Orwell Wheelers Introductory Spin - October 4th

rottenhat

I've seen a few posts from people asking about Dublin cycling clubs - Orwell Wheelers kick off their winter spins on October 4th, meet at 9:30am outside Joe Daly's in Dundrum. I think the first one is supposed to be a fairly relaxed, get-to-know-people affair but if you can't make it that Sunday, it's fine to show up on a later Sunday.

Helmet obligatory, road bike recommended.

keano007

I'll def be going to this one, I was gonna join last year but I left it too late, will they build up the distances over the winter to suit beginners?

Húrin

Thanks I'll try to make it to this.

rottenhat

keano007 wrote: »

I'll def be going to this one, I was gonna join last year but I left it too late, will they build up the distances over the winter to suit beginners?

Yes, they kick off pretty easy with 60-80km flat spins and build up a to 100-140km with the odd hill thrown in by April. You're also encouraged to move up into the faster groups once you have a bit of experience under your belt

keano007

rottenhat wrote: »

Yes, they kick off pretty easy with 60-80km flat spins and build up a to 100-140km with the odd hill thrown in by April. You're also encouraged to move up into the faster groups once you have a bit of experience under your belt

Excellent, looking forward to it!!

Chips Lovell

What I want to know is how did I get rostered to lead one of the beginners' spins and all of the other Orwell boardsies manage to avoid it?

blorg

el tonto wrote: »

What I want to know is how did I get rostered to lead one of the beginners' spins and all of the other Orwell boardsies manage to avoid it?

Sweet

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

What I want to know is how did I get rostered to lead one of the beginners' spins and all of the other Orwell boardsies manage to avoid it?

Is it 'cos you are totally awesome?

GusherING

Do you need to join the club to do the first one or two cycles? I'm interested in joining but want to see if I'm able for it first!

How many people turn up to these introductory cycles?

zzzzzzzz

GusherING wrote: »

Do you need to join the club to do the first one or two cycles? I'm interested in joining but want to see if I'm able for it first!

How many people turn up to these introductory cycles?

No - you just turn up. You join afterwards.

rottenhat

GusherING wrote: »

Do you need to join the club to do the first one or two cycles? I'm interested in joining but want to see if I'm able for it first!

No, you show up to these to see if you want to join. You won't be expected to join until you've done a few.

GusherING wrote: »

How many people turn up to these introductory cycles?

Depends on the weather but the beginners' group is usually 6-12. If it gets too big it will be split into two.

AstraMonti

I 'll probably be there, i wanted to join a club for winter rides. After you become a member of the club, is there a minimum attendance that will be required? I would also love to go with the boards spin in Saturday, but Sat and Sunday will be a huge no no for every weekend.

DirkVoodoo

More importantly, when can you buy the kit?

sy

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

More importantly, when can you buy the kit?

Too much green and not Italian(eyetallion if you are Sean Kelly) enough for you Dirk;) Hope you are going to join a club this year.

blorg

AstraMonti wrote: »

I 'll probably be there, i wanted to join a club for winter rides. After you become a member of the club, is there a minimum attendance that will be required? I would also love to go with the boards spin in Saturday, but Sat and Sunday will be a huge no no for every weekend.

There is no minimum- if you want to race you are expected to marshall one race during the season, that is it... Don't understand what you mean with Saturday and Sunday cycles being a no no. :pac:

zzzzzzzz

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

More importantly, when can you buy the kit?

Talk to Dave Tansey in joe daly's - he may have gear left over from last year. I haven't heard whether or not the kit is changing this year though.

Otherwise - there's usually a members sign-up night in a scout den in rathgar/dartry sometime in early january where he'll be taking orders. It usually takes a while to get it once you order though - we didn't get it until around mid April this year FWIR.

@AstraMonti - no, there's no minimum attendance required

AstraMonti

blorg wrote: »

Don't understand what you mean with Saturday and Sunday cycles being a no no. :pac:

Well eventually it will come down gf vs bike... and you know who wins in these situations or you are very lucky

which group do you reckon i ll be going for? or all newcomers go in the beginners group?

rottenhat

AstraMonti wrote: »

which group do you reckon i ll be going for? or all newcomers go in the beginners group?

You're strong enough for the step up group, but if you haven't much experience of riding "through and off" (aka "up and over", bit and bit" etc) then you should probably go out with the beginners group for a week or two just to get the basics down.

I'll also say that the club spins involve considerably less pissing about than the average Boards spin (I'd usually be home by 1pm) so it's a lot easier to fit into your weekend schedule.

Caroline_ie

rottenhat wrote: »

You're strong enough for the step up group, but if you haven't much experience of riding "through and off" (aka "up and over", bit and bit" etc) then you should probably go out with the beginners group for a week or two just to get the basics down.

