© 2026 Spokes South West Herts Cycling Group

About Our Rides

Rides Information

Participants of rides must be 16 or over unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Insurance is your own responsibility

Before you join a ride
  • Make sure that your bike is fit to ride
  • Arrive 10-15 minutes before the stated start time
  • Bring water, spare inner tube, lights and reflective/waterproof clothing as appropriate
  • Get the leader’s mobile phone number and make sure they have yours
  • Carry a note of your emergency contact details on you in a place known to the leader
  • Spokes cannot accept liability for you or your possessions
  • Your participation is the acceptance of these terms
Guide to speed terms

Spokes

  • Slow: Gentle pace up to 8 mph
  • Medium: Average pace 9 to 11 mph
  • Fast: More than 11 mph

Let’s Ride

  • Easy Going: Up to 15 miles, flat, no busy roads
  • Steady: 15 miles to 30 miles, easy climbing
  • Challenging: Any ride with challenging climbs

The duration for rides is a guideline NOT a guarantee. The nature of group cycling means that rides may take longer than expected due to mechanical problems or other delays.

During a Ride
Ride Leaders
  • Follow the advice of the leader and the Highway Code
  • The ride leader is a volunteer. Support them by responding promptly to their instructions
  • Normally the leader will be at the front
  • The leader may appoint a back-marker who will normally be the last person. Try to stay between the leader and back-marker
  • Occasionally it is appropriate to overtake the leader, but keep within their sight. If you go ahead and go a different way the leader may not look for you
  • If you are aware that someone has dropped behind let the leader know
  • If you are leaving the group inform the leader before separating
Stopping
  • If you need to stop, shout STOPPING and provide as much notice as possible
  • Stop in in a safe place, making sure you can be seen by other road users
  • Do not block the pavement, track or road or make it difficult for others to use, particularly around junctions
Communication

Messages about road conditions and behaviour may be passed back and forward in the group.

Standard calls:

  • STOPPING alerts the group that you need to stop
  • CAR UP or CAR BACK indicates that a car is approaching from behind
  • CAR DOWN indicates that a car is approaching from the front
  • EASY indicates slowing down
  • ON THE LEFT or ON THE RIGHT indicates people, a vehicle or some other obstruction or a rider is overtaking you on that side
  • SINGLE OUT indicates that we need to ride in single file to allow a vehicle to pass
  • Hazard calling, e.g. POTHOLE or BRICK pointing to it
Give Particular Consideration to
  • People, including young children
  • Ring your bell or sounder with sufficient time for people to react and not scare them
  • Thank people if they have given way
  • Dogs, horses and other animals. They may be hazardous

Find a Local Route

If you are looking for a route to ride on your own or with friends take a look at our Routes For All that has scores of routes collected by Spokes that are family friendly, suitable for new cyclists as they build up confidence on longer rides and for experienced cyclists new to the area, to show off the lovely countryside available to them.

You can also look at our Members Routes for routes that have been contributed by members to help other cyclists enjoy South West Hertfordshire and beyond.

Looking for a cake stop?  The Cycle Coffee & Cake Stops Facebook group may help.

Want to Lead?

If you are a Member of Spokes and have routes you enjoy riding it is certain other Members will enjoy them, so why not add some of your rides to our Rides Programme? Every 3 months all members with an email address receive an email inviting them to submit rides for the upcoming quarter’s programme. Weekend rides are particularly welcome, but rides are well supported throughout the week.

No qualification is needed, if you are a confident, competent cyclist and the rides you offer are comfortably within your cycling capacity you will give more choice and enjoyment to your fellow Members. If you have any questions, Email our Rides Coordinator.

Our riders come from South West Hertfordshire and North West London.

© 2026 Spokes South West Herts Cycling Group.