About Out Velo
We’re a community of cyclists who ride together through the wilder spaces of Britain and Europe. At our heart is a group of experienced LGBTQ+ adventure cyclists who have been riding together since 2008, however our membership is mixed. We are affiliated with British Cycling which provides our insurance.
Riding with us
Our rides are aimed at recreational road cyclists used to riding 60km+, with hills.
Our rides are designed as social adventures and are often in remote areas, so, based on years of experience, we use a “no drop, but split” system. If we have a group with significant differences in pace, or a large group of over 8 riders, the Ride Captain will suggest a split into a faster and slower group, and to regroup at the cafe stop/s. To assist, we expect all members to have the route on their bike computer or a phone on a mount.
We use two pace groups to help guide these splits, but it’s not an exact science and pace will vary depending on the ability of the group on the day. Paces are based on your average on Strava or a GPS tracker for the whole ride:
| Ride type | Steady | Speedy |
|---|---|---|
| Flatish: <800m/100km | 23–24km/h | 25km/h+ |
| Hilly: 1200m/100km | 21–22km/h | 23–24km/h |
| Mountainous: >1600m/100km | <20km/h | 22km/h |
Equivalent at other clubs (approx):
- LDN Riders: Blue / Yellow
- Cycle Out: Moderate+ / Challenging+
- GICC (Glasgow): Full Send
- QoW: Steady+ / Speedy+
Sometimes, we may operate a “mission” pace above this, equivalent to Red at LDN Riders.
Most ‘occasional’ recreational road cyclists are more than capable of our ‘Steady Eddie’ pace, so don’t be put off, get in touch if in doubt. If you’re super fit and fast, we’ll buddy you with other strong riders on the day!
We are a traditional road cycling club, so we ask that you ride a road bike, gravel or touring bike, well maintained, and kitted out for maintenance in remote areas. Hybrid, MTBs etc are not suitable for our rides as they cannot keep pace. Many of our friends offer inclusive social rides suitable for all bike types, so check them out.
Club kit
Our amazing kit is from Stolen Goat. It’s available to order a couple of times a year, join our Spond to find out more or fill in our pre-order form here.
Our friends
We are proud of our friends, the UKs other LGBTQ+ led cycling groups. Most of our members are also part of one or more of them. If you’re looking for local rides in your area do take a look.
- OUT MTB
- Cycleout London
- LDN Riders (London)
- Rainbow Riders (Manchester)
- Queers on Wheels (London)
- Glasgow’s Inclusive Cycling Club
- Peak Queer Adventures (Sheffield)
- OutdoorLads
- GOC
Our mission is to bring cyclists together from across the UK’s other inclusive or LGBTQ+ led cycling clubs, who we often work in collaboration with. Our aim is to support the growth of local, independent clubs in every major city, putting cycling on a par with the likes of running, football and swimming.
Governance
We are led by our Steering Group, a form of non-executive board made up of our most dedicated members and Ride Captains. We are governed by our Constitution. Day to day, our elected Club Officers run the club.
Any member can join the Steering Group, please email us and we’ll add you after you attend the next annual Gathering, which is open to all members and held online. In addition, Ride Captains can join the Steering Group at any time after instigating, route planning and Captaining their first ride.
Club Officers
- David Sharpe – Club Manager
- Thomas Haywood – Welfare Officer
- David Meek – Treasurer
- Smudge Smith – Outreach and Inclusion Officer
Steering Group
Douglas Bingham, Rob Butchart, Harald Friedheim, Peter Gibb, Thomas Haywood, Louise Mainwaring, David Meek, David Sharpe, Smudge Smith, Ian Udall, David Welham, Phillip Whiteman
Code of conduct
Members should follow our code of conduct, in person and on our digital platforms. Members should be:
- Inclusive and respectful at all times;
- Self sufficient, including being able to navigate the route themselves, and having the right tools to maintain their bike;
- Collaborative, including by working with other clubs and organisations wherever possible, and by planning rides and governing Out Velo as a team, always putting the group ahead of individuals;
- Supportive of our volunteers, including Ride Captains and Steering Group. If questioning their decision making, they should do so with respect and in an appropriate way;
- Supportive of our relationships with other groups and organisations, whilst upholding the reputation of the club at all times;
- Not seek to profit from the group, or engage in for profit self promotion.
Potential breaches should be reported to us via email for consideration, and will be handled in line with our Constitution.
Contact Out Velo