Club ride calendar

We have four different types of club rides and our normal riding days are Wednesday and Sunday. Our rides leave from outside the Swan Pool Leisure Centre, London Road (map below) - please see the calendar for the departure time for a particular ride. Each ride is led by one of the club's ride leaders and adheres to the club rules and riding guide.

If this is your first outing with Swan Wheelers, please check out our information on what to expect on your first club ride.

We're a pretty hardy bunch and can be found riding in most weathers, but sometimes the Great British weather just makes it too dangerous to go out. In cases where the winds are high or it's too icy* for example, the ride leaders will check weather conditions and post a note on the Swan Wheelers CC forum to confirm cancellation. In some cases, we will look to see if it's possible to run the ride on an alternative day.

* In cases of low temperatures our guideline is when the mercury drops below 3°

Guide to the ride types

The information below outlines the ride types but if you're not sure which one to join, please have a chat with one of the ride leaders or contact us.

During the summer many of the group A riders ride sportives or race at the weekend, so it’ll sometimes just be the B and C groups heading out. If there are faster riders, they’ll ride with the B group but at a pace that will not cause the group to split. Leisure Rides are also on the calendar one the first week of the month.

Group C

Perfect for those wanting a steady and social ride. It's also a good one to join if you're new to cycling or haven't ridden in a while.

Pace: We adapt pace and distance to suit the riders attending - it’s important to us that everyone enjoys themselves. Generally over easier terrain although participants should expect to encounter the occasional hill. Expect a 2-3 hour ride including a slice of cake at the café.

Group riding: This group will not ordinarily practice rider rotation, although other aspects of riding style, particularly safety will apply - please see the club rules.

Cafe stop included.

Group B

Good for fitter and more experienced cyclists who still want to make the most of the social aspects of a club ride, whilst riding at a quicker pace.

Pace: 15 - 17mph over a typical distance of 35 - 40 miles. Mixed terrain: hillier rides will be at the lower end of the distance and vice versa for flatter rides. Expect to be out for up to 3 hours including a café stop.

Group riding: As they grow in experience and fitness, participants are expected to take some turns on the front of the group.

Cafe stop included.

Group A

Aimed at experienced cyclists who can ride comfortably and consistently at 17mph+.

Pace: 17 - 19mph over distances of up to 55 miles over mixed terrain sometimes with a significant amount of climbing. Expect to be out for up to 4 hours including a café stop.

Group riding: Expect regular rider rotation and some more intense efforts when planned by the ride leader.

If you are not sure you will be able to keep a steady pace it's recommended you try a ride with group B first.

Cafe stop included.

Midweek social ride

For Summer 2022 Our midweek club ride does runs at average pace with 35-40 mile distance. It's run according to the ride leader and the fitness and experience of the participants on the day. If there is a big mix of ability, the ride may split into two groups. The main focus, however, is a relaxed, social ride and a café stop is always included.

Leisure rides

For Summer 2022 these are available on 1st Sundays - a 20 mile ride specifically for the less experienced or less able people looking to enjoy a more leisurely social ride to a local café at a pace to suit the group on the day, no need to wear lycra if that’s not your thing and a hybrid bike is perfectly suitable for a road ride on quiet country lanes.

Your first Swan Wheelers club ride

Thinking of joining us for a ride? This section aims to outline what you need to bring and what to expect

All our rides start from the Swan Pool Leisure Centre, London Road Buckingham (more details).

What's involved in a club ride?

You'll meet up with the club outside the Swan Pool, just ask any member to point out the Ride Leader.

The ride will cover the advertised distance and will include a cafe stop for tea/coffee and a bite to eat. All in all, you'll probably be out for 3 - 3.5 hours.

Please read the club rules and riding guide before joining the ride.

What do I need to bring?

Yourself
A bike - a road bike or a hybrid or MTB with slicker tyres is best
A helmet (a must as sorry you can't join the ride without one)
An inner tube, puncture repair kit and pump would be handy or even a few Co2 bulbs these days!
Drink a must and even a snack
Money for the cafe stop (£5+) or just your flexible friend (CreditCard)

Any questions?

Joining a cycle club ride for the first time can be both exciting and apprehensive. The Ride Leader will provide a quick introduction to him/herself and the other riders on the ride, an introduction to the route and some tips on riding as a group. During the ride the Ride Leader will continue to offer support and guidance as appropriate and will make sure no one gets left behind.

Non members can join up to three rides before we would ask you to join.

If you have any queries, please do get in touch with us. Our details are on the contact page. We look forward to seeing you on a ride soon.

The SWCC HEAT-MAP

As a bit of an experiment we have been using anonymous Strava data to create a “heat-map” of all the club rides for 2019. The brighter the colour, the more often we ride in that area. As you can see, we get about a bit.
Thanks to Jonathan O'Keefe for the tools - If you use starve, you can make your own at: www.jonathanokeeffe.com/strava/map.php

Club Rides