BAC Winter Program

One advantage of not being able to ride much this summer has been – time. I’ve had quite a bit of it and there has been much thinking & planning. Consequently, there have been some life changes & revelations (which I’m sure I will delve into another time), and also the creation of Bicycle Adventure Club Plans!

There are plans to tackle the Dirty Reiver again in April 2023 as a BAC Team; plans for a summer expedition to Switzerland and plans for Zwift rides over the winter.  

We also have a series of 6 Sunday Rides between now and April 2023 and a series of 6 Strength & Conditioning workouts, all free to join, helping us to keep cycling, moving and meeting folks over the winter period, making sure we are ready to tackle next year’s adventures.

All the dates and booking info is below.

Winter Wheels & Sneakers

With the Dirty Reiver April 2023 as a goal, I have put together a schedule of Sunday Long Rides. These will be 30 km – 60 km in length with varying elevations and will hopefully culminate in a 70-80 km Reiver preparation ride.

I have again teamed up with BAC Member Sophie Barras (aka Wheels & Sneakers) of Badger Divide fame, to do some Strength & Conditioning sessions to round out our cycling fitness.

Sophie is a qualified personal trainer and has plenty of experience in getting people moving mindfully and helping folks to become stronger & fitter. She has kindly given her time and expertise to put together a program of training sessions to compliment your riding.

Sophie is a veteran of organised running & endurance events and adventures; from completing the Paris Marathon to kayaking in the Norwegian Fjords. Soph also happens to be a cycling nut-job, riding from Birmingham to Cardiff and Inverness to Glasgow – though not all on the same day. She rides a Surly Karate Monkey, a bona-fide 80s Grifter as well as a pink shopper!

Sophie explains what you can expect:

The W&S sessions will consist of a short city based ride, with a stop at a location to learn some strength & conditioning exercises using your own body weight, water bottles and bicycles, either for reps or to help with balance. We’ll concentrate on functional movements to help strengthen the muscles you use least when cycling, but which hurt most the day after an all terrain ride.

No need for dumbbells or gym membership! This will be a chance to learn some easy exercises to help keep you strong through the winter and find an excuse to get outdoors.

The sessions will take place come  rain or shine. We will find some form of cover for the workout, so be prepared to ride in the rain (unless whippets,or small children, are being used as kites – then we may reconsider).

Session Format

11am meet at Brindley Place outside Eds Easy Diner

20 minute warm up ride

30-45 minutes workout

Cool down ride

Coffee social and Bicycle chat.

The rides and sessions are open to all but you will need to reserve a spot for each date via eventbrite.

Winter Ride Schedule

20th November 2022 – W&S Workout Ride

27th November 2022 – Long Ride

4th December 2022 – W&S Workout Ride

11th December 2022 – Long Ride

27th December 2022 – Christmas Cracker

8th January 2023 – W&S Workout Ride

15th January 2023 – Long Ride

29th January 2023 – W&S Workout Ride

5th February 2023 – Long Ride

19th February 2023 – W&S Workout Ride

5th March 2023 – Long Ride

2nd April 2023 – Long Ride

16th April 2023 – W&S Workout Ride

21st – 23rd April 2023 – Dirty Reiver

26th April 2023 – BAC International Social Evening

17th June 2023 – 24th June 2023 – BAC Summer Expedition to Switzerland (dates subject to +/- 2-3 days)

Sunday Ride details will be released soon…..