Beginners start here
Here at the Bog Trotters we have a beginners ride organised each Saturday ( generally a 10am meet in Lancaster). We meet at the top end of the car park of the Holiday Inn Hotel just off Junction 34 M6. The Saturday rides are generally between 10-15 miles in length, in about 4 hours. The beginners rides' locations are not normally decided until the night before generally by Simon Barnes who is the main Saturday leader for the club. Simon’s number can be found on the club's homepage. We also stop off during the ride for lunch so you will need to bring along a packed lunched as there are no café’s on mountains!!
Terrain
The terrain is no different from any other rides however it is the distance of the route that generally classes the ride as for beginners. On these rides you will find a mixed standard of riders who all mix together in a relaxed atmosphere. That is not to say we don’t have a decent pace its just that we don’t leave anybody behind and we stay together as a group.
At each club ride there is a ride leader who will be reasonably experienced to look after the group and stays with the group throughout the ride. For most club rides the ride leader will take photos of riders and scenery and post these onto the club website so you can have a look at the pics generally the day after the ride. The ride leader also fills in a report of the day's events.
Fitness
A generally half decent level of fitness is required for the rides. If you haven’t been out on a bike for years or you’re a brand new rider it may be a good idea to gain a few miles under your belt. Just to get those cobwebs off in readiness for your first ride!
Toolkit
Many of the riders have generally a good toolkit with them on each ride and help each other out with mechanical faults and punctures etc. So for beginners if you don’t have the various items please don’t be put off by this as you can learn a lot from other members of the club who will advise you on these things as your experience greatens. A rider would probably have the following items with them on rides:
• bike pump
• helmet – compulsory on all rides
• sunglasses
• waterproof jacket
• waterproof socks
• gloves (fingerless in 'summer')
• packed lunch
• spare inner tubes x 2 - to fit your bike
• camel back or similar water carrier
• cycling shorts - with padded crotch
• allen key set (pen knife style)
• money & change of clothes* for pub visit afterwards!!
* you need not carry this :-)
Again this is just a basic list of items so don’t be put off if you only have a few things as other riders help each other out whilst going through the beginners stage.
Subs
All non-members of the club are asked to make a voluntary £2 donation for each ride. This goes towards the funding of the club.
Ride location
There is generally a good change on venue each week and again we meet at the Holiday Inn at 10am. Most of the rides are with 45 mins of the Lancaster i.e Lakes etc and therefore after unloading bikes we generally get started at 11am. If for example you live in the Manchester area and the ride is nearer to you than Lancaster then obviously it makes sense to meet us at the ride.
Welcoming
Here at the Bog Trotters we welcome all new beginners and look forward to seeing you out on our rides!!!
Craig H
Update
All beginners worry about 'slowing everybody down' and not being fit/quick enough. In most cases, this is unnecessary, as the Bog Trotters are very relaxed
and happy to stand around chatting when they have to wait for stragglers. For us, mountain biking is about having fun, not about trying to prove anything (except perhaps how muddy and wet we can get:)
If you think you may be slow, try a few beginner rides first, and once you can manage those, try moving up to a harder grade ride. If you have any doubts about your ability, or about the difficulty of the riding, speak to the ride leader.
It's been drawn to my attention that sometimes, new riders risk getting left behind on the drive to the ride venue. It is the ride leader's responsibility to make sure everyone knows the way, but sometimes in the throng, someone gets left out of the loop - don't hang back and hope to follow,
as this often doesn't work very well. If you don't know, ASK! I will be updating the rides list to include a link to a mapping site for the ride venues soon.
Liability statement
Please be aware that the club is an informal association of riders, formed for the purpose of organising rides and related events. As such, it is non profit making, and ride leaders and other members cannot accept liability for any accidental injuries and damage caused to any rider or their possessions. Although club members may sometimes give warnings about dangerous riding conditions ahead, this is not always possible in the hurly-burly of a ride, so it is up to the individual rider to decide what they can and cannot ride and to accept responsibility for their own safety.
Mountain biking is not a 'safe' activity - even beginner rides include hazardous sections, and accidents can happen on any terrain. We do not have any qualified first aiders, though we will attempt to help the victim of any accident to appropriate medical attention.
Your photograph will probably be taken and posted on the club website, except for minors, who will not be shown unless a consent form is submitted.
If you consider this statement to be unacceptable, please feel free to obtain better qualified instruction and/or leadership elsewhere.
Sensible (grumpy?) Simon