Orwell Wheelers Introductory Spin - October 4th

rottenhat · 19-09-2009 11:04AM #1

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 · 19-09-2009 04:51PM

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 · 19-09-2009 05:21PM

Thanks I'll try to make it to this.

rottenhat · 19-09-2009 06:23PM

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 · 19-09-2009 08:09PM

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 · 19-09-2009 08:26PM

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 · 19-09-2009 08:35PM

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 · 19-09-2009 09:26PM

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 · 19-09-2009 10:18PM

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 · 19-09-2009 10:29PM

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 · 20-09-2009 07:39AM

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 · 20-09-2009 10:20PM

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 · 20-09-2009 10:28PM

More importantly, when can you buy the kit?

sy · 20-09-2009 10:59PM

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 · 21-09-2009 08:10AM

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 · 21-09-2009 08:14AM

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 · 21-09-2009 08:31AM

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 · 21-09-2009 09:45AM

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 · 21-09-2009 09:53AM

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 · 21-09-2009 10:07AM

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 · 21-09-2009 10:17AM

rottenhat wrote: »

What's so mad about that?

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

alfalad · 21-09-2009 10:24AM

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 · 21-09-2009 10:28AM

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 · 21-09-2009 10:48AM

rottenhat wrote: »

(I'd usually be home by 1pm)

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

alfalad · 21-09-2009 10:50AM

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 · 21-09-2009 10:53AM

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 · 21-09-2009 11:00AM

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 · 21-09-2009 11:05AM

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 · 21-09-2009 11:17AM

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 · 21-09-2009 11:21AM

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 · 21-09-2009 11:24AM

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.

Orwell Wheelers Introductory Spin - October 4th

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