Why More Local People Are Discovering the Joy of Rushcliffe Cycling Club
In every community there are people who enjoy being outdoors, meeting new friends and keeping
active, but who sometimes struggle to find the motivation to exercise on their own. Whether you're
recently retired, working full-time, returning to cycling after many years, or simply looking for a
healthier lifestyle, joining a local cycling club can make a remarkable difference. Rushcliffe
Cycling Club offers an ideal opportunity to combine exercise, friendship and the pleasure of
exploring our beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside.
The club has built a welcoming reputation by providing regular, sociable road rides that suit
experienced recreational cyclists who enjoy riding at a steady pace rather than racing. Every week
members can choose from three organised rides of approximately 45 miles, typically ridden at
around 16 mph. This pace allows riders to enjoy a good workout while still chatting with fellow
cyclists and appreciating the scenery.
One of the greatest attractions of Rushcliffe Cycling Club is its friendly atmosphere. New members
often say they joined for the cycling but stayed because of the people. Unlike riding alone, club
cycling creates a genuine sense of community. Conversations flow naturally while riding side by
side, friendships develop over coffee stops, and members encourage one another to achieve goals
they might never have attempted on their own.
For many people, cycling is one of the most enjoyable forms of physical exercise available. It
provides an excellent cardiovascular workout while being much kinder to the joints than activities
such as running. Regular cycling helps strengthen the heart and lungs, improves endurance, builds
leg strength and supports healthy weight management. Because the rides are consistent and
organised throughout the week, members establish a routine that makes staying active much easier.
The club's three weekly rides provide flexibility for members with different schedules. Some riders
attend every ride, while others join whenever work, family or other commitments allow. There is no
pressure to compete; instead, the emphasis is on enjoying the ride, supporting fellow cyclists and
returning home with a satisfying sense of achievement.
The mental health benefits of cycling are equally impressive. Modern life can often feel stressful
and fast-paced, making it important to find opportunities to switch off from daily pressures.
Spending several hours riding quiet country roads, breathing fresh air and taking in the changing
seasons offers a welcome escape from screens, deadlines and busy routines.
Research consistently shows that regular physical activity can improve mood, reduce stress and
anxiety, and contribute to better sleep. Cycling also encourages mindfulness, as riders naturally
focus on the road, the landscape and the rhythm of pedalling. Many members describe their weekly
rides as the highlight of their week, leaving them feeling refreshed, energised and ready to face
everyday challenges with renewed positivity.
Social connection is another important reason people join the club. Loneliness and isolation can
affect people of all ages, yet joining a cycling club creates opportunities to meet others who share
similar interests. Conversations begin during the ride and often continue over coffee and cake at
welcoming cafés along the route. These café stops are an enjoyable tradition and provide time to
relax, catch up and get to know fellow members beyond the saddle.
Cycling together also brings a reassuring level of safety. Riding in a well-organised group means
experienced members can offer advice on road positioning, group riding etiquette and bike
maintenance. Newer members quickly gain confidence while learning from those who have many
years of cycling experience. Everyone benefits from looking out for one another and ensuring no
rider is left behind.
The Nottinghamshire countryside provides a wonderful setting for the club's regular rides. Quiet
lanes, picturesque villages, open fields and rolling countryside create routes that are both enjoyable
and varied throughout the year. Every season offers something different, from spring blossom and
summer sunshine to colourful autumn landscapes and crisp winter mornings.
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions is that cycling clubs are only for elite athletes in
expensive equipment. Rushcliffe Cycling Club proves otherwise. While members enjoy maintaining
a reasonable pace of around 16 mph over 45 miles, the atmosphere remains relaxed and inclusive.
Riders are encouraged to cycle within the group, enjoy the social experience and steadily improve
their fitness over time.
Many members find that joining the club inspires positive lifestyle changes beyond cycling itself.
Increased fitness often leads to healthier eating, improved confidence and greater willingness to try
new challenges. Some members go on to participate in charity rides or cycling holidays, while
others simply appreciate having an enjoyable reason to get outdoors several times each week.