I'll also say that the club spins involve considerably less pissing about than the average Boards spin (I'd usually be home by 1pm) so it's a lot easier to fit into your weekend schedule.

You mad? the beginners group? I have cycled with astra and he's well able for the up and over and the step up group.

The Orwell spins ( I have done a few ) tend to depress me. I find it not fun at all, even if you are able for it. I might do a few for the sake of racing training but I will bring my music and turn off when I am tired of it.

rottenhat

Caroline_ie wrote: »

You mad? the beginners group? I have cycled with astra and he's well able for the up and over and the step up group.

I said "if". I've only cycled with him once, so I have no idea whether he knows how up and over works, and knowing how in theory isn't the same as knowing how in practice either. So far as I know, he's been cycling for about a year, and if he's mainly been doing Boards spins and sportives he won't have learned much about riding in an organised group.

When I joined last year, I was also stronger than the most of the beginners but I had no experience in a group and came close to knocking another rider off their bike at least once. So I did a few weeks with the group that is there specifically to teach you the basic technique before moving up. What's so mad about that?

Caroline_ie

rottenhat wrote: »

What's so mad about that?

... his bike is too nice for the beginners group.

alfalad

I've never done much group cycling generally on my own but i'm out injured for the next 2 months and then on hols for a couple of weeks so it will be Jan by the time i get back into it. Would that be too late to get into it?

rottenhat

alfalad wrote: »

I've never done much group cycling generally on my own but i'm out injured for the next 2 months and then on hols for a couple of weeks so it will be Jan by the time i get back into it. Would that be too late to get into it?

No, not at all. There seemed to be a pretty constant stream of new people showing up throughout the spring this year. My guess is a lot of people are too busy coming up to Christmas, but after that they want to get out and strut their shiny new Xmas gear. Or else they're just waiting for the weather to get a little warmer.

tomc

rottenhat wrote: »

(I'd usually be home by 1pm)

Now you're talking....might give this a go.:)

alfalad

rottenhat wrote: »

No, not at all. There seemed to be a pretty constant stream of new people showing up throughout the spring this year. My guess is a lot of people are too busy coming up to Christmas, but after that they want to get out and strut their shiny new Xmas gear. Or else they're just waiting for the weather to get a little warmer.

Great, well lets hope I can get rid of the injury fully and get the fitness back fast!

AstraMonti

Cheers rottenhat. Yes basically i was only out with Boards and in sportives, but i kinda know how you should move in a organized group, i 've read few riding-in-groups etiquette posts but i 've never actually ridden with one.

lukester

I emailed them about the different groups and was told the beginners and step-up are for people who haven't ridden much in groups, and if you're reasonably fit then step-up is the one to go for. Both are coached spins. Intermediate is apparently similar pace to step-up but is not coached, so you'd need to have experience of group riding to join this and, obviously, the fast group.

nak

Caroline_ie wrote: »

The Orwell spins ( I have done a few ) tend to depress me. I find it not fun at all, even if you are able for it. I might do a few for the sake of racing training but I will bring my music and turn off when I am tired of it.

Hope you're planning on bringing speakers so we can all listen!

I would enjoy the spins more if they stayed clear of the dual carriageways, cycle enough in traffic during the week.

Caroline_ie

nak wrote: »

Hope you're planning on bringing speakers so we can all listen!

I would enjoy the spins more if they stayed clear of the dual carriageways, cycle enough in traffic during the week.

yes sure

I agree on the N11 - Not nice. I just don't enjoy the 'coached' side of the coached spin tbh, mainly because i hate people telling me how to hold my bars when I have broken fingers for example. I am not sure I could hang on to the non-coached step up spin.

Winter training for me will consist in Weekdays interval training and weekend enjoyable long spins and MTB on icey days.

lukester

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I agree on the N11 - Not nice. I just don't enjoy the 'coached' side of the coached spin tbh, mainly because i hate people telling me how to hold my bars when I have broken fingers for example. I am not sure I could hang on to the non-coached step up spin.

It's all sounding a bit dreary and militaristic. Surely the spins are not that bad?

Raam

lukester wrote: »

It's all sounding a bit dreary and militaristic. Surely the spins are not that bad?

Direction from experienced riders doesn't sound all that bad to me. I'm constantly getting advice from the older guys in Swords. It's all very welcomed. This time last year a DWCC chap was giving me advice on riding in close groups and where to hold the bars.

Caroline_ie

lukester wrote: »

It's all sounding a bit dreary and militaristic. Surely the spins are not that bad?

I think it's just me not liking the whole seriousness side of it and not liking being told what to do... I think it's personal.

