Frequently Asked Questions
How long has the club been around for?
The Club was established in 1945 - since then, we have seen members go on to professional cycling careers on the Continent, representing Britain in the Olympic Games and even ride in the Tour De France (Bernard Pusey).
How old do I have to be?
'Redhill Raiders' caters specifically for youngsters in groups, from 7 to 11 year olds and 12 to 16 year olds. The off-road and road groups have riders from 17 to 70 plus, so we have something for everyone. Under 18's will need consent from a parent or guardian.
What are the advantages of becoming a member of Redhill CC?
If you are a member of a club, you will get much more from cycling. The frequency and variety of rides mean you do more cycling and as you do more, you get fitter. The cameraderie and friendships make the miles so much more enjoyable...and safer.
You can take part in road-racing, time-trialling and other cycle events. Also, you can enjoy the regular social events. As a member of Redhill CC, you are entitled to discount in certain shops and organisations. For example at the moment, you are entitled to up to a 15% discount in C&N Cycles in Redhill, 10% in Finches Cycles in Reigate, 10% at Ross Cycles Caterham, when you show your membership card.
Also if you are wanting to organize a group holiday abroad, Fernando Carvalho Training Tours Portugal, will ensure you get a discount when booking with their company.
To see what companies offer Redhill CC members discount on presentation of your membership card, please visit the Links Page where there will be more details.
Do I have to have previous cycling experience?
As long as you can ride a bike and are confident about occasionally riding on roads, then you should have no problems! However, if you come along to join us for Saturday or Sunday rides, then for the Newcomers' rides you should be confident about riding at least 20 miles at an average speed of 13mph or more. For Intermediate rides, you should be confident (from experience) about riding more than 40 miles at any average of 15mph or more. For Sunday 'Club Runs', you should be an experienced rider easily capable of riding more than 50 miles.
Who can I talk to?
The Contact Us page contains all the necessary details of each club officer. Alternatively, why not come along to one of our Social Events, Club Rides or Off-Road Rides that we organise and see for yourself what a friendly bunch of people we are!
If I'm thinking about joining, can I join the club on a ride or two to see if I "fit in"?
We are always delighted to see new faces on our rides and in our events. Take a look at the Club Rides or Off-Road Rides pages; these will give you all the information you will need. Please also read our 'ride safety' pages as your safety and well-being is paramount.
The off-road rides you organise - at what pace does everybody go at and how far do you normally ride?
Generally, we all ride at a comfortable pace - roughly 10mph average, give or take a bit. The typical distance we cover is around 15-25 miles. If that feels a bit much, when you are with friendly company miles fly by! To find out more about the off-road rides we organise, go to the Off-Road Rides page.
What if I don't want to take part in racing?
We organise both weekend (social) rides and also racing events. However, you are under no obligation to take part in any racing if you don't want to - it's entirely up to you!
How do I join Redhill CC?
A The first step is to get in touch! It's good to make contact first. For 'off-road' riding email: mtbevents@redhillcc.co.uk, for road riding: chairman@redhillcc.co.uk. You don't have to join the club to come along on a few rides, see if you like club cycling first!
SAFETY
Your safety is of paramount importance when you ride with Redhill Cycling Club. We have a full annual risk assessment and safety guidelines for riders. Take responsibility for knowing what will be expected of you at Redhill CC. If you haven't been sent our guidelines just email safety@redhillcc.co.uk. We'll send you our risk assessment too so you can take your safety as seriously as we take it.