Hounslow and District Wheelers – Frequently asked Questions.
Whether you are an experienced cyclist or haven’t ridden with a club before there must be
many things you want to know about Hounslow Wheelers, so this document is an attempt to
answer all those questions and more
Where do Hounslow & District Wheelers ride?
We are based to the West of London around the Staines area and we usually cycle within a
radius of 30 miles of Staines in an arc between Dorking in the south and Amersham in the
North. Our members mainly live in West London, Middlesex, Surrey and Berkshire.
When do you ride?
We have Club Runs from Staines Bridge at 9.15am on most Sundays all year round. These are
social rides of about 30-50 miles with a café stop, getting back to Staines by about 2pm.Twice
a month on Sundays we have slower paced rides (typically around 12 mph) of around 30 miles.
Details of all these rides are on the website
Do I need to be a member to ride?
No, not initially, but you must have 3 rd party insurance. Should you wish to continue riding
with us after a few rides we require you to join as a member.
What about insurance?
This is extremely important. Quoting the British Cycling Website “We all do our best to avoid
incidents, but if the unfortunate happens and you are to blame, it’s good to know you have
some peace-of-mind cover. With liability insurance, you’re indemnified (covered) for third party
claims against you for up to £20m”. You can get third party indemnity by joining Cycling UK or
British Cycling. BC has different levels of membership so make sure you join at the level that
will suit meet your needs.
I have never ridden in a group before, does that matter?
We ride fairly closely in pairs on Club runs when and if traffic conditions allow it; this can be a
bit daunting if you have never done it before. If you are new to group riding, start off at the
back so that you can see how it is done and gain confidence. The Club issues an important
guide to group riding which will help you learn the do’s and don’ts.
What about traffic, I find riding in traffic scary?
Our regular club runs all use quiet roads in the country as much as possible and the
countryside starts a few miles from Staines. You will find riding in a group gives an additional
sense of security and you will soon find your confidence growing as you see how others cope
with traffic..
How fit do I need to be to ride with you?
If you can ride around 40 miles at a reasonable average speed (say12 – 15mph) you should be
fit enough for a Club Run.. If you are not sure about your fitness we would be pleased to
arrange for a member to ride with you and advise you before trying a Club Run.
What happens if I can’t keep up?
If you only struggle on significant hills this won’t be a problem as we always regroup at the top
of hills. If you find that you cannot keep up on small hills, or the flat at more than 12 m.p.h.
then you may need to ride more by yourself to build up your fitness. However, if you decide to
try a Club Run we would not ever leave you behind; we don’t want to put people off club
cycling by leaving them behind on a club run. It may be that you do find it all too hard,
however all is not lost as there are more gentle alternatives such as the CTC or London Cycling
Campaign that we can advise you on. (Also see E-bikes below).
What should I eat before riding?
It is essential that you eat a proper breakfast before riding – porridge or similar is best and, of
course, always bring water with you on the ride using a securely fixed bottle cage. On longer
Sunday rides you should take additional food (such as Bananas/energy bars) and an energy
drink.
What happens if I puncture on a ride?
Put your hand up and shout “puncture” and coast to a suitable place to stop well off the road.
The group will wait and help you replace the tube, so make sure you have spare tubes, tyre
levers and a pump. Help and/or advice will be willingly given if you need it but it’s best if you
can carry this out yourself by practicing at home as changing tubes can be a dirty business in
the wet. If you are using a ‘tubeless’ tire system, bring a few ‘Dynaplug’ TM repair plugs with
you for larger punctures, that do not seal themselves. (and bring an inner tube as well).
What type of bike/pedals do I need?
Everyone in the club rides lightweight, dropped handlebar bikes, or E-bikes, some ride
single speed fixed or single free wheel. A mountain bike with slick tyres is OK but the extra
weight will make it harder, as will suspension. It is most important to either have pedals with
toeclips or (better) ‘clipless’ pedals (Look/Time/Spd etc) with compatible shoes. Clipless pedals
and shoes make it easier to pedal and are much safer but do take a bit of getting used to. In
winter mudguards are a good idea , if it is very wet. Most members have “winter bikes” too.
