FAQs

  • Who are your rides for?

    Our rides are women led and women+ focussed and we want to create an environment in which women and non-binary people feel comfortable and welcome. Men can join our rides and do on occasion

  • What should I wear?

    Anything that you are comfortable riding in. Some of our club members will be in our amazing club kit but it is definitely not essential.

    Dress for the weather and you’ll be grand.

  • How do I sign up for a ride?

    Just fill in the form at the bottom of the event page.

    If you can no longer make it, please drop us an email to let us know.

    On the morning of the ride, please aim to be at the meet point ready to leave at the stated time. We’ll do some short intros and set off no later than 5 minutes after the time on the event page. We want to avoid people standing around in the cold and to make sure people with a limited riding window are back in time.

  • Do I need lights?

    Lights can be great for increasing your visibility during the day but aren’t essential.

    For our night rides we recommend a front light that is at least 600 lumens in order for you to see enough of the trail ahead of you and a solid, red rear light to avoid blinding riders behind you.

    The club has a set of lights that are available to borrow for anyone that’s new to night riding, get in touch before a ride to arrange.

  • Do I need to be a member to ride with Hervelo?

    You don’t need to be a member and we wouldn’t expect anyone to join without riding with us first. If you want to ride with the club regularly we would ask that you sign up as a member - you won’t regret it!

  • How do I join your club?

    You can join Hervelo via our club profile on British Cycling.

    We’ve kept the cost at £18 for several years and this money goes back to members in the form of funding towards coaching, club kit and more.

  • Can I come on an E-bike?

    Of course! You might just need to wait for us on the hills (or bring a tow rope).

  • Are there other groups in the area you'd recommend?

    There are a wide variety of clubs in the area, why not try a few out.

    We’ve collected some of our favourites here.

  • What do I need to bring on a Hervelo ride?

    Bring everything with you that you might need to fix a mechanical.

    Generally this could look like the following:

    • Inner tubes/puncture repair kit

    • Tyre levers

    • Mini pump and/or CO2 canister

    • Multitool

    • Spare quick link

    • And you can never go wrong with a couple of zip ties!

    Don’t worry too much about potential mechanicals, we’ll wait up if anything goes wrong and can often help fixing punctures or minor mishaps. For more serious issues we can help you phone a taxi!

    We also recommend bringing a waterproof jacket and enough water and food for the ride! Most of our longer rides have a cafe stop but it’s good to be prepared just in case.

  • What bike do I need?

    Road rides

    Our road rides are aimed at encouraging women and NB people that are looking for rides that are a bit longer and faster than a Breeze ride, in the region of 50 - 100km.

    We will typically advertise a rough speed with each ride, normally around 16-21 kph.

    Most people will be on a road bike with reasonably skinny tyres and drop handles but if you are comfortable riding at this pace on your gravel bike or hybrid then great.

    Remember, you’ll likely be able to ride a bit faster in a group than on your own thanks to the aerodynamic benefits of drafting!

    Off-Road rides

    We want our rides to be as accessible to as many people as possible and don't want to perpetuate the idea that you need loads of different bikes to participate in group rides. We'll never say a particular bike is compulsory but some bikes will be more suitable for certain routes than others.

    Our ride descriptions will give a recommendation for what we think is the most suitable bike for the ride. However, if you are a technically skilled rider, feel free to come on a MTB ride and show us a thing or two on your gravel bike. Or if you prefer the comfort of a MTB, bring that along on a gravel ride, you might just need to wait for us on descents.

    Gravel

    • Mixed terrain, possibly shorter off-road sections linked up using sections of road.

    • No committing drops or jumps.

    • Climbs that are shallow enough to tackle on gravel gearing, minimal technical obstacles.

    • Less steep descents, with fewer technical features.

    Mountain bike

    • Majority of the ride off-road with minimal tarmac sections.

    • Possibly some drops or jumps.

    • Steeper climbs with more technical features where easier gears and suspension are beneficial.

    • Steep descents where suspension and wider handlebars offer more confidence