Welcome to the Giro

  

Whenever you join a new job these days there seems to be a pretty thorough induction process. We have seen a significant number of new members joining the Giro recently, and a huge welcome to you all, and it occurs to me that a sort of outline briefing may be useful to some, depending on the cycling background and knowledge. Please do not feel patronised if you already know all this, but hopefully it can serve to prevent people having to learn everything in a haphazard fashion, and also prevent the odd misunderstanding.

 

One of the great things about the Giro is that there are no rulebooks or committees, so these thoughts are only my personal perspective. However, just like the unwritten British constitution, there are general expectations.

 

Why Giro?

 

The club is named after the Giro D’Italia, the leader of which wears a pink jersey (based on the colour of the sponsoring newspaper) -hence the predominance of that colour in our kit.

The sponsors

Reading the jersey in front of you will see:

  • Warwick Knight Ltd – Jon Bister’s company and is also Club President.
  • Panache Management – Paul Moore’s company.
  • Robert Grinsell Travel – Bob is also Vice Club President and he goes back to the start of the club
  • ORBS-O R Building Services – Carl Bullingham’s company.
  • Admin Angel Angels Accounting – Louise McCabe’s company

All of our sponsors put money and time into the club, particularly supporting the clothing cost. In return please wear the kit on “club” occasions (Wednesday and Sunday rides and any event we go to) and especially for any presentations etc. Please respect our sponsors and represent their companies positively.

Clothing

Apart from the above guidelines here are some general hints

  • It’s better to be too hot than too cold. Fold-up tops and gilets are ideal in the pocket in case it turns chilly, and a cape is an essential except in the best of weather (also invaluable for keeping any accident victims warm). A newspaper under the jersey is a good way of keeping warmer.
  • Shorts are great when it’s really warm, but the knees are very vulnerable. Longs are going to be needed most of the year.
  • Shorts are meant to be worn next to the skin, no underwear! Grease the pad with something like Atrixo or Vaseline (good dollops!). In the old days we had real chamois pads and used all sorts of grease to keep then supple – I can smell the Jevovitol now – ahhh! (thank you matron, I’m quite OK again now)
  • In winter hats, gloves and overshoes will mean that you stay as comfortable as possible

For all of the above, and advice on what you need, see John Perks

Mudguards

Expected on winter group rides and whenever it is wet on the roads. This is good manners to your fellow riders (especially those behind you) and ensures that we don’t go into cafes with filthy clothing and then sit on chairs that then get equally filthy.

Cafés

We are a club with members from a pretty wide area, but there are certain times and places where there is a good chance you will run into fellow members. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays there is a good chance of meeting people at the Forestry Centre in Rosliston at lunchtime. There is a run there on Saturdays as well that usually arrives a bit earlier, typically 11.30-12.00. Some Sunday club runs will also end up there, but there is a range of other venues as well.

Club Runs

Sundays – Watford Gap triangle 09 30.

Wednesdays – Watford Gap triangle 10am, then Whittington (The Dog) 10.15 ish

Less formal runs

Tuesdays – a run often goes from The Horse and Jockey on Lichfield-Whittington Barracks road at about 10.45

Friday – a run often goes out from John Perks’ at sometime about 10.45 (but check with John)

Saturday – a run usually goes to the Forestry Centre from the triangle at 09.30

Group Riding

This could be a book on it’s own, but a few general principles.

  • The general idea is to keep together and not to lose people. OK, this principle is suspended in the last bit of some runs, (Wednesdays in particular) but if we drop colleagues earlier they could have punctures, get lost or have health problems, and be abandoned in a wilderness (OK Leicestershire) At least one member has gone in entirely the wrong direction after being dropped, and needed a taxi back from Leicester!
  • If you are at the back and see a colleague being dropped please check they are OK and can get back, and communicate with other riders as necessary.
  • A group is an organic thing, the result of cooperation being more than the sum of the individual efforts. To get the best result the group needs to be in tight formation, close to the wheel in front and alongside the person next to you. More than 2 abreast is too dangerous on open roads, but watch the pros to learn how to ride in echelon in crosswinds ready for our trips abroad.
  • The group works best when kept together; the odd bit of rushing up the longer hills can be fun (for some) but try to re-form as soon as possible at the top.
  • Half-wheeling (riding at the front with your wheel ahead of the rider next to you) is generally frowned upon.
  • The Giro has a policy of singling out when cars are finding it hard to come past, this may be cosmetic but it does improve our somewhat challenged public image (and don’t forget our sponsor’s phone number on our backs!)
  • Above all, watch and learn from the experienced riders and you will soon pick up the more advanced skills.

Advice

In the Giro are probably the greatest numbers of ex-pros and highly experienced riders in the Midlands. They will all readily give advice if asked, and have a wealth of knowledge to impart. I will not give names, as to list all the achievements would take the next 20 issues of the Pink Panther, but several riders have ridden internationally, several for Great Britain & Ireland, several have ridden the big Tours (Britain and elsewhere) and have a significant number of stage wins to their credit. As a starter, which Giro member won the 2008 Route du Sud, Enjoy the Giro!