GGCC Club Run, Sunday 24th August 2025, Glen Fruin Gran Fondo - 63 Miles
As the weather still seems to be holding out for us, we may as well get some quality miles in on the good bikes before the mudguards come oot!! This week we plan to venture on a slightly longer route than normal, taking in the famous Glen Fruin Climb followed by the breathtaking views of the valley as we descend down to the Lomondside. We will then travel along to Balloch where we stop for coffee at our usual Maccy D's. We then head home through Renton, Dumbarton and over the Erskine bridge through Renfrew and back through Ibrox back to the arch. If the distance / time is a factor there is a shorter loop turning right at Helensburgh crossing over to re-join the route at the Arden roundabout, but this will miss out the nicest part of the ride.
Please meet under the McLennan Arch on the green for 8:30am start.
* Please bring money for coffee & McMuffins! And also maybe an extra gel or energy bar, as the coffee stop is at the 40 mile mark.
We will head out of town in groups of 10 before splitting into our paced groups at the Glen Lusset Pub, situated in Old Kilpatrick just under the Erskine bridge.
**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.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2934591787376283778
Forecast for Sunday is to be dry, warm and sunny. Temperatures will be around 15-19 degrees, with a 4 mph NE wind gusting to 10 mph.
We will split into STEADY, CHALLENGE & CHEEKY CHALLENGE
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.
**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 **