iCycle – Winter riding 2026
Autumn and Winter are approaching!
It has been great to see so many riding across all the rides over the last few months and to see new members joining us………..welcome on board. A big thanks to everyone for their ongoing support and in particular to our ride co-ordinators, without whom the rides would not happen.
The clocks change on Sunday 25th October so starting on Sunday 15th November we will shorten the ride distances for each ride and where needed will move the start times to reflect the light and potential weather. These will be as follows:
Ride
Start Time
Distance
Start point
Ride Co-ordinator
Short Sunday Ride
9am
35 to 40 miles
La Piazza
Richard Batting
Sunday Club Ride
45 to 50 miles
Danny Pelligrin
Long Sunday Ride
50 to 60 miles
Roger Penn
Mid Week Ride
Various
Peter Lambert
Friday Ride (Road)
9.15am
30 to 35 miles
David Leonard
Friday Ride (Gravel)
8.45 am
20 to 30 miles depending on weather/terrain
Dave Munday
Saturday Ride
9.00am
Mudguards and lights
The iCycle policy is that mudguards on road rides are mandatory from 1 November to 31 March. The minimum requirement is for a rear mudguard, where the tail extends to the axle level or below.
If you arrive to join a club ride with no, or inadequate mudguards, you may not be welcomed by your group! NB: Mudguards are not required for gravel rides.
iCycle also strongly recommends the use of both front and rear lights, not only in winter, but throughout the year.
Group Speeds
Road rides:
The group speeds remain unchanged for road rides. These are:
Fast: Aimed at those who expect, in normal summer weather, to ride at 19+mph
Fast Intermediate: For those aiming at 17-19mph.
Intermediate: For those aiming for 15-17mph.
Social: For those aiming for 13-15mph.
Gravel rides:
We are now running more gravel rides, again, with larger numbers. Over the winter there is likely to be a weekly Friday Gravel Ride. To help this and keep it safe there will be 2 speed groups, a Fast and Fast Intermediate. While we set a new ride template up for the website you will need to sign up in the road ride speed groups of fast and fast intermediate.
Fast: aimed at those aiming over 12.5 mph in normal summer weather.
Fast Intermediate: aimed at those cycling between 10 and 12.5 mph in normal summer weather.
If the ride leader decides the group is too big to ride safely then it will be split based on speed, at the beginning of the ride.
Group sizes
As the club has grown group sizes and numbers riding have increased. Whilst this is great to see, going forward our recommended group size is a maximum 12. This is for the safety of all riders. It is important to agree the groups at the beginning of the ride and ensure everyone is clear. This is most pertinent when there is an opportunity to combine two speed groups and we end up with a large group of more varied speed. We feel it is preferable for our own safety and that of other road users to, when possible, lean towards smaller groups of 6-8, rather than groups that are over 12.
Signing Up
When you sign up you select your group speed you will have visibility of others who have signed up for the ride and in which speed group. Please ensure you sign up for the speed you want to cycle at so your speed matches the group you have selected. We have a no drop policy on all rides.
However, if you are in the fast or fast intermediate group and struggling to keep up, remember there may be a group riding behind you on the road and you may wish to drop back to join them. Please communicate this to the group before you drop back.
Ride changes
In exceptional circumstances the ride may be amended at short notice (<48hrs) to take account of anticipated challenging weather conditions. If you sign up early, please check the day before and morning of the ride that there has been no alteration to the routing. It is important you are signed up to the rides WhatsApp group in case late changes are discussed.
Please remember
We came across this local cycling club at the 4 Seasons Café, Mowsbury Park, recently. I thought it was worth us all being aware of its existence in case we may be able to support in some way on the future. Jennie is a retired physio with expertise in mobility issues.
Three Wheelers Bedford is a members’ cycling club for adults with a physical disability which limits their mobility, using semi-recumbent tricycles.
Adults with movement and balance difficulties can be accommodated safely on our semi-recumbent cycles, although you will be asked to take part in an initial assessment to ensure that you can use the cycle before invited to join the group.
