sufficient to gain you entry to all but national events, but an additional Day Licence fee will be payable on the day. If you plan to race regularly, a full race licence is most cost effective. Further details at: www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership
  
  NOTE: A racing licence is not required to ride the clubs confined TT series, but riders are asked to consider taking silver or gold BC membership for the insurance benefits provided.
  
  What races can I enter?
  A full calendar of all types of races with details required to enter them is available on the BC website: www.britishcycling.org.uk/events
  Time trials and track events are open to everyone, but most road races are restricted to riders of certain categories. An explanation of categories can also be found on the BC website.
  
  How do I enter a race?
  Where online entry is not available, races must be entered by filling in a race entry form. This must be submitted before the closing date for each event. Send in your entry with a cheque and a stamped addressed envelope to the event organiser. You will receive a start sheet prior to the event either by post or more frequently via email.
  
  NOTE: The BC registered name for the club is Kendal CC and should be used on all race entries and membership applications.

• What is the etiquette of group road riding?

  · Obey the road rules, including traffic signals
  · Respect other road users – be courteous and anticipate mistakes (that we can all make)
  · When you are on the front of the bunch you are the eyes of the bunch. Point out obvious dangers, pot holes, car doors, pedestrians etc
  · Ride at an appropriate speed - remember that’s why you are in the bunch to ride with them! If you want to hammer it, then do it solo or in designated sessions
  · Keep an eye out for wind direction and try not to fan out into traffic, keep either single file or two abreast
  · Ride two abreast (in a bunch), but be courteous if the road narrows or if there is traffic behind by riding single file
  · At lights and intersections, stay in position behind queued vehicles rather than rolling up the side of stopped traffic
  · Wear a helmet at all times
  · Use lights when riding in low light conditions
  
  

• What are the Saturday road rides like?

  Rides meet at Kendal Leisure Centre at the back of the car park for 9.15 am with the aim to leave promptly at 9.30 am. The ride is either the Grange or Silverdale Route.
  There are various groups:

  • Green: 20 miles, 10-12 mph
  • Blue: 30-40 miles, 13-14 mph
  • Red A: 40-50 miles, 15-16 mph
  • Red B: 40-50 miles, 16-17 mph
  • Black: 50 miles +, 17+ mph
  • Ladies: 25 miles, 10 mph
  • New to cycling: 10 miles, 5 mph

  
  
  If you’re unsure about which group to ride with then opt for the shorter/slower ride. All rides stop at Sizergh Castle for coffee and cake before returning to Kendal.
  
  The ultimate responsibility for personal safety and well-being is with the individual rider. Cycling activities with the club are undertaken at the individual's own risk. 
  
  Those attending should adhere to all the following guidelines and if the coordinator is not happy with your equipment or ability on the ride you may be asked to leave the ride. Under 18s will need a signed parental consent form. Always ride safely and obey the Highway Code. All participants are responsible for their own actions.
  
  Those attending should be prepared to learn the techniques of riding two abreast in close formation. Kendal CC recommends that riders limit themselves to a maximum group size of 8. Larger groups should split and leave approx 30 m between each group - this allows for vehicles to overtake and makes for safer riding. You can read more about cycling in a group on the British Cycling website
  
  RUN PREPARATION
  Riding in a group has many advantages but it also places certain responsibilities on each rider. Punctures, mechanicals etc, whilst often bad luck, can be less of a trial if certain precautions are taken before the run
  · Make sure your bike is safe - check brakes, wheels, rims and steering
  · Also ensure that nothing is loose (especially mudguards) or liable to fall off. A lubricated chain etc is also a good idea
  · Check your tyres - worn tyres are the single biggest preventable cause of punctures - multiple punctures, apart from being a pain, won't endear you to other riders waiting for you on a cold day!
  · Make sure you know how to fix a puncture - practice beforehand if you need to
  
  EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
  You are likely to need the following equipment: · An appropriately serviced bike
  · At least one, but preferably two, spare inner tubes
  · A working pump
  · Puncture repair kit
  · Tyre levers - 2/3
  · A multi tool - to adjust gears etc
  · Other optional tools eg chain breaker<
  · Even in winter hydration is important so each rider should carry a water bottle
  · Personal first aid - plasters, antiseptic wipes etc
  · Money - for the cafe stop
  · Waterproof
  · Carbohydrate drink
  · Solid carbohydrate source eg banana, raisins, jelly babies
  

• How do I ride in a chaingang?

  A Chain Gang is an efficient way to share time at the front. As its name suggests it is a dynamic chain of riders made up of a faster and a slower line. Depending on the wind direction the chain goes in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction to give shelter to the faster line.
  
  Since a chaingang is made up of a faster and a slower line, you will change speed as you move from one to the other - you slow down as you change lines at the front and speed up as you change at the back.
  
  With this in mind, some Do's and Don'ts about riding in a chain gang :
  · Do ease off at the front when you change from the faster to the slower line - take the pressure off the pedals slightly, but don't brake
  · Do avoid leaving a gap as you move across - a gap forces the rider behind to accelerate to regain your wheel
  · Do let riders nearby know if you are unable to go through and intend to sit at the back of the group to recover
  · Do warn riders if you intend to rejoin the chain after sitting in
  · Do stay alert, not just for the usual safety reasons, but to ensure that gaps don't occur.
  · Don't switch lines unnecessarily
  · Don't speed up when you reach the front
  · Don't ride erratically, keep it steady - remember the only time you should be accelerating is when you change lines at the back. Failure to observe this simple fact is the main reason why many chaingangs fall apart
  
  Continental Change - is a more sociable form of the chaingang where, instead of moving straight through from the faster line to the slower line, a rider will spend a few minutes at the front.

• How do I prepare for an off-road ride

  The club rides are best tackled on a reasonable quality mountain bike with knobbly tyres and a wide range of gears. It's far from essential to spend a fortune but front suspension and decent brakes will be a definite advantage on most rides.
  
  While punctures and mechanicals can happen to everyone, a bit of preparation and TLC to the bike will go a long way to minimising them, so:
  · Make sure your bike is safe - check wheels, rims, steering and suspension are working properly and ensure that nothing is loose or liable to fall off
  · Keep your drivetrain clean and well lubed. This will help the gears work properly and make everything last that little bit longer
  · Check your tyres and their pressures. Tyres that are too hard or badly worn won't grip well while and those that are too soft or cut/ damaged will puncture easily. Make sure you know how to fix a puncture and have the kit to do so - pump, patches, tyre levers and at least one (but preferably two) inner tubes
  · Check brake pads regularly and consider carrying spares, especially for V-brakes. In extreme conditions even disc pads can wear out in a very short period of time
  · Crudcatcher-style mudguards that mount to the seatpost and downtube to keep the worst of the mud off without clogging
  · Carry a multitool with a chain splitter and any spares you may need, such as brake pads, rear mech hanger, powerlinks and so on
  
  Individuals take part in any group rides at their own risk. Kendal Cycle Club and its club members accept no responsibility for the safety of anyone participating in group rides, and no liability in the event of an accident.