AstraMonti

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I think it's just me not liking the whole seriousness side of it and not liking being told what to do... I think it's personal.

I get your point but i think if you are taking it seriously, like you want to race the next season, then it has to be serious and disciplined otherwise you ll just let your self loose as well.

lukester

@Caroline_ie Fair enough, I'd probably be of the same mindset as Raam- at this stage I'd welcome the advice/direction. Not a huge fan of dual carriageways, but I guess it makes it easier to work with a bunch of riders.

Caroline_ie

AstraMonti wrote: »

I get your point but i think if you are taking it seriously, like you want to race the next season, then it has to be serious and disciplined otherwise you ll just let your self loose as well.

I agree - that's why I only did a few spins. As I said I will probably do a couple of these spins not for pleasure.

I believe in auto discipline and I am pretty good at it when i am motivated, I prefer to train alone or with 1 or 2 people, but obviously it's no good for 'group riding'.

I can't stand being watched, it has nothing to do with my taking the sport serioulsy or not. but that, as I said, is personal but I am probably not the only one.

rottenhat

lukester wrote: »

It's all sounding a bit dreary and militaristic. Surely the spins are not that bad?

I find them very enjoyable - a good workout, decent company, the pleasure of working well in a team. And as I say, home in time for lunch (i.e. a pound of sausages in a baguette with lots of mayonnaise) and an afternoon on the couch with the radiators on.

But there was a point during the winter when there was a lot of ice on the roads and for a few weeks all we ever seemed to do was tool up and down the N11, and that did sap my will to live a bit.

I'm speculatively going to say that you get a lot more "advice" if you're female than if you're male. There's always a few guys around who will say all manner of patronising crap to a woman that they'd think twice about saying to another man.

Caroline_ie

rottenhat wrote: »

There's always a few guys around who will say all manner of patronising crap to a woman that they'd think twice about saying to another man.

Yes that too, deffo.

godihatethehils

Rottenhat, are you going to finally give in this season and don the Orwell abs??

rottenhat

godihatethehils wrote: »

Rottenhat, are you going to finally give in this season and don the Orwell abs??

No. There are some things to which a gentleman does not stoop.

nak

rottenhat wrote: »

I'm speculatively going to say that you get a lot more "advice" if you're female than if you're male. There's always a few guys around who will say all manner of patronising crap to a woman that they'd think twice about saying to another man.

Haven't been offered any advice myself, but did have a guy on an Orwell beginner's spin tell me at the bottom of a climb that they would wait for me at the top. I had to wait for them, at least he did apologise for presuming a newbie girl couldn't climb (it wasn't much of a hill btw).

StudentC

Hmm, interesting comments here.

I have been thinking about joining a club, for the weekend spins and maybe to try to get into some easy-going racing (i.e. the women's beginners Boot Inn and Wicklow league) next year.

I was about to put up a thread looking for advice on which club to join when I saw this one. Basically I'm looking for a club with a decent proportion of women - I don't care who I cycle with, but I don't like always being the one at the back trying to hang on, or having to have everybody wait for me etc etc. Fairly inevitable cos I'm slow, but a not-all-male group would help! Some sort of coaching structure would be good as well, because I'm new to the sport and have never ridden in a group etc.

I had been thinking of Orwell (I live near Dundrum), but Caroline_ie and Nak, your experiences don't seem that positive (although I understand the you're saying Carolin that it just doesn't suit you personally). Any comments from anybody else? Or comments about other potential clubs? (South Dublin area, or maybe Bray cos I'm from there).

Thanks

ROK ON

Caroline_ie wrote: »

mainly because i hate people telling me how to hold my bars when I have broken fingers for example. I am not sure I could hang on to the non-coached step up spin.

But if El Tonto is leading a group, thnk of how much fun it would be.

godihatethehils

StudentC wrote: »

Hmm, interesting comments here.

I have been thinking about joining a club, for the weekend spins and maybe to try to get into some easy-going racing (i.e. the women's beginners Boot Inn and Wicklow league) next year.

I was about to put up a thread looking for advice on which club to join when I saw this one. Basically I'm looking for a club with a decent proportion of women - I don't care who I cycle with, but I don't like always being the one at the back trying to hang on, or having to have everybody wait for me etc etc. Fairly inevitable cos I'm slow, but a not-all-male group would help! Some sort of coaching structure would be good as well, because I'm new to the sport and have never ridden in a group etc.

I had been thinking of Orwell (I live near Dundrum), but Caroline_ie and Nak, your experiences don't seem that positive (although I understand the you're saying Carolin that it just doesn't suit you personally). Any comments from anybody else? Or comments about other potential clubs? (South Dublin area, or maybe Bray cos I'm from there).

