Blog Bulletin

This Saturday is one of those rare, but nonetheless regrettable occasions when for a variety of reasons, a number of ride leaders are absent. We definitely need more. Our Ride Leaders Code of Conduct, which you can see here, sets out what would be expected of you. It's then just a simple matter of the club registering you with our insurers Cycling UK.

That said, fear not, as it will be more or less business as usual. I'm just not able to provide you with the cafe destination and courses yet.

Party goers outside of The Angel

Wow! There's breaking records and then there's absolutely smashing them out of sight. Saturday's birthday bash at The Angel, Sherston attracted no less than 28 members, easily beating our previous best last year of 21. It might have been 27, but Alyson came along on her recumbent trike with a membership form and a cheque. In doing so, she became our 47th member. 

Our huge birthday cake

We left the Cross Hayes in 3 packs. With military precision, the Sporting and Social Groups merged as one at the Sopworth crossroads. We arrived together at The Angel, where we found Howard's group already in residence.  

We just about managed to fit in our usual room, but if the club continues to grow, we'll definitely need more space next year. The chef had baked us a very moreish birthday cake. Sandwiched between the light sponge was a film of sweet jam and a generous amount of butter cream. There was more than enough for everyone, and even after some members had enjoyed seconds, there was still plenty left.

Suitably refreshed, Helen Mayhew took our annual photograph outside. All that remained afterwards, was for members to head back to Malmesbury. A mixed contingent of Sporting and Social Group members rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable morning by riding out to Acton Turville and back. 

Howard's Way: Caroline, Dave, Heather, Howard, Mike P, Simon L and Steve M.

Social Group: Bryan, Des D, James, Mike G, Pete B, Phil, Sian, Steve C, Stuart, Ted, Tim H and Tim W.

Sporting Group: Alice, Karine, Malc, Peter C and Tommy.

Other riders/members: Alyson, Andy Parker, John and Jonathan.

I aologise in advance if I've attached someone to the wrong group or missed anyone out. Please let me know if I have.

Simon riding in Thailand in his club jersey 2014/2015

Absent friend and former Clarion, Simon Barnes sent us his happy birthday wishes from somewhere in South East Asia. Simon keeps in touch with events at the club via the blog, as do a number of former members who have moved away from the area.

Congratulations were also received via Twitter from Saddleworth Clarions, which was very thoughtful of them.

Former Clarion Max Girdler employing good cadence technique

And now for the next installment in Mike's Mechanics. I don't mind admitting that about a year ago Mike spoke to me about how I could improve my riding by deploying my gears in a more efficient way. There's a lot we can learn from him.

Gears, Their Use and Why

To many MCCC members, the following will be the norm, but to others, maybe not. No offence is intended.

Riding your bike is fun. It can be hard or relatively easy.

Part of that falls to the gearing you are using, and not the make or number of gears.

Power from you the engine is transferred through your legs via the pedals, through the drive train (chain ring, chain and cassette) to the rear wheel and you move forward.

The transfer of that power is at its most efficient if the chain ring/cog and chain are in a straight line.

You the engine are at your most efficient if your cadence is between 60 to 100 rpm. Cadence is the number of times your chain ring makes one complete revolution in one minute whilst you remain seated. Some people can and like to push, some to twiddle (spin).

In order to be efficient at riding your bike it’s necessary to keep your cadence as even as possible! In order to achieve this you need to use your gearing.

When the chain is sitting on the largest chain ring and on the smallest cog on the cassette, your gearing is at it’s highest (harder to pedal). One revolution of the chain ring drives the rear wheel further around.

When it's on the smallest chain ring and the largest cog on the cassette, your gearing is at it’s lowest (easier to pedal). One revolution of the chain ring drives the rear wheel the least around.

So it follows that as the chain moves up the cassette the gearing gets lower.

As you ride along the terrain changes, wind changes. Each to a greater or lesser degree.

In order to maintain a regular even cadence, you need to vary your gearing.

Going uphill or into a headwind or both you need to progressively lower your gearing.

Too low and you will spin quickly, twiddle and run into oxygen debt (breathless).

Too high and you have to push harder, your legs will complain and you will struggle (breathless).

On the flat or going downhill, too low and you spin as above, too high and your legs complain and certainly on the flat you struggle. Downhill you go faster, not always the best and safest option.

So it follows you need to look ahead and read what is happening on the terrain and gear accordingly.

Going uphill you change gear (preferably) one at a time getting progressively lower and lower.

Going downhill the same applies only in reverse higher and higher.

You are at your most efficient seated, out of the saddle (honking) more muscles are required, more energy is burnt and you tire quicker.

So the aim is to climb at an even, steady cadence. 60 to 100 rpm. Clearly on a steep hill maintaining that cadence becomes harder to impossible, so by using your gears the aim is to maintain the highest cadence you can.

On the flat, ride at an even steady cadence.

Ideally having your chain on the smallest chain ring and smallest cog is inefficient mechanically, as the chain is at an extreme angle (friction loss and high wear rate).

Similarly, having your chain on the largest chain ring and largest cog, is as above.

Having a dirty chain and drive train, is as above, inefficient and the wear rate is higher.

Mike G