Wednesday Night Klub Run (WNKR 2014) - a bit like TNRC but not on a Tuesday

Klub Run protocol

Just a few pointers to help the rides go smoothly. Thanks for reading and please contact me or post any additions edits etc. The Klub Run is not affiliated to any club, hence the K and relies even more so on it's riders skills, knowledge, manners etc. than anything else.

Gear choice and pace - the ride is intended to be ridden fixed, a large number of riders will be fixed, we strongly suggest that all riders are fixed for a smoother group. The standard gearing recommended for all rides is somewhere in the mid 60’s which at 90 rpm this gives a pace of 17/18 mph. You will enjoy the ride more if you are fixed and good riders on gears will get bored at this pace. That said, if you are unsure about the pace but are comfortable on making the distance in the allotted time, see the section on riding geared below.

Equipment

**Lights **- These need to be proper night lights. Their purpose is to light up the road ahead not simply for you to be seen. Your front light needs to be strong and remember that if angled too far up will dazzle oncoming cars. When riding in the bunch it is preferred if you dim your front light to reduce glare from the bum of the person ahead and to prevent distracting shadows at the head of the peloton. A simple rear light is sufficient. Too strong on the rear and you dazzle fellow riders, this is becoming an increasing issue so please do not be offended if you are asked to angle your rear light down or if someone puts a strip of tape across the lens to diffuse the glare.

**Spares **-make sure you have spare tubes and if low, batteries

**Food **- have whatever you need for 30 miles. Just because we are riding at night doesn't mean you need to bring along a supermarket with you. People do like to nibble on the trains home though.

**Comfort **- The ride generally pauses every 10-15 miles for a comfort break but shout if you need it to stop sooner, it is likely that you are not the only person.

**Money **- Have some. You may need to get home from outside London in a taxi if things go a bit Pete Tong. It has happened before and it will happen again.

**Maps **- For your own safety know where you are and how to get home. Some prefer to carry full OS maps or print outs of a large section, I personally have offline maps downloaded to my phone but each man makes his own choice. Maps help you and other riders if you get separated. Garmins are very welcome. Ride leaders are always thankful for route input when they ask for it but find it distracting if everyone bombards them with helpful advice. Maps and garmins should not be used to race off the front independently as this may cause the ride leaders to change the route out of spite.

**Phones **- although there is often no coverage it is essential to be in touch. Make sure you have some numbers on the ride if you are new or fearful of being lost. I suggest you pass your number to the ride elders and make sure your phone is charged.

**Shoes **- make sure you are clipped in when it is wet and slippery.

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.

WNKR (not plagiarised from TNRC) Routes / Route / List / Maps / Searchable Metadata Blah:

Effingham 5 Hills - last train 23:24, 24 mile ride back to Central London* (BTCL)

Amersham - last train 22:56, 29 mile ride BTCL

Ingatestone
- last train 23:03, 27 mile ride BTCL

Welwyn Garden City

St Mary Cray - last train 00:14, 15 mile ride BTCL

Roydon - last train 23:44, 26 mile ride BTCL

Effingham Widowmaker - last train 23:24, 24 mile ride BTCL

Otford
- last train 23:16, 24 mile ride BTCL

Whitstable - n/a

Potters Bar - last train 00:18, 16 mile ride BTCL

Chingford - last train 23:25, 15 mile ride BTCL

Hemel Hempstead - last train 00:38, 28 mile ride BTCL

Chingford Lea Valley - last train 23:25, 15 mile ride BTCL

*Trafalgar Square
**Train times tbc, check before riding

Surrey: Effingham 5 hills – Wednesday 19 March 2014
32 miles of ups and downs (with some tight bends), Effingham Junction start/finish.
£5.75 with GS4. Waterloo 19.02 (and 19.09 if needed)
Trains back: 22.53/23.03/23.23.

1. Middleofnowhere
   
2. Backstop (volunteer required)
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Ride out (train 1 arrives 19:45)

Bedwetters List:
1.

I like the direction this is taking.

I'm on the bedwetters list for the forseeable future due to a painful case of Ikea but hope to join in again in a few months. I certainly owe some people a few pints.

