Welcome to all new riders!

As you can see from the pictures on this website, we are a road bike club.  We ride on impeccable tarmac roads and do not ride off-road. Nevertheless, you are free to join us if you only want to ride a MTB.

Our club has 3 categories:

* A group = fast and furious

* B group = well trained but relaxed

* C group = novice/out of practice.

We meet EVERY weekend, ALL year long.

* Saturdays (from March to November) are social mountain rides by shuttle bus.

Membership fees for these bus rides apply.

Membership fees are to cover transport costs of the club and hold discount benefits at the TREK store.

NEW: 2012 Memberships:

= 1x on the bus = 300 RMB per person

= Prior Year Member = 1500 RMB

= New Year Membership (30 rides) = 2000 RMB

= Couple Package = 1500 RMB per person

A Year Membership applies for the 2012 season only, and is not transferable to next year.It is personalised and cannot be used by others.

Contact me if you have more specific questions on the membership structures.

* Sunday is our training ride (A-B categories together) not recommended for new riders

Meeting place is Chaoyang Park TREK store (see picture below) at 09:00 ALL YEAR ROUND

Free of charge (except if renting bike + helmet = 250RMB paid to the TREK bike store manager).

These rides can sometimes be very fast and at bit a-social. For beginners, please stick to the organized Saturday rides. Sunday rides are training rides and no one is required to wait up for others.

In winter time (December – February) Sunday rides become slower and more sociable.

During extreme cold or holidays (Xmas, NY, CNY) rides may not happen.

* Weekday rides

Several people meet up for training early mornings or late evenings. Read this post to find out more.

RULES ON THE ROAD

• The seats on a Saturday ride are capped at maximum 30 riders – preference goes to the year members over 1-timers

This means that Year Members get preference for seats until 24h before departure.

Within 24h, remaining seats -if any- are open to 1x riders and Full Members on a first-sign -up-wins basis.

As a common courtesy to other riders, please inform me before 9pm Friday by email/sms if you have booked a seat and are unable to come.

No fee or penalty will be imposed but at least it gives others on the waiting list a chance to take your seat.

* “Know Yourself and Your Surroundings”

Bring a map with you on the road and know the way. I repeat: know the way!

Every weekend I send out maps with clearly charted routes to download or you can purchase one for 10kuai in almost any Chinese bookstore.

If you cannot read the maps, recognize landmarks or road signs all along your ride.

To keep us on time, limit petrol consumption and drivers’ frustrations,

FROM HERE ON:

- vans will only be dispatched DURING EMERGENCY situations in the event of accident/ injury or severe bike mechanical problems

- vans will not be dispatched to look for lost or late riders especially those who did not bring a map or remember their way to the bus

Every week my newsletter will specify an assembly time at the vans. Internalize it.

Vans will leave the Trek store and our final gathering point after the ride at a strictly specified time.

I strongly urge that you know your capabilities and route before setting out so you do not miss the time to return to the vans.

Keep a good eye on your watch!

REMINDER – ALL RIDERS MUST BRING CASH ON THEM FOR EMERGENCIES

In the event that you missed the vans, being late at the set time, please find your own ride home. (taxi or bike, etc). If this seems harsh, remember that there may be up to 29 other riders who may be waiting for you to get back.

Previous experiences have taught us that waiting for lost riders can take anything from 30-120 minutes!

Please take note, as a creator of this Club, my sole purpose is to facilitate a service between Trek vans and all the members of this Club.

I too wish to enjoy my hobby/ride every Saturday, and like many of you, cycling takes a big chunk out of my family time

Idly waiting for 30-90-120 minutes for lost riders, is no longer on the cards.

Therefore I regret I cannot be out looking for lost riders if you do not take the responsibility to know your way.

About renting/buying bikes:

Buying a good bike is a big step (minimum 5000RMB for a good road bike; a bit less for MTB but it’s a much slower machine)

You can rent so buying is optional.

Road bikes are for rent at the TREK store Chaoyang Park. Cost is 250 RMB per day. Helmet included.

* You should get your bike on Friday evening before 19:30 for the Saturday mountain ride (the store is not open at 06:30)

* or at 08:30 on Sunday for the 09:00 ride along the Wenyu River.

What you should buy is:

* repair kit/pump,

* bicycle clothes with special pants with padding

* and a personal helmet

We have a Club Kit (pictured here) and is available to purchase, but this is not compulsory.

Kit of 2012

Kit of 2011

Club kit comes in summer wear and winter wear.

It is more of a souvenir of your time biking in Beijing.

Important To Know

For every ride the organizer will send out a map and link to the www.bikemap.net website with a layout of the ride.

Study the route well prior to every ride.

* You are responsible for printing out, bringing, studying, knowing your way.

Our club rides are in group and we do our best to help you know the way.

But if you get dropped or separated or just too tired to follow, you should be fully able to find your way back WITH THE MATERIALS YOU WERE GIVEN every week.

Also, buy a map of the Beijing suburbs (10RMB) and take it with. We will help you understand/trace the road.

C riders are required to ride the special loop until they become strong enough to join the higher categories.

Also,

To increase safety in our ever-growing bike rides, all members, but especially newbies to the sport must read this document:

From the website: http://www.blueridgebicycleclub.org/bikingsafety.pdf

Thank you Roy Perrin for this excellent resource you found for me!

VERY IMPORTANT:

Whether you come on a Saturday or Sunday ride, you MUST print and sign this simple waiver form, assuming total personal responsibility for your actions and possible injuries resulting from riding with The Peloton:

The Peloton Beijing Waiver 2012