What about clothing?
Hounslow Wheelers have a Club strip for riding out in, We naturally like
members to wear our club kit on Club runs; non-members can wear other designs, but in any
case, we recommend proper cycle clothing particularly cycling shorts with proper padding
(worn without anything underneath) and close fitting cycling jerseys. If it looks like rain bring a
waterproof that packs up in the back pocket of your jacket. In winter, wrap up really well with
cycling tights over your shorts, a windproof top, overshoes, gloves and a thermal hat that fits under your helmet.
Is there anything I should know about cycling behaviour?
When you are riding wearing the Club jersey and riding with the Club or on your own
remember that you are representing the Club so avoid any abusive interactions with motorists
even if it is their fault. The Club does not wish to be contacted regarding any complaints of
abusive behaviour.
Always point out any potholes/debris you see coming up, to help riders who are riding behind
you. If the road narrows (due to road furniture or a parked car) alert riders behind by calling
out ‘On the left’ , or ‘On the right’. Do not ride off the front when riding in a group,
Remember that when riding in a group you should help those who are struggling, not make life
difficult for them, this is the point of group riding. If the group is too slow for you, lead a faster
group yourself. The club is lucky enough to have many former National cycling champions and
medal winners, who can help you get into racing, locally and nationally. (See racing below).
If you are at the back of the main group on a club run and there are riders off the back and the
group turns off the road make sure the riders off the back have seen the group make the turn.
If you are in doubt tell someone in the main group and wait for them.
On a general point when out riding it is customary to acknowledge other cyclists on the road
with a nod or a wave or, especially if you are overtaking them, with a verbal greeting.
What about racing?
We are quite happy for you to just ride Club Runs, as most members do now. But if you feel
the pace of the faster groups is too slow, then perhaps you should consider racing to test your
abilities further. We currently have around 7 members who race in Time trials and Cyclocross
events.
How do I start racing?
The easy way to start is to try a local club’s evening 10 miles time trial event, that you can
enter on the line. These will give you a good idea of your competitiveness and how much
training you need to do. Visit https://london-west.ctt.org.uk/pages/club-events for more
details.
You do not need a racing license for any time trials run by Hounslow Wheelers or Cycling Time
Trials. If you wish to try road racing you will need a BC license and start as a fourth category or
a youth rider and you can then enter any race catering for this category. There is a special
category for women. Surrey Cycle Racing League run a number of handicap road races
during the year and there is also Hillingdon Circuit Series among others available locally.
Surrey League races are handicaps so particularly good for beginners.
What is the difference between time trials and road racing?
Time trials are individual efforts against the clock over a set distance usually on public roads
with riders starting at one minute intervals. In road racing up to 80 or so riders start together
and battle it out over a number of laps of a circuit that may or may not be on public roads.
Road racing is split up into ability categories and some are handicaps, but in time trialling it is
the rider against the clock/themself, for this reason we recommend that as the first step.
What are the different types of cycling you do?
Apart from the club runs we promote an annual 100 miles time trial, details of which are on the
website under open and club events.
Do you do off-road?
Not officially, but off-road rides are organised by members mainly in the winter.
Summer Camp
Every year, in the second half ofAugust the club meets at Potterne Wick near Devizes for 2 weeks camping. Details from Martyn Roach.
Occasionally we meet on a Tuesday evening at 8.30pm at Staines Sailing Club for a Club social
evening. We have also had barbeques, quiz evenings, and family rides there. We also have in
August, trips to the Tour de France and other continental races and Mallorca (with bikes) and also in December, short midweek
rides to enjoy Christmas meals in local pubs.
I want to join, what do I do?
Come along and ride with us for a few Sundays and if you like it, complete a membership form
from the website (go to ‘information tab > ‘join the club’ and send it with a cheque for £25
(juniors £12) for your annual subscription to the Club Secretary. Secretary@hdwcycling.co.uk
Members are elected at Committee Meetings that take place roughly every month or so. You
can also join as a social member for £12 a year.