Is anyone welcome to ride with the club?
All adults aged 18 and over are welcome to join Walden Velo.
If you’re thinking about joining, we encourage you to come along for a couple of rides first to see if the club is right for you. There’s no pressure to commit straightaway.
Visit our Join Us page for more details.
How fast do I need to be?
Our Sunday road rides have multiple groups covering a broad range of abilities. These vary depending on the season, running towards the lower end of each range in winter and towards the upper end in the summer.
Our three groups are
- Steady: Between 15 – 17 mph (24 – 28km/h)
- Inters: Between 17 – 19 mph (28 – 30kmh)
- Tempo: 18+ / 19+ mph (30+ / 31+) depending on season.
Rides are either 2 or3 hours, depending on the group you join. Most riders find they are faster riding in a group compared to riding solo. If you’re unsure which group is right for you please get in touch with rides@waldenvelo.com and we can offer some guidandce.
What kind of bike and clothing do I need?
- A helmet is mandatory on all rides
- For road rides, you’ll need a road bike or gravel bike. These have drop handlebars. If you’re riding a gravel bike, you may find that you need to join a slower group.
- Most members wear cycling kit and use “clip-in” pedals, but these are not essential.
- For gravel and off-road rides, a gravel bike or cross-country mountain bike is most suitable.
What should I bring with me for a club ride?
- A helmet and appropriate clothing for the weather conditions
- Equipment require to fix a puncture. At minimum this is likely to be tyre levers, at least one spare inner tube (tubeless plugs if running tubeless wheels) and a pump/C02 cannister.
- Water or energy drink – around 500 mL per hour, more in warm weather.
- Ride snacks – flapjacks, bananas, energy bars or energy gels all work well.
- Money for a post-ride café stop upon return to Walden.
When do you ride?
See our club rides page
Where do you ride?
We meet in Saffron Walden, usually leaving from Market Square. We ride around the quieter roads of Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Check out our ride library here.
Do your rides include a coffee/food stop
Our regular club rides do not include stops, so please bring enough water and food for a 2-3 hour ride. Many members meet in a café at the end of the road to socialise, often at Bronte on Rose and Crown Walk in Saffron Walden. Summer evening rides are often followed by a drink at the Railway Arms.
How do I know what rides are happening?
If you’re new, please contact us first and we’ll confirm the meeting time and group for you. Once you join, members receive a weekly email with ride details and access to our WhatsApp group.
How much is membership?
Membership is £10 per year, due in October.