The club organises rides on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with varying routes, target speeds and distances. You simply choose the ride you want to commit to and put your name forward. You can commit to all of the rides or just come along on the occasional spin. There’s also several rides arranged by members throughout the week, so there’s always something for everyone.
Everyone’s ride is important, and we split our rides into five categories, based on an expected average speed. Remember, you travel further and faster in a group ride and you can move between groups each week.
On our flat Thursday training rides, with all riders working effectively, the expected average speeds are listed below. But we go slower in the hills!
Social pace
Ramping from F1 with elements of challenge on speed and distance
Those looking for a pacy, challenging ride
Sometimes a little longer than F3, a strong and pacy challenging ride
Race-type pace, often with race-type attacks
The No1 goal for every ride is that we all return safely and together.
Each ride has a Road Captain, someone who has planned and shared the route in advance and who will help guide the group around the day’s ride. It is important you take individual responsibility for the maintenance of your bike and equipment and know how far and where we are going. There will always be someone on hand to help – and we will never leave anyone on the roadside, but you are expected to bring a multi-tool, tyre levers, spare inner tubes, pump and a water bottle.
Riding safely in a group is paramount and understanding and heeding the highway code is not only the law but the safest way to ride. Please click here for British Cycling’s tips on group riding.
Forge London is a diverse and inclusive club and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination.
We monitor the number of active members to ensure the right balance between a club that’s large enough to give all riders the challenge and enjoyment they require, while maintaining the friendliness and intimacy of a smaller club.
What do you want from your riding? Maybe it’s to become fitter, faster, to race at national level, train for a race, get a PB on a Surrey hill, break 30kph average speed on a ride to Windsor, sign-up for a sportive or simply to lose a kilogram or two.
Whatever your personal goal, if you want to, you can share it with the club. We want to help you get there and celebrate with you when you achieve it.
From bike handling skills and the right equipment, to understanding the strange hand signals of group cyclists, Forge London will demystify and help explain how to be a better rider, giving tips and advice on how to ride safely in a group and, if required, advice on the best kit and equipment you may need.
We love the rolling lanes of the Surrey Hills. Right on our doorstep, we have great routes, quiet back roads and challenging terrain throughout the county. But we also ride towards Windsor and the Great Park, on to Henley, the Chilterns and also head East to Kent and Sussex.
In the spring and summer months, we plan cycling trips away or a few days training in the sun. All are welcome and this could be Belgium, Majorca and mainland Spain, Yorkshire, Ireland or the Cotswolds. We might take on a French or Belgium classic sportive or plan a few days guided riding in the Dolomites.
One thing that is certain, whether riding in the UK or abroad, we always make sure there are great cafe stops en route and a social gathering in the evening.
Check out our Route library for inspiration and examples of the type of rides we go on.
