Welcome to

All dates for these rides are ONLY available via the WhatsApp Group .

Regular Meet Point: Google Maps .

Depart promptly at 09:30.

Ride Time : 90-120 minutes, 8-10mph.

If driving to Meet Point, the car park is a pay car park. Alternatively park for free on Dinorben Avenue (1 minute from start): Free Parking .

All easy going routes.

Aim to be back in Fleet around Noon.

All of these routes offer the option of a shorter ride, please ask for advice.

ROUTE: Ash Vale Cafe

DISTANCE: Approx 18 miles

DEPART: 09:30 prompt (allow extra time for parking etc)

REGULAR MEET POINT: Google Maps

GUIDANCE:

Out along the canal, around Fleet Pond, section of canal, then through to North Camp, on to Ash Vale Cafe (approx 2/3rd of ride). Return via canal.

Additionally, please see "General Information" above

ROUTE: Caesars Camp

DISTANCE: Approx 15 miles

DEPART: 09:30 prompt (allow extra time for parking etc)

REGULAR MEET POINT: Google Maps

GUIDANCE:

Out along the canal, then across to Caesars Camp, to the viewpoint, then down to cafe stop towards end of ride.

Additionally, please see "General Information" above

ROUTE: Minley

DISTANCE: Approx 16 miles

DEPART: 09:30 prompt (allow extra time for parking etc)

REGULAR MEET POINT: Google Maps

GUIDANCE:

Out along the canal, around Fleet Pond, cross over to Minley area, Back via Hawley Lake. Cafe stop towards the end.

Additionally, please see "General Information" above

ROUTE: Mytchett

DISTANCE: Approx 17 miles

DEPART: 09:30 prompt (allow extra time for parking etc)

REGULAR MEET POINT: Google Maps

GUIDANCE:

Out along the canal to Mytchett Canal Centre cafe (Mid point). Return via Canal and a short cut via North Camp.

Additionally, please see "General Information" above

ROUTE: Odiham

DISTANCE: Approx 18 miles

DEPART: 09:30 prompt (allow extra time for parking etc)

REGULAR MEET POINT: Google Maps

GUIDANCE:

Out along the canal to Odiham, stop at Cafe in Odiham high street (Mid point). Return via section of King Alfreds Way (KAW) and canal.

Additionally, please see "General Information" above

We are based in and around the Fleet, Hampshire area of the UK.

Off-road, Cross Country (XC), Adventure, Exploring riding for fun, easy-paced (average 8-10mph), no racing!

Most rides (3 out of 4 Saturdays) depart from the Reading Road Canal Wharf car park at 09:30 sharp.

Regular Meet Point: Google Maps (Longer Rides may differ- see Ride Diary)

Depart time : 09:30 (Longer Rides may differ- see Ride Diary)

Regular Rides are 1.5-2 hours riding time and are only notified via the WhatsApp Group .

We also aim to have a social meet up on the Tuesday evening after each longer ride, again all details are shared via the WhatsApp Group only.

Bike types:

• Mountain (MTB)
• Gravel
• E-bike
• Hybrid
• Cyclocross
• Road - possible for skilled riders with appropriate tyres!

NOTE: Please have a Bell fitted, we ride on towpaths and other areas where there are walkers/joggers etc…a bell is the best way to alert them.

Depending on the time of year and the length of the Longer Rides, it is recommended to have a set of front and rear lights and certainly use front and rear mudguards when it's wet/muddy ...so most of the year! LOL

Tyres are a very personal choice, please understand that most of the time we are NOT on tarmac.

For those new to off road riding, tyres that are more designed for off road riding will inspire more confidence...eg Mountain/Gravel knobbly style tyres

For more experienced riders they tend to know what they can ride on.

A point to note, when in the autumn/winter/spring periods ...there is likely to be more mud, hence knobbly tyres give more grip!

As always, if in doubt, please ask in the WhatsApp Group chat.

We usually have 2 loan bikes available. Please ask and we can arrange for you to use one of these and ensure it is the best fit possible for you.

There is no charge to borrow a bike, we want more people to join us!

