“The Fred Whitton is widely regarded as the toughest sportive in the UK and right up there with European events such as the Marmotte, Maratona dles Dolomites and L'Etape du Tour”

I'd heard of The Fred, but didn’t really know much about it nor know anyone else who had done it (or 'been through it' is perhaps more apt). I knew it was brutal, but with these things it’s often about perspective, so I entered the ballot quite blindly (thanks to the encouragement of Sean Harrion!)  

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If you're ready to buy your first bike, or are in the very lucky position of acquiring another bike, then we're just green with envy. The journey you're about to go on, of buying your first bike or adding to your bike collection, is one that should be savoured.  

However it can be a bit of a minefield. There are so many different types of bike out there, with seemingly more variations being added all the time, that knowing exactly what type of bike to buy can be daunting.

First things first, you need to decide what type of cycling you want to do. Thankfully these days, this is not such a binary choice, with the rise of 'all road' and gravel type bikes becoming much more popular. What does that mean, we hear you ask? We'll explain the different bikes types in more details below, but in simple terms it means bike manufacturers are making more 'do it all' bikes that you can ride on road, on trail and on gravel. It's quite a time to be alive!

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Buying your first bike is a wonderful experience. You're purchasing nothing less than freedom and the chance to explore, increase your fitness and meet other cyclists in your area. You’ve made a wonderful decision. Really, well done you.

However it can be a bit daunting from the outset. There are so many different types of bike out there, so many different shops; where do you start? Buying your first bike should be anything but a stressful experience, so we're here to help. 

First things first - what type of riding do you want to do? Road riding or off road? What about a bit of both? Either way it's a good idea to research the different types of bikes before you start. Once you know what you want you can start shopping!

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Riding in a group is the best way to improve your cycling ability, fitness and sense  of fun. The level of support you get from the ride leader and other cyclists is huge, allowing you to go further, faster and higher without fear of getting stuck or lost. Whilst you benefit from the support of others however, there are certain things you should take with you on a group ride.

Every cyclists is a little bit different, so what they take on a ride can be personal to them, but there are a few staples that you should carry on a ride. Having a ride leader or friend to help you fix a puncture is great, but you don't want to be borrowing all the bits from them too!

We have included links to all products below to illustrate exactly what we mean, and to help you shop. We have used links to our partners as club members get 20-50% off. Find out about joining the club here.

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The questions we probably get asked the most revolve around average speed and which group is the 'right' one for people to join on a ride. Not only that, but the fear of picking the 'wrong' group or being worried about the level of the ride is probably the biggest cause of people not joining a ride in the first place. And this isn't just new and beginner riders; we get questions from experienced riders who are also trying to gauge the pace of the ride too. It's big deal, so we thought we'd cover some of the main concerns, as well as try and explain what each of the group levels really mean.

It is worth saying at this point that none of the below is designed to put people off from joining a ride or even the group they want to join. It's merely a guide to try and help you into the right group or ride for your level, and then give you options when you do feel ready to push yourself a bit more. If you are at all unsure about what group to join then please always email us or message us on social media. We're aways happy to have a chat and work out what's best for you.

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"... If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium..."
Maximus Decimus Meridius, The Gladiator.

It's roughly 12:30pm on Sunday, and Russell Crowe's speech from the beginning of Gladiator has just come into my head. I am riding through open fields with the sun on my face and the wind on my back.

Having just climbed La Speranza, a 5km climb at an average of 10% and total elevation gain of 500 metres, in 30 degree heat; metaphorically I feel like I might have died! However once the pain had ended, and the epic gradient relented, the road extended before me invitingly, I knew that I wasn't in fact in Elysium, but in cycling heaven. As per Russell's instructions; I certainly wasn't troubled.

Before I romanticise anymore about Sunday's climbing, let me go back to the beginning of the weekend and start from the top.

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