Cycling UK membership: 6 month special offer

Preparation is key 

• Cover the distance at least once prior to your ride, and train up to 75% of your challenge distance ahead of the event- that way you know you can complete the distance and gauge how much nutrition you require 
• Remember speed is not important but distance is. Start off riding shorter distances and build up over time. Don't do too much too soon. As your ride time increases remember to drink and eat during the ride and immediately afterwards to help aid recovery 
• If the charity ride you have planned is hilly, be sure to ride a hilly route in training. As riding uphill uses a lot more energy than riding on flat roads. Developing your own personal style of climbing hills – be they short or long – is good to do in advance of the event
• If you’d like to train with others, try joining a local group. There will be lots of people to give you advice and help you along the way. Riding with others is an added incentive, too. You might also be able to find others doing the same charity bike ride as you on the Cycling UK Forum events page

Unfortunately, incidents do occur both on and off the bike. For peace of mind and to protect both you and your cycling possessions, you may want to consider specialist insurance for cycling, particularly as your home and travel insurance policies may not cover your bikes adequately

Third-party liability insurance

By joining Cycling UK, you’ll automatically receive £10m third-party liability insurance provided by Butterworth Spengler Insurance Brokers. This will cover you if you damage another person or their property; for example, if you were to accidentally cause injury to a fellow rider or hit a car, this is a good idea ahead of any cycling events. 

Cycle insurance to cover theft and damage

Cycling UK members get exclusive deals on cycle insurance with Yellow Jersey, or specialist combined bike and home insurance policy with Pedal Cover saving up to £50. There are offers for short-term cover too.

Legal assistance

Cycling UK membership includes access to our personal injury incident line on a no-win, no-fee basis. Our legal partner Cycle SOS does not charge a success fee, so members keep 100% of any compensation.

Nutritionist Jesse Lambert- Harden's top tips:

• Eat a well balanced meal around two hours before you head out (try to include around 80-100g of carbohydrates in this meal)
• Breakfast examples might be porridge with fruit and a scoop of protein powder, overnight oats with fruit and a Greek yoghurt, an omelette with spinach, or salmon on toast with spinach
• Go light on the fibre so that you don’t get gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Choose light foods which are energy dense
• You can use caffeine for a really effective boost. Try drinking 150-200mg of caffeine (a double espresso) 45 minutes before the ride
• Test what works for you, and doesn’t give you an upset stomach during the ride

• Be prepared for all weather conditions and wear the appropriate clothing. Check the weather forecast in the week leading up to the event. 
• Ensure you have ridden in all your kit ahead of the event, don't buy something brand new and save it for the day. 
• Layering is key as this will keep you warm and dry; and if temperatures increase you can peel away a layer at a time. A base layer, short-sleeved jersey and arm warmers are the basics.
• If rain is forecast, bring a lightweight waterproof jacket that can fold easily into a back pocket. Take along some sunscreen too – even in the UK!
• Bring a change of clothes for afterwards, and get changed out of your (probably quite sweaty) cycling kit as soon as you can.