The Training Group (TG) is the fastest ride the club offers and contains a number of riders that compete in Road Races and Time Trials.
We ride fast and we ride safe.
The TG is subject to all the rules of the Addiscombe Club Run Code of Conduct with the exception that we do not wait for riders that are unable to keep up with the pace (we do wait for mechanicals, riders caught at junctions etc).
If you do get dropped from the TG, do not get despondent rather consider it a rite of passage as it has happened to even the strongest TG riders at some point. As the TG is the first group that leaves you just need to sit up, wait for the next group to catch you and try again next week.
The TG is full of experienced racing cyclists so if you need help with a training programme or advice on getting into racing please ask one of us before the club run or e-mail general@addiscombe.org
The format of the TG is high intensity group riding, largely made up of through and off rotation (a chaingang)
The TG generally uses the same route every week. If the group is large we will have a discussion at the start as to whether to split the group.
New recruits are always welcome, but you must have ridden in one of the club’s slower rides first and be proficient at riding in a group.
Details of the ride
The format of the ride is single file to Reigate with riders taking a turn at the front and then dropping all the way to the back. If you are a weaker rider you still must rotate to the front but can take a short turn before dropping back.
From Flanchford bridge, the group will ride through & off (T&O). If you do not have the fitness to take part in the T&O you can sit at the back but alert the other riders you are doing this. Note that ‘sitting in’ is reserved for riders who are unable to contribute and not for riders who want to save themselves for their favourite section of the ride. A useful guide to T&O can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWEoBFkwsc0
At the hill before Rusper, the group is likely to split and we will regroup at the dual carriageway. The ride will again then consist of T&O along the dual carriageway to Charlwood. Care must be taken at the roundabouts by slowing down and keeping to the left.
The ride will then finish with a sprint to the Charlwood sign. Care must be taken to keep to our side of the road and ride in a safe manner – no sudden movements, swerving, chopping or freewheeling before the sign.
After a Café stop at Charlwood, we will return via Box Hill. Again the ride will consist of either single file rotating to the back or T&O. We will regroup at the top of Box Hill for any riders that were dropped along the way before returning to Coulsdon.
A full route can be found here (Strava link)
