GGCC Club Run, Sunday 26th November 2023, Hangover Balloch loop via Dumbarton - 39 Miles
This week, due to the Annual Club Christmas and awards night being on Saturday night, and a strong likelyhood some may feel a bit rough, we are keeping it nice and flat-ish this week and calling it a "recovery ride"!! HOWEVER, if the weather permits, (and there is interest) this route can be extended to a Balloch via Helensburgh Loop.
Please meet under the McLennan Arch on the green for 8:30am start.
We plan to head out via our usual route along South Street onto Dumbarton road and through Clydebank and Old Kilpatrick. Once on the A82, we will take the left fork for Dumbarton, taking a right turn just after the big roundabout through Renton and on to Balloch where we will stop for a break at Mcdonalds. Afterwards we head back over the back road through Bonhill, re-joining the A82 at costa coffee and Back along the way we came out.
If the weather allows and if there are any riders looking to do slightly more miles, then a group could be formulated to continue through Dumbarton and on out to Helensburgh, turning right at the town centre and up and over the hill to Arden roundabout, duck bay and on to Balloch, taking the original route home. This will make it a 50 miler.
* Please bring money for coffee & McMuffins!
We will head out of town in our pace groups to keep it simple.
**GROUP LEADERS will be identified and nominated at Glasgow Green and a quick brief will be discussed for the ride ahead and agreed. At the split point before we move to paced groups, each group leader will get their respective group together and brief the group on the etiquette of the ride, what should and will happen and the format of the day so everyone in the group fully understands so everyone gets the most from the group they take part in.
We will go through some basic safety, group riding etiquette and group riding technique, first aid and basic bike maintenance before we set off so that everyone stays safe and knows exactly what’s happening on the ride.
For those of you who are first aid trained and have been issued first aid pack, can you please bring these along on Sunday (and each run you attend)
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE ROUTE PRIOR TO SUNDAYS RIDE.
Forecast for Sunday morning is to be a bit chilly. Temperatures will be around 1-3 degrees although it might feel colder so layer up, with a 3 mph NE wind gusting to 9 mph.
We will split into STEADY, CHALLENGE, CHEEKY CHALLENGE and RACE
Groups should contain no more than 10 riders.
Steady is steady and usually sit between 14 – 16 mph average **NOBODY gets dropped**
Challenge should push your ability and sits about 16 - 18 mph average.
Cheeky Challenge is slightly faster and is around 18 - 20 mph.
Race pace is 20mph & above
**PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL GROUPS STAY TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER - THIS IS A TRAINING / SOCIAL RIDE
**these are the averages you should expect over the course of the ride in the above groups and there will be sections ridden faster and some slower depending on road profile and conditions
**Please remember to communicate within your group. If you get split due to junctions, traffic, roundabouts then get back together. If you get split as someone is really dropping off the pace then that rider steps down a group, (or steps up if going through to hard) **THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT SO BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING OR FEEL FRESH - Group Leaders may suggest a step up or down for the sake of the smoothness of the remaining group
**If you need to ask the group to slow up, we would suggest you step down as you may be in the wrong group
Please pick your group carefully and remember that all groups work together to promote group riding but steady is the only group that rides at the pace of the slowest rider and the other groups don't wait for dropped riders unless agreed amongst the group and riders on the day
**Please remember tubes, pump, levers, multitool and also please ensure your bike is in good working order, oiled, lubed, maintained **
Thanks from The Team @ GGCC