Tampere road & gravel crew

A crew, not a club

We are a Tampere road and gravel crew. We ride a bit harder than a relaxed Sunday ride, still at a pace where the conversation keeps going. The group and the shared stop are the point. We pick routes that leave the city behind in twenty minutes, and stop for coffee along the way or once it is earned. No membership, no name list, no barrier to entry. The crew is still forming through 2026, so this is a good time to be one of the first.

Ride at your own risk

KIERROS is an informal cycling crew. It is not a race and it is not a commercial service. You ride at your own risk and you are responsible for your own fitness, your bike, how you ride, and your own liability and accident insurance. Your bike must be in order and properly serviced. Helmet on, no exceptions. KIERROS does not insure participants.

A bit harder

We ride a bit harder than a relaxed Sunday spin, still at a pace where the conversation keeps going. Road runs quicker and gravel more relaxed, because on gravel the surface decides, not the speed. Always check the stated pace of the ride and pick one that suits your legs that day.

Nobody is out to drop you. Small differences in the bunch get evened out, sitting in the draft is easier than riding alone, and we gather the group at the top of the bigger climbs. But if your legs will not hold the day's pace, the honest thing is to put a hand up and ride it out on your own. If the gap is a big one, the whole group cannot slow to one rider's pace. There is no shame in that.

Tell us you are coming

Sign up for the ride on Strava. If you are not on Strava, tell us on WhatsApp. That way we know to expect you and how big a group is coming. Come a few minutes early, find the bikes and the crew, and say hi. We go through these ground rules at the start, and then we ride.

Bike and kit

Bring the bike that suits the ride, road or gravel depending on the route. The bike must be properly serviced and the brakes must work. No TT bikes, e-bikes, singlespeeds or fixies on these rides. In a bunch you need to be able to brake and adjust your pace with confidence. A separate TT ride can be arranged on WhatsApp if everyone setting off is fine with it.

What to bring

What you need to fix your own bike at the roadside, meaning a spare tube, a repair kit and a pump. Dress for the weather. Food and a bottle of course. Keep your phone with you, and lights if it gets dark during the ride. Taking part costs nothing.

Under 18s

Anyone under 18 is welcome only with a guardian. The guardian is responsible for the minor taking part.

Weather and cancellations

We ride in light rain. If the weather looks genuinely bad, heavy rain, thunder or wind for example, a ride can be moved or cancelled. The crew and safety come before anything else. Cancellations and changes are always agreed on WhatsApp, so do join the group before your first ride.

We take photos on the rides

Style and photos are part of this. We photograph the crew on the rides, and the pictures end up on the website, Instagram and Strava. By taking part you accept that you may appear in them. If a particular photo bothers you, get in touch at [email protected].

Routes and GPX

Routes and GPX files are shared as they are. Roads, weather and conditions change. Check the route yourself and navigate using your own judgement. We do not guarantee the condition or safety of the routes.

We talk about the rides

Every ride throws up something learned about riding together, and opinions too. We collect them before and after the rides and write a short summary on WhatsApp when there is one worth writing. So that next time we ride better and more safely as a group. Notes are welcome on WhatsApp in good spirit. If it concerns another rider, message Matias first.

Ride predictably

In a group you ride predictably, and that means smoothly. No sudden braking, no surprise moves. Hold your own place in the line.

Pace and regrouping

We aim to hold the stated pace. With a big group we stop for a short mid-ride session when it is needed. We look at how it has gone and agree what to do differently for the rest of the day.

Riding close

It pays to ride closer in a group than you would alone. The nearer you are to the wheel in front, the more you get out of the draft. The same sideways, where you should almost be able to reach your neighbour's back with your hand. That keeps the bunch short and the draft working for everyone.

All of it within safe limits. Ride as close as your trust in your neighbour and your own skills allow. On the city cycle paths, on a narrow road or in busy traffic we ride single file. Two abreast only when it is safe and does not get in the way of other traffic.

Calls and signals

The riders at the front are everyone else's eyes. Hand up when you slow down. Signal which way you are turning. Point out and call the holes, the gravel, the manhole covers, whatever the road throws up. Call it when a car is behind or in front, when the bunch rotates, and whenever anything else happens. Repeat what was called ahead of you, because the riders behind cannot see forward.

Starts, climbs and descents

In a long bunch every change of speed multiplies down the line. A small ease at the front is a bigger brake at the back. So every change is made smoothly. Whether it is a start, a climb or a descent.

At starts and roundabouts, accelerate calmly. Do not jump on the gas the moment the road clears. The back of the bunch only starts moving seconds later.

On climbs the front does not ease at the bottom of the hill. That is when the riders behind ride into you. Go into the climb at the speed you arrived at. Only once the bunch is on the climb can the front ease off. There is no need to waste watts on the climbs, even if they naturally take a few more.

At the top, no gas straight into the descent. The back is still climbing and gets dropped. Roll over the top and let the bunch come across. After that the front can pedal as hard as it dares. The others come along in the draft.

On the road we stay together on the climbs and the descents. The exception is the big climbs like Sappeenvuori. There everyone rides at their own tempo and we gather the group at the top.

How the bunch rotates

The bunch rotates so that the left line slows and lets the right line come through. At the front you move from right to left, and at the back the last rider on the left moves across to the right.

Not everyone has to take a turn if the legs are hurting. You have a few options. Park yourself on the sun deck at the back of the bunch, tell the riders beside you that you are changing lines mid-bunch, or come through the front quickly and drop straight back.

Mechanicals are fixed together

If someone punctures or there is any other mechanical, the group stops and the problem gets fixed. Nobody is left at the roadside on their own. Keep a repair kit and a pump with you.

If you leave early

Tell the ride leader before you go, so the group does not end up looking for you. Otherwise you can start for home wherever it suits you.

Cycle paths

On the cycle paths we ride noticeably more calmly. There are pedestrians, dogs and children there. A big bunch at speed does not belong on them. Speed down for the transfers and back up once we are on the road.

Traffic rules apply

We are in traffic like everyone else. We ride on the right, follow the traffic rules, and keep lights in order in the dark. Being a group does not earn its own rules.

Calls replace signals

On gravel your hands stay on the bars and signalling is not always possible. So there is more shouting. Call the holes, the loose gravel and the braking out loud.

Longer gaps

As the speed rises or the surface breaks up, we lengthen the gaps. Single file when needed. The draft is a secondary matter on gravel.

Hills at your own pace

On a big climb everyone rides at their own tempo. Too light a gear and the rear wheel spins, and easing off is not always possible. On the descents everyone rides at their own skill level, and holding the wheel in front is not the point there. We gather the group again after the harder gravel climbs and descents.

Come along

Sign up for a ride on Strava, or say you are coming on WhatsApp, so we know to expect you. The rides, routes and cafés are on the Finnish pages. Questions? Email [email protected] or come to WhatsApp.