Cycle Cardiff has always aimed to welcome and encourage new cyclists
and we try to put on a ride every month which is shorter and uses
quieter roads compared to the more advanced rides. In practise, this
is often harder to arrange as there is a smaller turnout on
the 'novice / family rides' compared to the very long rides that
take place on bank holidays, implying that there is less need for
the shorter routes such as those to Castell Coch, the Norwegian
Church or Forest Farm.

All leaders are volunteers with full-time jobs who enjoy the social
aspect of cycling in a group. There is a core group of members who
regularly lead rides and as they become fitter and more confident,
it is understandable that they will offer to lead more challenging
rides but we apologise if this means that older or less confident
riders feel excluded.

We welcome anyone who would like to lead a ride (suggested
guidelines exist and there are always members willing to sweep
behind as co-leaders) so please contact us if this interests you.

The main reason that all rides start from Bute Park is simply that
it is central regardless where you live in Cardiff and to avoid
confusion in finding us. If a leader wished to start elsewhere (such
as Roath Park), there is nothing to stop this assuming suitable car
parking facilities existed for those preferring to drive their bike
and a landmark made the start easy to find.

In recent years a number of rides have featured East Cardiff and the
Pengam Green route towards Newport although many beginners would be
wary of the potholes, fast cars and verbal abuse of some local
residents when cycling the Coast road. Pjrw08 and others are
encouraged to attend a forthcoming meeting so that we can receive
verbal feedback and amend our route ideas accordingly.

--- In cyclecardiff@..., "pjrw08" <pjrw08@...> wrote:
>
> I have just joined and am encouraged by your apparent wish to
cater for
> new cyclists as well as the more experienced.
> May I enquire what, precisely, is arranged for new cyclists and
perhaps
> especially the older ones (50+, 60+) who, like me, started
recently by
> riding a mile or two around the block and, after a few weeks, can
now
> manage perhaps 6-10 miles in one session and then call it a day.
> Your runs appear to cater for those who can handle hills and
traffic
> and round trips of 25 miles plus. Hardly catering for beginners?
> Also, your runs (and others) seem to start in or near the city
centre -
> just getting to the start would be a major challenge for most
> beginners - and the east side of Cardiff seems to be left out
> completely despite easy access to excellent beginners country in
the
> low lying area between Cardiff and Newport.
> So I repeat; how do you propose to encourage beginners?
>