Training Rides

These rides are aimed at those who want a good workout. We ride in a group and take ‘turns’ on the front; this allows us to go faster than if we were riding on our own.

It can be nerve-wracking to join your first training ride but try not to worry. If this is your first one, let one of the ride leaders know and they can give you advice on how to ride in a group and what to do during the ride. You should, however, be confident riding around other people at speed. The video below also gives some handy tips on how to ride through and off in a group.

The aim of these is not to race. Instead, the aim is to work smoothly with other people. On some training rides, the last section to home is often declared as a ‘race’ so you can test your fitness (and ability to suffer!) against other riders.

Some training rides will be ‘drop rides’. This means that the group will not wait for those who can’t hold the pace or those who have mechanical issues/punctures. If you find yourself distanced, try not to be disheartened! We have all been dropped at some point and if you keep doing these rides regularly, you’ll be able to keep up for the whole ride soon!

If it is/will be dark, you will need to bring working front and rear lights (not set to flashing) and be confident at riding in a group in the dark.

These rides are for road bikes only, so please do not use TT bikes or tri-bars.

Monday Steady Training Ride

Average speed 16-20 mph for 30 miles. Through & off / chain gang.

Reasonable fitness and endurance required on this mutually supportive group ride. We will aim to stay together practicing good discipline to build confidence, skills and speed.

Good lights and mudguards needed September to April and in any bad weather.

Meet at

Broken Cross public car park (not the Tesco one) on the corner of Gawsworth Road and Princes Way, Macclesfield, SK11 8UB. For directions use house number 1. Free car parking.

Before joining for the first time please contact fred.w@macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk

Sunday Winter Training Ride, Oct - Mar

Three hours on Sunday morning, leaving at 9.15 am. Ideal if you have some experience on the Thursday 6@6.30 Ride and want to double the distance. 50-60 miles at around 18 mph.

No café stop just getting the bike riding in and then getting home for lunch. We change off the front every couple of minutes and rotate through the group so everyone does turns but has the chance to have a chat too. We stop as a group for punctures and please bring spare tubes, pump etc.

We also really need you to have full mudguards. We vary the route each time but it’s mainly Cheshire lanes to keep a constant workload and maintain the group but there will be the opportunity to open up too during the ride to ensure everyone gets a good workout.

In very cold or bad weather, please check the This Week’s Rides panel on the home page or our Facebook members’ page in case we cancel the ride, even at very short notice.

Meet at

Town Hall, Macclesfield, SK10 1EA

Any questions? Just contact monica.g@macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk

Winter Faster Training Ride, Oct - Mar

We’re riding in a tight group at an average of 20-21 mph and it’s essential that you’ve already been out on one of our other training rides first (or have similar experience elsewhere).

30 mile flat loop, finishing up Artists Lane. Good lights and mudguards required. You can view our current loop here.

Meet at

Broken Cross public car park (not the Tesco one) on the corner of Gawsworth Road and Princes Way, Macclesfield, SK11 8UB. For directions use house number 1. Free car parking.

Any questions? Just contact matt.l@macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk

Summer Faster Training Ride, Apr - Sept

This is our fastest training ride. We’re riding in a tight group at an average of 23-25 mph and it’s essential that you’ve already been out on one of our other training rides first (or have similar experience elsewhere). If you can ride in a group at 20mph you are likely to be able to keep up - it’s fine to ‘sit on’ and as you improve your fitness take more turns on the front.

30 mile flat loop. We wait for each other at junctions, or of course if you have an accident, but not if you have a puncture, a mechanical or simply drift off the back.

Meet at

Broken Cross public car park (not the Tesco one) on the corner of Gawsworth Road and Princes Way, Macclesfield, SK11 8UB. For directions use house number 1. Free car parking.

Any questions? Just contact simon.h@macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk