Purbeck PELOTON Pedallers
Our goal with the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers is to provide people of all riding abilities the opportunity to join the club and ride with us. We take great pleasure in the sport of cycling, which for us promotes health, happiness and friendships. We are however very conscious that the Purbeck Peloton riders pace can put beginners off from coming out with us. We will run the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers rides separate to the Purbeck Peloton to encourage and develop riders who are either new to the sport, recovering from an injury or have lost some fitness and want to get fit again!
We want to support riders to reach their personal goals and have something positive to look forward to as well as getting you to the level where you are confident and ready to join the main Purbeck Peloton rides. We were all new to the sport at some point and getting the confidence to ride with other riders who look better than you puts everyone off – not with the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers!
We are proud to have 80+ members of the Purbeck Peloton and would like to grow this number with the introduction of the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers. We want to organise family rides and see our younger riders out with junior rides in the summer for the budding enthusiasts of the sport. Maybe you love spinning and want to start cycling properly then the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers is the perfect outlet for you.
Our rides will take you on some awesome routes across our beautiful county at a pace which everyone will be comfortable with and you can ride with us for three rides before deciding if you would like to join the club. You will find that riding in a group is much safer than riding on your own and if you have a puncture or any mechanical problems there is a team of cycle buddies to come to your rescue and get on straight back on your bike.
We will give you all the tips and advice on what cycling gear and nutrition is best for you to enjoy your rides and get the most out of the sport. Plus, Wareham Cycleworks is a friendly local shop and are happy to give free advice on what is best and can do a visual inspection for you - you’ll need to be booked in for any service or repair. Ask for Graham or Paxo and mention you are going to be part of the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers and in addition to giving great advice they will give you 10% discount.
Our website provides a great means of communication to inform both members and non-members about our rides, our annual membership and other ride opportunities we have available.
Ride details
Who are these rides for? These rides are for non-members who want a taste of riding with the Purbeck Peloton before deciding whether to join or not. They are also for members who want to ride at this pace. People are expected to join the club after attending three rides unless otherwise stated.
How far, how fast? We will keep the pace between 12 and 14mph. We will aim to ride between 20 and 30 miles. This will vary according to route as well as weather. Expect hills as most of the good cycling routes around South Dorset and the Purbecks.
What do I need to bring with me? As well as making sure your bike is in good order (tyres fully inflated, both brakes working, chain lubed), bring clothing appropriate to the forecasted weather, cycling helmet, spare inner tube for your bike (much better than trying to fix a puncture roadside), puncture repair kit (it’s not unknown to get more than one puncture on a ride), tyre levers, pump, and money for the café at the start or end of the ride. Also bring water and a snack. You’re better off putting your things in the pockets of a cycling jersey or a saddle bag rather than a backpack.
Have I got the right bike and kit? Hybrids and mountain bikes are great but road bikes with drop bars are faster. You don’t need to wear full Lycra, though you’ll find that current Purbeck Peloton members will as it’s more comfortable when cycling. You also don’t need clipless pedals (cleats) though again you’ll find the current members tend to use these for efficiency when pedalling.
What happens if I can’t keep up? When possible we will have two ride leaders so that one can be at the back ensuring no-one gets left behind. We will wait for you at junctions. If the weather means that the rest of the group are getting chilled whilst waiting for you, and we have two ride leaders, we may split the group to cater for different abilities and speeds.
I’ve never ridden in a group before, can I join this ride? Absolutely! That’s the idea of the Purbeck Pedaller rides. You’ll pick up some tips on group riding and experience the benefit from both the efficiency and social aspects of group riding.
Ready to ride? Please ensure:
We want to support riders to reach their personal goals and have something positive to look forward to as well as getting you to the level where you are confident and ready to join the main Purbeck Peloton rides. We were all new to the sport at some point and getting the confidence to ride with other riders who look better than you puts everyone off – not with the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers!
We are proud to have 80+ members of the Purbeck Peloton and would like to grow this number with the introduction of the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers. We want to organise family rides and see our younger riders out with junior rides in the summer for the budding enthusiasts of the sport. Maybe you love spinning and want to start cycling properly then the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers is the perfect outlet for you.
Our rides will take you on some awesome routes across our beautiful county at a pace which everyone will be comfortable with and you can ride with us for three rides before deciding if you would like to join the club. You will find that riding in a group is much safer than riding on your own and if you have a puncture or any mechanical problems there is a team of cycle buddies to come to your rescue and get on straight back on your bike.
We will give you all the tips and advice on what cycling gear and nutrition is best for you to enjoy your rides and get the most out of the sport. Plus, Wareham Cycleworks is a friendly local shop and are happy to give free advice on what is best and can do a visual inspection for you - you’ll need to be booked in for any service or repair. Ask for Graham or Paxo and mention you are going to be part of the Purbeck Peloton Pedallers and in addition to giving great advice they will give you 10% discount.
Our website provides a great means of communication to inform both members and non-members about our rides, our annual membership and other ride opportunities we have available.
Ride details
Who are these rides for? These rides are for non-members who want a taste of riding with the Purbeck Peloton before deciding whether to join or not. They are also for members who want to ride at this pace. People are expected to join the club after attending three rides unless otherwise stated.
How far, how fast? We will keep the pace between 12 and 14mph. We will aim to ride between 20 and 30 miles. This will vary according to route as well as weather. Expect hills as most of the good cycling routes around South Dorset and the Purbecks.
What do I need to bring with me? As well as making sure your bike is in good order (tyres fully inflated, both brakes working, chain lubed), bring clothing appropriate to the forecasted weather, cycling helmet, spare inner tube for your bike (much better than trying to fix a puncture roadside), puncture repair kit (it’s not unknown to get more than one puncture on a ride), tyre levers, pump, and money for the café at the start or end of the ride. Also bring water and a snack. You’re better off putting your things in the pockets of a cycling jersey or a saddle bag rather than a backpack.
Have I got the right bike and kit? Hybrids and mountain bikes are great but road bikes with drop bars are faster. You don’t need to wear full Lycra, though you’ll find that current Purbeck Peloton members will as it’s more comfortable when cycling. You also don’t need clipless pedals (cleats) though again you’ll find the current members tend to use these for efficiency when pedalling.
What happens if I can’t keep up? When possible we will have two ride leaders so that one can be at the back ensuring no-one gets left behind. We will wait for you at junctions. If the weather means that the rest of the group are getting chilled whilst waiting for you, and we have two ride leaders, we may split the group to cater for different abilities and speeds.
I’ve never ridden in a group before, can I join this ride? Absolutely! That’s the idea of the Purbeck Pedaller rides. You’ll pick up some tips on group riding and experience the benefit from both the efficiency and social aspects of group riding.
Ready to ride? Please ensure:
- Your bike is properly maintained and in good working order. If the sport is new to you and you are unsure about the condition of your bike get it checked over by your local bike shop. Wareham Cycleworks is a friendly local shop and can do a visual inspection for you, you'll need to be booked in for any service or repair. Please carry a spare tube (or two in winter), tyre levers, patches, multi-tool, pump/CO2. Emergency contact details and relevant health information should always be carried – this is essential;
- You have one or two water bottles and a snack (a couple of energy bars or gels are easiest, but flapjacks, fruit works too) especially if it is hot;
- You come dressed to ride in the conditions of the day (multiple layers if it's cold, waterproof jacket if rain is forecast, sunscreen in summer);
- In winter please fit mudguards to your bike for the sake of both your drive train and the person behind you. Please also fit winter tyres.
- Please note: Your safety is our first concern, you reserve the right to exclude you if your safety is compromised. If you are unsure about the safety of your equipment or preparation contact the ride leader prior to the ride.