Weekend rides and routes.

Help and info.

Help for hosts

Communication is key. Try to keep your group together, but if not, allow them to form into a regular speed group and a faster group.

We have a No Drop rule. No one must be left behind. The Host must stay with the last rider or the last group unless the last rider specifically requests to be left to ride on their own.

Instruct your front group to wait for everyone following every 5-10 miles or so to allow regrouping, if you feel this would benefit everyone. Try to be flexible, if not.

Remember that drafting helps a lot, so support the slower riders.

Strava Club

Many Farcycles are Strava users. Why not join our Farcycles Strava Club and keep up to date with what your fellow riders are doing each week?

Café stops

One of the focuses of our Saturday rides is a good café stop. Most cyclists enjoy a piece of cake on a ride and Farcycles are no different. We try to maintain a list of stops to assist our route planners each week. You can find the list of our café stops here.

If your café isn’t listed, please contact us and we’ll be sure to add you.

Database of routes

As part of our weekly route planning, we use Ride with GPS to plan and share routes. Over the years, we have developed quite a database of rides around Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Gloucestershire. Please feel free to look through our Ride with GPS database and select a route!

You need to have created your own free account to access the site.

Sunday Whimcycles

This is the gentler and even more sociable side of Farcycles!

These rides are designed for families and children

There is always a Farcycles host on hand to give your bike a quick safety check, and to be your guide for the morning (expect to be back in Faringdon by 1pm). Typically we will cycle 10-15 miles at a relaxed pace so that the group all stay together. Some of the routes may be on tracks, but this also depends on the bikes that appear.

Meet at 11am under the Old Town Hall in the Market Place, Faringdon - every Sunday from May to the end of September.

Saturday ride rider advice.

  • We have 3 rides each Saturday which are published on the preceding Wednesday or Thursday via the weekly email list, Facebook, and Twitter. Pink Rides are the longest (50-65 miles) and tend to be a little faster; Red Rides are the medium length (35-45 miles) and Blue Rides are the shortest (20-30 miles)

  • Red Rides and Blue Rides have a Host according to our rota.

  • Pink Rides will not be Hosted except when a new Pink rider joins Farcycles for the first time or moves to the longer route from the Reds. The Host will be elected from the Pinks on the day.

  • Cyclists should arrive at the meeting point at the designated time knowing which group they intend to ride in for the day. This will facilitate setting off as promptly as possible.

  • If on any day there are more than 8 riders in a specific group, it should be split appropriately to facilitate overtaking. This helps maintain mutual respect with motorists and maximise safety.

  • Our priority is to leave no one behind UNLESS the last rider is happy to be left and chooses to ride on their own.

  • It is the Host’s responsibility to determine if their hosted ride may contain a “regular” speed sub-group, and a “faster” speed group ensuring they make everyone aware of this.

  • The integrity of the group is the priority of our rides. Keeping the group together comes ahead of the speed of the riders leading the group.

  • Formed groups are encouraged to re-group at convenient stopping points (eg. junctions) every 5 to 10 miles, after a climb or at the coffee stop, but only if this is practical.

  • Going off the front. If a rider wants to ride more quickly for a while or needs to get home they must be allowed to do so. Riders feeling strong should be happy to push themselves if they wish, however, it is essential that riders going off the front communicate their intention with the rest of the group in order to maintain the integrity of the remaining group.

  • If a cyclist has a mechanical issue, the entire group should wait with that person until the problem is resolved. This may be relaxed slightly in the case of the Pink group provided that at least one volunteer is prepared to stop to help or provide moral support.

  • During the autumn and winter months, ride distances will be shortened. Blues will be averaging 25 miles, Reds 35-40 miles and Pinks around 50 miles. Routemeisters will be advised accordingly.