RGT – an alternative to Zwift

By on 17 February, 2021   /   Blog posts  

During the winter lockdown, a number of club members have been relying on indoor turbo trainers to keep cycle-fit and (relatively) sane.  Using the Zwift app (which involves a £12.99 monthly subscription) we have been organising regular virtual rides with other club members, and we have found a way to enable chatting whilst riding.  If anyone would like to learn more about this, or to join the WSCC Zwift WhatsApp group, let me know.

There are several alternatives to the Zwift app, one of which is RGT.  As a newer service, RGT has made a special promotional offer to cycle clubs and groups during the lockdown whereby they offer one or two free subscription services per club, and I am the holder of this subscription (normal price currently £6.99 per month) on behalf of WSCC.  (I must thank Debbie Richards for drawing this to our attention a few weeks back).

To participate on a Zwift ride, everyone has to be a current paid-up subscriber, but with RGT it is different.  It’s possible to sign up to RGT as a non-premium member free of charge – you have to download one app for your phone and another for your iPad/computer/TV screen, and RGT works only on a turbo trainer that has a power sensor (e.g. so-called “smart” trainers such as the Wahoo Core or Kickr).  Non-premium members can access only a limited range of routes and features, but importantly they can participate in any group ride or event that is initiated by a premium subscriber.  So it takes just one RGT premium subscriber to unlock benefits for all.

This means I can use the club RGT subscription to create group ride events and invite anyone with a free non-premium RGT subscription to join. We have recently done group RGT virtual rides to Formentor, the Stelvio pass (!) and Piensa, and I plan to continue to create and advertise these to those on the WhatsApp group. (They also do a complete simulation of the Ventoux climb, if you’re interested!)  It all works fairly well, and there are some aspects (notably the graphics and some of the on-screen info) that are superior to Zwift, though we have not yet found a way to replicate the ride-together feature that works so well on Zwift. (RGT does however allow us to include robots on the ride who can be set to ride at preset power output, so everyone can have an imaginary friend or two to ride with). 

I’ve just discovered that I can set up a group ride without having to participate myself.  This means that I can easily set up an RGT ride for any club member who has installed the free apps – I just need a day or so notice to do this. Details of routes etc can be found on RGT’s web site

This option has already been communicated to all the regular Zwifters on the WSCC WhatsApp group, but if anyone else is curious and would like to give it a try, feel free to ask.  As usual, there are many helpful club members who can lend a hand to get you started if you have any questions or concerns on getting the tech to work.  Whilst many of us are looking forward to packing the turbo trainer away when the weather improves, this really is a good, and sociable, option in the late winter/early spring period, and perhaps beyond.

Derek

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G-BUG: Walnut Tree Close trial

By on 1 February, 2021   /   Blog posts  

Walnut Tree Close Trial: Use it or lose it! Your chance to comment to Surrey County Council

You may be aware that Surrey County Council (SCC) is conducting a trial on Walnut Tree Close which is intended to improve traffic flow and provide a safe(r) corridor to/from the station and town centre for cyclists. A section has been converted to one-way flow outbound for motor vehicles, but still allowing two-way flow for cyclists. The trial runs until February 17th.

Obviously, this is a very unusual time in many ways, not least the changes to people’s local travel patterns, but we hope you will try and cycle this route and feedback your opinions to SCC using a special email WalnutTreeClose.Trial@surreycc.gov.uk. It would be helpful if you could copy your response to info@g-bug.org, so that we may gauge views.

If the arrangement is to be made permanent, SCC needs evidence that cyclists support and use the route.  We hope you will be supportive and constructive. Inevitably, any such scheme is controversial; we can expect opposition from a vocal minority, and we think it important that views of cyclists are heard.

Further details can be found on our website http://www.g-bug.org/walnut-tree-close-trial/.

Safe Cycling

The G-Bug Team

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WSCC Rides – Covid Update December 2020

By on 20 December, 2020   /   Blog posts  

With the increasing rate of Covid infections in our region, and concerns about the risk of further infections over the year-end period, the committee has decided to suspend all formal WSCC rides with immediate effect, until further notice.

