GGCC Club Run, Sunday 20th March, Glen Fruin Gran Fondo - 63 Miles
Dig the Summer bike oot the back of the shed!! White Jerseys optional!!
This week we are taking advantage of the awesome weather forecast and doing a slightly longer route than we normally ride during the colder months, taking in the famous Glen Fruin Climb followed by the breathtaking views of the valley as we descend down to the Lomondside. We will then travel along to Balloch where we stop for coffee at our usual Maccy D's. We then head home through Renton, Dumbarton and over the Erskine bridge through Renfrew and back through Ibrox back to the arch. If the distance / time is a factor there is a shorter loop turning right at Helensburgh crossing over to re-join the route at the Arden roundabout, but this will miss out the nicest part of the ride.
Please meet under the McLennan Arch on the green for 8:30am start.
* Please bring money for coffee & McMuffins! (and a face covering) And also maybe an extra gel or energy bar, as the coffee stop is at the 40 mile mark.
We will head out of town in groups of 10 before splitting into our paced groups at the Glen Lusset Pub, situated in Old kilpatrick just under the Erskine bridge.
**GROUP LEADERS will be identified and nominated at Glasgow Green and a quick brief will be discussed for the ride ahead and agreed. At the split point before we move to paced groups, each group leader will get their respective group together and brief the group on the etiquette of the ride, what should and will happen and the format of the day so everyone in the group fully understands so everyone gets the most from the group they take part in.
We will go through some basic safety, group riding etiquette and group riding technique, first aid and basic bike maintenance before we set off so that everyone stays safe and knows exactly what’s happening on the ride.
For those of you who are first aid trained and have been issued first aid pack, can you please bring these along on Sunday (and each run you attend)
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE ROUTE PRIOR TO SUNDAYS RIDE.
Forecast for Sunday morning is to dry & sunny, with a slightly cooler start heating up rapidly as the sun rises. Temperatures will be around 6-11 degrees, with a 9 mph E/SE wind gusting to 18 mph.
We will split into STEADY, CHALLENGE & CHEEKY CHALLENGE
Groups should contain no more than 10 riders.
Steady is steady and usually sit between 14 – 16 mph average **NOBODY gets dropped**
Challenge should push your ability and sits about 16 - 18 mph average.
Cheeky Challenge is slightly faster and is around 18 - 20 mph.
**PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL GROUPS STAY TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER - THIS IS A TRAINING / SOCIAL RIDE
**these are the averages you should expect over the course of the ride in the above groups and there will be sections ridden faster and some slower depending on road profile and conditions
**Please remember to communicate within your group. If you get split due to junctions, traffic, roundabouts then get back together. If you get split as someone is really dropping off the pace then that rider steps down a group, (or steps up if going through to hard) **THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT SO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING OR FEEL FRESH - Group Leaders may suggest a step up or down for the sake of the smoothness of the remaining group
**If you need to ask the group to slow up, we would suggest you step down as you may be in the wrong group
Please pick your group carefully and remember that all groups work together to promote group riding but steady is the only group that rides at the pace of the slowest rider and the other groups don't wait for dropped riders unless agreed amongst the group and riders on the day
**Please remember tubes, pump, levers, multitool and also please ensure your bike is in good working order, oiled, lubed, maintained **
COVID AWARE
Can we stress again the below –
If you don’t feel safe, don’t attend. Don’t put yourself in a situation you are not comfortable with. I understand that some may be more cautious than others
1. Participants are required to carry a face covering at all times.
2. If you are in any way ill or have any symptoms at all….DO NOT attend a club ride
3. If you have been in a public situation that you feel there was or may have been a risk with regards to Covid-19, please do not attend and wait until the next club ride
4. Be respectful (as you always are), be thoughtful and mindful of your actions during your time with your fellow members.
From all the team @ GGCC