For most riders, the weekend club run or group ride is the longest ride they will do each week. The club run is a great social occasion but it also provides the opportunity to get in a good day’s training, with a bit of friendly competition thrown in.

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A club run by its very nature is a group of cyclists riding together, therefore it is not the time to go off on your own doing specific intervals. However, there are various techniques that you can use to get the most out of your weekly club run and in this piece we’ll cover group skills, climbing, sprinting, cadence and nutrition.

One thing that a lot of people find restrictive about a club run is how to ensure that you get the most out of your day on the bike, while not affecting the harmony of the group or dropping your mates in the middle of nowhere, meaning they have to ride home alone.

Therefore, it is vital to communicate with your club mates or ride companions, and let them know what your plans are before the start of the ride. With that in mind, here are five techniques you can use to maximise your training while on a group ride.