Bikes & Equipment

Most of us ride  Road Bikes or Touring Bikes but Hybrid, Racer, Mountain Bike or Electric Assist and anything else with wheels and a seat that doesn’t need an petrol engine are all acceptable (within reason!). Some rides may involve short off-road sections and this will be mentioned on the Rides List as containing some “Rough Stuff”. Longer rides will probably involve some hilly stretches, so a good selection of gears is always handy.

Your bike needs to be in a mechanically sound condition. Please don’t arrive with a bike that’s falling apart. If the Ride Leader feels your bike is not “up to it”, you may be turned away.

You should always carry a basic toolkit, this could include:


  • A spare inner tube
  • A good pump (with correct adaptor)
  • A puncture repair kit
  • A multi-tool
  • Tyre levers


Other things to consider:


  • A waterproof jacket
  • A wind proof if riding in the spring or autumn
  • Lights in the shorter days of the year
  • Possibly a map or GPS device (Your phone will help)
  • A mobile phone
  • Money or a cash card (you will need it to buy cake) 
  • Some form of emergency contact information (I.C.E.) and medical needs (if any) is always handy
  • A full water bottle (or two on hot days)
  • It is also a good idea to bring a snack of some kind in case you “bonk”!