If you've been thinking about becoming more active or expanding your social circle, there has
never been a better time to give club cycling a try. You don't need to be an expert—just someone
who enjoys riding and wants to share the experience with friendly, like-minded people.
Rushcliffe Cycling Club offers far more than three weekly rides. It provides companionship,
encouragement, improved fitness, better mental wellbeing and countless memorable moments spent
exploring our local countryside together. Every ride begins with a group of cyclists and ends with
new conversations, shared experiences and the satisfaction of having achieved something
worthwhile.
Why not come along, meet the members and experience it for yourself? You may discover that the
best part of the journey isn't simply the miles you ride—it's the people you ride with.
Resources
Social Ride Etiquette & Protocol
We ask
members to follow these guidelines on group riding to help keep our rides safer
and more successful.
Riding in a group
Cycling is easier when we work together. The tighter we can ride in a group, the more efficient we are, and the faster we can be. It often takes newer riders a little while to be confident and comfortable riding in a tight pack, but the benefits of doing so are huge.
Contrary to what a lot of our 4 wheeled friends shout as they pass us by, the highway code advises that cycling 2 abreast is often safer for the cyclists and can be easier for cars to overtake. So when you're in a group, ride 2 abreast, unless you feel it is less safe to do so.
A long line of individual riders takes a long time for motorists to overtake, and it also increases the risk of the group splitting. Before you know it, you can have a 50 metre split between the front rider and the back rider.
Riding in a close group means that visibility of the road surface can be impaired for the riders behind. So always point out obstacles either side of your wheels as you pass them, so the rider behind can avoid them.
Busy Junctions/Traffic Lights
At busy junctions and traffic lights, the social ride should regroup once all riders have been able to get through. This prevents a long split of riders spread up the road fighting to catch up.
Awareness
Be aware of where the other members of your group are during your ride, particularly if you are a more experienced rider. Knowing how the group is spread out means you can work with each other to control the pace to keep everyone together. 1mph might be the difference between someone comfortably in the pack, or hanging on off the back, where they will struggle to keep up.
Hills
Hills always split up a group ride, it's expected. Good etiquette when facing hills is to regroup at the top of the climb. When you set off again, make sure the pack reforms quickly so that everybody can benefit from riding in a group.
What to do if someone is struggling
The best advice if someone is struggling to hang on is to help them out by getting them in the middle of the pack, protecting them from the wind, and setting a comfortable pace for them.
People often don't speak up when they are struggling, so it's the responsibility of all members to try and be aware of how other riders are getting on. The gains made by riding in the middle of the pack are often enough for someone to keep up, without necessarily having to drop the pace. Try not to keep overtaking someone who is struggling, instead, help them, by protecting them from wind or offering them a wheel.
Maintain a steady pace
Whatever speed the group is riding, try and maintain steady pacing, the group easily splits up if you suddenly accelerate and brake alot, so keep speed steady and predictable. Your rides will be smoother, more enjoyable, and probably faster on average.
Sudden Braking
Please be careful when suddenly braking when you're riding in a group, we appreciate that sometimes it can't be helped, but try and give a vocal warning to riders behind to help keep everybody safe.
On a descent, give the rider in front of you a bit of
space incase they need to brake, it's much safer to give each other space on a
downhill section, and if you are overtaking on a descent, be sure to call out
to the rider infront that you are passing, and on which side. (Always try and
overtake on the right, just as you would a car)
Supporting New Riders
If you establish that someone out on a social is new to group riding, we ask our more experienced members to offer support to them to help pass on the etiquette of riding in a group. Make them aware of important hand signals, and encourage them to ride in the pack to help them build confidence riding close to others. You'll often see new riders ride at the back, and it's very easy for them to end up struggling there, and getting dropped. It's better to work with them, to keep them in the group.
If the pace is too slow
If during you're ride you find the pace is too slow for you and you want to shoot off. Politely let the group know your intentions, establish whether anyone else would like to join you, and take your leave off the front.