We are still permitted to cycle outdoors for leisure purposes, with no limits on duration or frequency.  However, almost all movement between the various Tier areas is prohibited.  Since the Government has now declared that from December 26, all of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire fall into the Tier 4 category, the rules for residents in this area prohibit any mixing outdoors with more than one person from another household.  We do hope to be able to revise this stance soon in 2021, but clearly that must await better news on the control of the virus and/or the roll out of the vaccination programme.

In the meantime, all the members of the committee wish you a very Happy Christmas.

Derek

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An Italian Awakening…Libertà, Lycra e Linguine – Nick Flew

By on 5 December, 2020   /   Blog posts  
After taking early retirement some five years ago, I set myself the three main goals of: becoming a reasonable cyclist; discovering Italy; and learning Italian. Importantly, these overlapped for the five cycling tours I organised with some friends around Italy. I enjoyed the whole experience so much that I decided to write a book about it – An Italian Awakening…Libertà, Lycra e Linguine. Being an engineer, I wanted the book to be useful and practical, so packed it with lots of information and lessons learnt, as well as the usual blood, sweat and tears (mainly of laughter!).  More information can be found at the website (www.italianawakening.com), which also includes a section on Rides where turnsheets/gpx files can be downloaded for 16 of my favourite rides in Italy (these are available whether people buy the book or not).
I wrote the book for fun and the challenge, rather than any financial gain, so decided to sell copies and donate all profits to the local charity TALK Surrey, which supports stroke recovers and where my wife Nicky volunteers.
Thanks and best wishes
Nick. (G4 Ride Leader)
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G-BUG

By on 3 December, 2020   /   Blog posts  

 

Sign up more members!  Join our Committee!

The COVID-19 crisis has seen more and more people around the world dusting off their bikes and enjoy cycling as a safe and healthy way of getting around. Guildford is no exception.

Cycling is back on the agenda. Taking more journeys by bike improves our health and well-being, is good for local businesses, reduces toxic air pollution and helps tackle the climate crisis.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, there is a risk that we will see a return of the heavy traffic, polluted air and dangerous roads that we are used to in Guildford. This is a moment of huge opportunity.

Even before Covid-19, there has been growing investment to encourage cycling. In Guildford, several major projects are under way, including the Sustainable Movement Corridor, the Town Centre Transport Package and a report commissioned by Guildford Borough Council has proposed a more comprehensive Borough cycle network.  The Council has also supported the establishment of a Guildford Godalming Greenway, proposed jointly by G-BUG and Godalming Cycle Campaign.

As a result of the Covid crisis, more forward looking towns and cities across the UK are building protected cycle lanes and establishing low traffic neighbourhoods. The Government is providing support and funding for local authorities to reallocate road space for cycling and walking. £6.4m has been earmarked for Surrey, including two major projects for Guildford, as part of the second round of the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, and there is further funding in prospect.

It is important that in all these projects, Guildford cyclists are consulted to ensure that the funding is well invested.

G-BUG is an inclusive and welcoming group working to make cycling in Guildford safer, more convenient and enjoyable. We are doing this by working closely with local authorities, businesses and the wider community. There are some positive signs of change in Guildford but there is a huge amount of work to do and we need your help!

First, please encourage others to join our group by asking them to provide their email address at our website www.g-bug.org/join. This allows us to increase our reach and mobilise more supporters for our campaign to improve cycling in our town, which in turn amplifies our authority with key decision makers.

Second, to take a more active role in G-BUG you could join our Committee.  You will have a chance to use your own experience of cycling in Guildford to improve the implementation of existing schemes, and to initiate new schemes. We would particularly welcome anyone able to represent particular interests such as schools and businesses, and anyone with experience leading cycle rides. Please email info@g-bug.org for more information.

If you are interested in finding out more and would like to get involved follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/guildfordcycling and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/g-bug/ .

If you think this email might be of interest to someone you know, please do send it on.
Safe Cycling!

The G-Bug Team

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