If you already have some cycling/racing experience

Contact any member of Stamullen Road Club to arrange a meeting or to join us on a training spin.

• secretary@stamullenroadclub.com / 01 8411352
• webmaster@stamullenroadclub.com/ 086 2410759

If you don’t have any cycling / racing experience

You will need the following basic items to start cycling

• A bicycle (it helps!) in good safe working order
• A cycling helmet
• A spare tube / tyre levers and pump in case of a puncture
• Some food (high carbohydrate) and a drink if you plan to go on a longer spin Cycling specific clothing and foot-ware are also very useful but it is not necessary to spend a lot of money when you are starting out. Any established club member can advise you on what to and what not to buy. The club can also supply club cycling gear. Our current supplier is Imp Sport in the UK and you can view the full range of clothing available on their website.

It is probably a good idea to build up some experience on your own before attempting a group training spin.

Setup and bike size is very important and the correct setup will improve your performance, comfort on your bike, reduce risk of injury and improve your bike handling.

Check back here for more articles on getting started

Common questions asked.   

I want to ride with you. How fit do I have to be?
Not particularly. If you can ride 20 miles or so you are fit enough to come out on a mountain bike ride. If you can ride about 30 miles or so then you are fit enough to try the Saturday road ride. If you have ever ridden more then you won't have any problems at all.

Is everyone else fast? What if I can't keep up?
Our club rides are not fast. We want to encourage people to ride a bike, not leave them behind and put them off cycling for life. Try riding as far as you can on a flat road at 15 mph. That is what we do and it is always easier when you are in a group.

What about ladies activities?
Firstly we'll assume that you mean cycling for ladies! The gals section usually meet on Sunday mornings and they are keen to see this section of the club grow in numbers. They will certainly make any female newcomers welcome!

Do I have to race?
Not at all. You do as much or as little as you like. You may find that racing is infectious, especially time trials which are done entirely at your own speed. In a time trial you cannot come last as you are racing against your previous personal best times always trying to better them.

I have just seen Lance Armstrong on TV. I want to race. What do I have to do?
You're keen aren't you! We can help you. To keep it simple you need to ride  club runs every week in winter to get fitness that will see you through the rest of the year, join Stamullen Road Club, take out a racing licence (for road racing) and race. Next year you can try the Tour de France ;-)

Can I really ride the Tour de France?
If you are good enough. However, will your little brother who kicks a football around in the park ever play for Manchester United? Hmmm - kind of puts it into perspective doesn't it!

How far do you go on a Saturday or Sunday?
Generally we go out for about 40 miles. You can do more or less if you like. You can always go home early if you think it might be a bit much to start with. On Sundays the club splits into two groups. One is a 45 mile group (approx) and the other is a 65-70 mile group(approx)

What is the difference between time trials and road racing?
Road racing is you against 60 or more other people riding in a big bunch (just like the Tour). The groups are made up of riders the same level as you so you won't be riding against the experts! Time trials involve a field of riders who go off individually at 1 minute intervals over a set distance. The one who covers it in the quickest time is the winner. There are all sort of abilities in time trials but the person you are racing against is yourself. For this reason we encourage beginners to try time trials first if they want to see how fast they can go. They are often pleasantly surprised!

Cars scare me. Do you go anywhere quiet?
Yes cars scare us as well. We try to get out of the main roads as soon as possible and hit the quiet country lanes that criss-cross the region.

Do I have to have all the gear?
Well, a bike is quite helpful really. It doesn't have to be fancy, just reliable. It is always a good idea to ask around other club members for advice on what to spend your money on. They often have a lot of good quality used stuff for sale as well and are always happy to see someone get a lot of fun from something. We have our own team strip which you can buy if you plan to race. It is way cheaper than Premier League football kits.

Why are you doing all this stuff for me?
We all had to start somewhere. We remember how daunting it seemed all those years ago. Cycling is great fun. We want to help you realise that. Oh and also we want more people to go down the pub with, more people to crack poor jokes with, more people to race with, more people to share lifts to events with etc etc. It works both ways! If you have any other queries please email us webmaster@stamullenroadclub.com