Once someone has joined for the year, the sessions are pay as you go. The sessions take place on cycle paths where motorised vehicles are not permitted. Time in the saddle is dictated by how many members turn up to the session.
Rides start and finish at the meeting point (usually a café). People can come as often or as infrequently as they like, and our members often get to know one another, sharing their experiences of living with a physical disability.
Anyone interested must contact Jennie Archer to arrange an individual assessment to evaluate whether the activity is safe for them to take part in. You can contact Jennie on Threewheelersbedford@gmail.com or by telephone 07830147002.
We are delighted to announce that we are establishing an informal link-up with Bedford Harriers Athletic Club. You may be aware that they run a Multisport training programme but they have a limited rides offering.
The aim of the link will be to encourage/enable their multisport members to become members of iCycle and hence enjoy/access our more extensive ride offering.
The benefits to us are:
Please take the opportunity to welcome any new members who may join from Bedford Harriers. The link is an informal affiliation with the aim of promoting awareness of both clubs. It will not alter how either club are run in any way.
You are of course welcome to join the Harriers if you are interested in running or participating in multisport events. https://www.bedfordharriers.co.uk/
Sunday Rides and the introduction of the Sunday Club Ride
We currently have a growing membership which is great to see. Given this and to help us attract new members we are going to introduce a third Sunday ride. The ride will be called the Sunday Club Ride and is aimed to compliment the Long Sunday and Short Sunday ride. The LSR and SSR do not change as shown in the summary below.
Although this ride is focused on Intermediates it is open to everyone and we hope it gives another option for LSR and SSR riders if they would like to ride a different distance to normal and start at a different time.
Additionally, to attract new members we have extended the 3 months complimentary membership to 6 months so if you do know of any potential members please encourage them to give it a go!
Danny Pelligrin has very kindly offered to support this ride and post the rides on our website. Thanks Danny.
The first Sunday Club Ride will be on Sunday 25th May and we will be setting up a WhatsApp group for the ride.
We hope the ride gives you all more choice, allows potential members to see what iCycle is all about and helps us recruitment new members.
Sunday rides - SUMMARY
Here is a summary of the rides. These are summer mileage ranges which may vary from week to week depending on the weather and the routes chosen. All speed groups are available for each ride.
Short Sunday ride
This ride remains as is, 35 to 45 miles and starting at The Boat Club at 9am – NO CHANGE
Sunday Club ride
This leaves La Piazza, St Paul’s Square at 9am and will covers 50 to 60 miles.
Long Sunday ride
This ride remains as is, 60 to 70 miles and starting at the Boat House at 8.30am – NO CHANGE
Over the summer a number of 100 mile rides will be planned in.
It has been great to see so many members riding this year and the increasing numbers wearing club kit. Thanks for your ongoing support and here’s to a very enjoyable summer of riding.
Simon Lowe (Chairperson) and the iCycle Commitee
iCycle Gravel Rides
We do not run regular off road rides, but when the mood takes us or when wintery weather or adverse road conditions there may be enthusiasm to go off road onto the gravel. There are fantastic routes around Bedfordshire and surrounding counties to enjoy.
This is thanks to the efforts of iCycle member Dave Munday. Dave will post gravel rides during the preceding week on the Events calendar and appropriate ride WhatsApp group. You can access via ‘WhatsApp Groups’ heading on the ‘New Members’ page.
These are usually on a Friday. The start and finish point will vary depending on the direction of the ride, but will be stated on the ride posting. You are welcome to join the ride. The expectation is you can ride 30-40 miles off road at a pace of around 13-14mph. You will need a gravel or mountain bike equipped with suitable tyres.
On occasions, if the weather is poor iCycle road rides may be changed to off road at late notice. If you are a current iCycle member watch out for any postings on the iCycle Cycling Information WhatsApp Group.
If you are reading this as a non-member, are a gravel fan and would like to join in the fun, we would love to have you join us. Please sign up for a 3 month FREE trial.
Simon Lowe Sept. 2025