Oh, hai. checks diary

Will keep an eye on this, definitely up for some rides out northwards as being currently based in Barnet can get there and back easily so no excuses.

Surrey: Effingham 5 hills – Wednesday 19 March 2014
32 miles of ups and downs (with some tight bends), Effingham Junction start/finish.
£5.75 with GS4. Waterloo 19.02 (and 19.09 if needed)
Trains back: 22.53/23.03/23.23.

1. Middleofnowhere
   
2. Backstop (volunteer required)
   
3. itsbruce
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Ride out (train 1 arrives 19:45)

Bedwetters List:
1.

See you there.

Discussions about the WNKR 2014 jersey should start already on the first page of this thread. It's the most important thing really.
The only reason I am still on this forum is to get hold of a cap or a jersey so that I can look cool on my commute. Once I do I'll fuck off and never speak to anyone of you ever again.

I certainly owe some people a few pints.
I know that 'WNKR' looks a bit like 'WKD', but this is about riding, not drinking.

... and I can make even fewer Wednesday evenings than Tuesday evenings, so will probably not be much in evidence on these. :(

I know that 'WNKR' looks a bit like 'WKD', but this is about riding, not drinking.

It's a little about both but the drinking is strictly post-ride only.

Will keep an eye on this, definitely up for some rides out northwards as being currently based in Barnet can get there and back easily so no excuses.

We have an excellent Potters Bar route that would be right up your street but feel free to join us on the train rides, it's all part of the fun.

Not signing up yet, but hoping to make the opener.

Rode the 5 hills route last weekend - the roads are spectacularly shit in places, but mainly on the offside, so it would be worse riding in the other direction. Quite a few of the locals have been putting signs on the verges to highlight the worst of the holes.

The worst surface was descending after the Radnor Rd climb out of Peaslake.

The descent into Holmesbury? Thanks, noted. Would be good if you could make it.

clintsmoker and me did the roydon route yesterday. the black top is quite stressed but the main thing was the amount of gravel washed on to the road.

will be out in the five hills soon enough. not sure if as soon as next wednesday.

but good luck with new Klub run

Fingers crossed I can heal up in time for the opener

I heard something about an accident, what happened Howard?

Would like to come along to these but Weds are bad for me as I play 5-a-side. Hope to see you all on a couple though.

Rode the 5 hills route last weekend - the roads are spectacularly shit in places, but mainly on the offside, so it would be worse riding in the other direction. Quite a few of the locals have been putting signs on the verges to highlight the worst of the holes.

The worst surface was descending after the Radnor Rd climb out of Peaslake.

clintsmoker and me did the roydon route yesterday. the black top is quite stressed but the main thing was the amount of gravel washed on to the road.

Potters Bar recce yesterday... not actually as bad as I was expecting but there's 3 or 4 significant new potholes that wouldn't be much fun in the dark. The Cock Lane corner-of-death is still there too (spiky pothole on apex, exposed drain cover poking out of it, gravel aftermath and a burst water main dribbling over the whole lot for maximum disguise...)

The decent into Holmesbury? Thanks, noted. Would be good if you could make it.

That's the one. Am pretty confident I can do it, will sign up near the time, but that route is far too good to miss.

The rolling run from the top of Leith to Coldharbour is one of the best bits of TNRC/WNKRing to be had. This route is a classic for a reason and it will be run a few times through the year but come on folks, everyone wants to be an early adopter, get your names down.

I heard something about an accident, what happened Howard?

T-boned a car at 20mph. Driver's fault - turned right without looking.

Word.

Surrey: Effingham 5 hills – Wednesday 19 March 2014
32 miles of ups and downs (with some tight bends), Effingham Junction start/finish.
£5.75 with GS4. Waterloo 19.02 (and 19.09 if needed)
Trains back: 22.53/23.03/23.23.

1. Middleofnowhere
   
2. Backstop (volunteer required)
   
3. itsbruce
   
4. Hairnetnic
   5.
   6.
   7.
   8.
   9.
   10.
   11.
   12.
   13.
   14
   15.
   16
   17.
   18.
   19.
   20.
   
   

Ride out (train 1 arrives 19:45)

Bedwetters List:
1.

Is this for fixies?

Fixie wnkrs only.