Thanks

I've nothing but good things to say about Orwell. In fact I don't think I'd be half as involved in cycling if I hadn't joined them. I've found other members to be friendly and generous with advice.

One great thing is that they have a range of levels from elite racing the whole way to the legendary touring (/coffee stop:)) group and there's loadsa women.

I can't guarantee you'll have the same experience but that's just my ten cents FWIW.

You should definitely give the Boot Inn a go if you want to try racing.

zzzzzzzz

ROK ON wrote: »

But if El Tonto is leading a group, thnk of how much fun it would be.

Word on the street is that you have to wear kaiku gear that week or he'll gap you off the back

nak

StudentC wrote: »

I had been thinking of Orwell (I live near Dundrum), but Caroline_ie and Nak, your experiences don't seem that positive (although I understand the you're saying Carolin that it just doesn't suit you personally). Any comments from anybody else? Or comments about other potential clubs? (South Dublin area, or maybe Bray cos I'm from there).

Orwell has a lot more women now, and we have our own spins on Saturday mornings, contact details on the website. The womens' spins are good for beginners. I usually ride with Think Bike, or my husband, as I like the hillier routes, and less informal spins.

The beginners spins are great for starting out, but I found I got stuck at a level between the beginners and the intermediate group. There is now a step-up group, which was much needed.

I have no experience of other clubs, but I plan on joining Sundrive next year, as I mainly race on the track, and could do with the coaching they offer. The Boot Inn League is good fun, and the first race is coached.

Caroline_ie

nak is right about the ladies beginners spins with Orwell. That's what I started with a couple of years ago. They are very friendly. But I think StudentC would get bored on the beginner's ladies spin. If there is a step up, then maybe I might even give it a go myself one of these days...

unionman

My two cents - went out on a few beginner spins last year and really enjoyed them. Enjoyed learning the group discipline and I always enjoy meeting other cyclists. I found myself developing and improving quite quickly and then disaster as I became ill and was off the bike for a long time. By the time I was fit and well again it was too late to return.

I met a couple of people at some of the randonees over the summer who started the same time and stuck with it. It was very clear that they had really improved very significantly.

Where will I be on October 4th? Back in beginners, and determined to stay the course.

rottenhat

ROK ON wrote: »

But if El Tonto is leading a group, thnk of how much fun it would be.

I feel confident we'll be rolling out at 9:30 on the dot that week.

StudentC

godihatethehils wrote: »

I've nothing but good things to say about Orwell. In fact I don't think I'd be half as involved in cycling if I hadn't joined them. I've found other members to be friendly and generous with advice.

One great thing is that they have a range of levels from elite racing the whole way to the legendary touring (/coffee stop:)) group and there's loadsa women.

I can't guarantee you'll have the same experience but that's just my ten cents FWIW.

You should definitely give the Boot Inn a go if you want to try racing.

nak wrote: »

Orwell has a lot more women now, and we have our own spins on Saturday mornings, contact details on the website. The womens' spins are good for beginners. I usually ride with Think Bike, or my husband, as I like the hillier routes, and less informal spins.

The beginners spins are great for starting out, but I found I got stuck at a level between the beginners and the intermediate group. There is now a step-up group, which was much needed.

I have no experience of other clubs, but I plan on joining Sundrive next year, as I mainly race on the track, and could do with the coaching they offer. The Boot Inn League is good fun, and the first race is coached.

Caroline_ie wrote: »

nak is right about the ladies beginners spins with Orwell. That's what I started with a couple of years ago. They are very friendly. But I think StudentC would get bored on the beginner's ladies spin. If there is a step up, then maybe I might even give it a go myself one of these days...

unionman wrote: »

My two cents - went out on a few beginner spins last year and really enjoyed them. Enjoyed learning the group discipline and I always enjoy meeting other cyclists. I found myself developing and improving quite quickly and then disaster as I became ill and was off the bike for a long time. By the time I was fit and well again it was too late to return.

I met a couple of people at some of the randonees over the summer who started the same time and stuck with it. It was very clear that they had really improved very significantly.

Where will I be on October 4th? Back in beginners, and determined to stay the course.

Thanks all for the comments/advice. I'll give a few beginners' spins a go anyway and see how I get on.

rottenhat

StudentC wrote: »

Thanks all for the comments/advice. I'll give a few beginners' spins a go anyway and see how I get on.

Might as well - it doesn't cost anything other than having to peel yourself out of bed at 8 on a Sunday. Mind you, if I was living in Bray, I'd check out a Bray Wheelers ride too and see which you liked better - I think they meet at Crinken church but you'd find more details on their website.

lukester

Bray appear to have a lot of women in the club judging by the numbers in Wheelers jerseys at the Joe Loughman event.