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London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
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@WNKR
Can I ride geared?
If you must, actually if you are unsure about the pace but are comfortable doing the distance in time to make the trains home then feel free to test the water with gears. Geared riders must ensure that they do not cause a sudden pace change with their gear changes when approaching a hill as fixed and single speed riders will have a far more gradual change of pace and do not want to have to check their speed and lose valuable cadence at the start of a climb. Geared and single speed riders should refrain from blasting away on the descents as this is seen as bad form. Stretching the pace out on the flats is also bad form as fixed riders will quickly tire once the cadence gets above 100 rpm.
Etiquette
Ride leaders / backstops - The general gist of it is that leaders get pissed off when other riders shoot off the front stretching the ride and then making it more likely that people get lost etc. If you mention Strava while doing this the ride elders may make a last minute route change leaving you lost in the dark. Backstops are the unsung heroes who often find themselves helping out the lost and the tired.
Trains- please make sure that you arrive in time to sort tickets. We board trains as soon as they are posted on the board to avoid last minute chaos with commuters. Please do not block doors etc. This often means being organised so we are two to a door etc (see individual ride info for this information).
Shouts and hand signals - We do not recommend waving cars through for liability reasons. We do recommend shouting 'single up' to get riders in front over to the side so the car is past as soon as possible but only when the road is wide enough to allow this.
Messages- pass messages forwards or backwards clearly. In particular it is important to let people know if you are finding the pace too high or you need to stop for any reason. Where possible, If you are struggling we will get you to the front in second or third wheel and you can help set the pace.
Bedwetting– if you put your name down and do not have a valid reason for not turning up then you will be referred to as a bedwetter. Visiting IKEA is the only valid excuse for not being able to make a ride.
This information is designed to help keep the Klub Run enjoyable and successful. They are not intended to stop people from riding. Perhaps some people think that the Klub Run is a group of elite riders that do not welcome newcomers. The Klub Run welcomes everyone and started only a few years ago with a handful of riders. The Klub Run has experienced problems out there on the black top and knows what helps to make things run smoothly. It is not an elite bunch of riders but we do need to get back to train stations to catch trains so if you are unable to ride the distance in the time you will be stranded. Ask before you ride if you are not sure we will be happy to help.
The more riders who are familiar with the routes makes for a much easier ride. If you can, do the rides at the weekends in the daytime or on other evenings to get knowledge.
Although the Klub Run goes out of its way to make sure nobody gets lost or stranded every individual is responsible for their own safety so be prepared. If anything does go wrong it is customary to blame badgers.