We recommend that you also bring the following:

• Bell
• Multitool
• Spare inner tube(s)
• Pump
• Tyre levers
• Inner tube patches

NOTE: Please have a Bell fitted, we ride on towpaths and other areas where there are walkers/joggers etc…a bell is the best way to alert them.

Depending on the time of year and the length of the Longer Rides, it is recommended to have a set of front and rear lights and certainly use front and rear mudguards when it's wet/muddy ...so most of the year! LOL

To start with…absolute no. Wear what you are comfortable in.

To improve comfort, consider:

• A helmet - riding off road there are often low branches. We advise that a helmet is worn. If you need to borrow one, we might be able to help.
• Padded cycle shorts - improves comfort on rides over an hour.
• Padded cycling gloves - reduces vibration in you hands.

After that, there is endless choices!

FYI: Decathlon shop offers good quality kit for sensible prices.

Although we plan to stop along the ride at a cafe, it is highly recommended you carry the following:

Fluids - 1 or 2 bottles (as large as will fit on your bike). These can be filled with water, juice, or an energy drink. If you don't have room on your bike, consider using a small backpack with a couple of bottles or a hydration pack. It is recommended that you need 500ml of water/fluids per hour of exercise.

Also, ensure you top these up along the route when you have an opportunity. Remember, if you start to feel thirsty you are already starting to dehydrate.

Foods - It is a good idea always to have some form of emergency rations to hand. These can be energy/oat bars or simple things like Jelly Babies or Haribos.

Note - that well-trained athletes can only carry up to 90 minutes of energy supplies in their bodies and you see them regularly eating and drinking.

If in doubt just ask in the WhatsApp Group chat.

We are NOT a club, but rather a group of local cyclists who love to get away from the busy roads on our bikes and enjoy the company of other like minded people.

We stay in touch and reach out to each other via a WhatsApp Group - please feel free to join us, and we look forward to seeing you along a towpath soon.

Additionally we have a once a month social meet in a local pub on a weekday evening for food, drink and a chat. These are held in the week after our Longer Rides, again all arranged via the WhatsApp Group .

NOTE : Please have a Bell fitted, we ride on towpaths and other areas where there are walkers/joggers etc…a bell is the best way to alert them.

NO, we do not use Strava and have no plans to use Strava or publish Strava routes. Our rides are social events, not training rides or races.

Generally GPX files are not provided as we are typically riding along the towpaths. Only where we feel the need to have GPX files will we supply them.

Off-road, Cross Country (XC), Adventure, Exploring riding for fun, easy-paced (average 8 - 10mph) and social.

NOTE : We do NOT do Bike parks or similiar style rides

If anyone wants to set up a ride.

Things to be considered:

• Design the route so that the MAJORITY of it is OFF-ROAD
• Consider the safety of the group (not just where you fancy riding)
• The overall distance
• The ride time
• Factor in stops every 15-20 mins (add 5-7 mins per stop)
• Café stop and time to it: if over 2 hours, flag this and remind folks to carry enough fluid (500ml per hour!)
• Opt-out points for anyone wanting to only do part of the ride, not feeling it, or having a mechanical issue
• If not a circular route, determine how to get back and how long does it takes
• Consider other riders and the speed:
  • We are definitely NOT racing
  • We are NOT pushing the pace
  • We have to consider new/introductory riders

Set expectations for all ahead of any ride...there should be minimal/zero surprises for folks

Yes, but please consider the following:

- Your battery charge at start of the ride.
- Your battery range.
- If you plan to use a train to return, please check that the bike will be allowed on the train.
- Please understand if you run out of battery charge, it is down to you to get home.

NOTE : this was written by a female within the group!

For many years the only cycling options were designed for men, and with the male and female anatomy being very different in places, women often struggled, in particular with saddles.

Women's specific clothing and saddles are now easier to buy, and will help with any discomfort.

Women's specific saddles often have a cut out running along the length to assist with comfort.

There are a number of discussions regarding the requirements for female anatomy, but the original information came from John Cobb; please see the following blog: https://speedandcomfort.com/blogs/female-comfort/innie-or-outie .