Park Run, but on Wheels

SionnachOghma

The job used to have a cycling club, but it has long since gone by the wayside. I think one of the big reasons for this was that the events and distances involved seemed to scream 'serious cyclists only'. Certainly those running the show were serious, and also higher ups around the office, so the money they could spend on equipment etc was pretty serious too.

With the new year, the company is on a 'wellness' fix, but quite apart from the regimented food plans, gym routines with 'boot camp' in the title, and special order phone apps being discussed, I quite like the idea of trying to revive the old cycling club, only with a more open, all-comers feel. I myself commute on the bike, and the 20k distance comes as a shock to folks. Certainly events like the Ras, which the old club attended, are a tad too ambitious.

Park Runs are all over the place these days, and seem to be a roaring success. My couch potato sister is suddenly doing mini-marathons after deciding on a whim to check out the local park run last year, so clearly they work.

Are there equivalent events for cyclists, with the same casual, own pace, own distance approach? If not, how would one go about organising such events? Right now I'm thinking about it in terms of people at work, but this could easily expand to the families and friends, and (hopefully) explode from there.

If such events already exist, can anyone give me details or point me in the right direction? If not, can anyone tell me what one would need to know and do in terms of arranging one on a weekly or fortnightly basis?

I'm sure there are many basic questions and concerns I haven't even begun to think of; please, any suggestion or observations would be welcome.

smacl

Dublin cycle meet-up have an easy cycle to Howth each week. Never tried it, as given the choice of heading into the city centre or heading towards the hills or canals, I always go for the latter. Nice idea though.

Buchaill_Mor

There are a few on Meetup. Here is another one. They are even more leisurely than above.

http://www.meetup.com/Southside-Leisure-Cycle/