Discussion
Hi I decided to buy a road bike after a near 30year absence from two wheels (without an engine) in an effort to lose some weight and get fit. All good so far had the bike about 6 weeks and out on it almost every day for at least an hour covering a minimum of 12-15 miles which given it's quite hilly the route I take isn't too bad for a overweight middle aged bloke.
Anyway I'm wondering if it's worth joining a local club and what benefits it could bring, am I going to be able to keep up or should I carry on, on my own for a while longer.
Cheers
Steve
Anyway I'm wondering if it's worth joining a local club and what benefits it could bring, am I going to be able to keep up or should I carry on, on my own for a while longer.
Cheers
Steve
Im membership secretary for our local club, might help if you state the area you are in
Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Monday 7th August 12:44
Most clubs allow you to ride a handful of times to see if it's for you and most will have a variety of rides to suit all sorts of different fitness levels.
I joined my local 5 years ago after 25 years abscence; best choice I ever made, have met so many new friends and opened up a load of doors.
I joined my local 5 years ago after 25 years abscence; best choice I ever made, have met so many new friends and opened up a load of doors.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Im membership secretary for our local club, might help if you state the area you are in
Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Thanks for this I'm between just outside Redditch Worcestershire.Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Monday 7th August 12:44
sone said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Im membership secretary for our local club, might help if you state the area you are in
Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Thanks for this I'm between just outside Redditch Worcestershire.Clubs are great, great social side and encouragement, I get too bored riding on my own , made loads of good friends and training partners
I would concentrate on building distance, 15 mile rides aren't far, I would aim for 30 miles minimum before joining a club, although your local clubs might be different. Our shortest club ride is about 25 miles , which is on a weekday in the summer, normally our club rides are 40-75 miles
Lots of clubs have groups , depending on rider ability, our club has four, although lots of clubs don't cater for beginners. Some do/some dont , recently we have had to up our minimum riding standard as we were getting too many beginners join and we couldn't cater them all
SOme clubs are really friendly, some less so, some are aimed at racing, some at social rides etc etc ...
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Monday 7th August 12:44
As above you can always try a few rides before joining as clubs to vary quite a bit
sone said:
Anyway I'm wondering if it's worth joining a local club and what benefits it could bring,
Safety in numbers? Less likely to not be seen by a vehicle.And,of course, you will have people with whom you can discuss the best hair removal techniques as per that thread on here recently
I used to ride on my own all the time every day, and never found it dull or boring, but on a few occasions I saw a group of cyclists outside a local shop during the week on a Wednesday, so the following week, I plucked up the courage to go and ask, what it was all about, got to the shop and they weren't there, doh.
Roll on a week and they were all there again, I asked could I join in, and that was over a year ago, it's not an official club ride, just a group of mates. I now see them most weeks for cycling and a couple of beers, not always at the same time though, honest.
I've never joined the local club as rides as the weekends can be tricky to get out, but our mid week rides are excellent, I've meet some cracking people, completed a few sportives and my first 100 miles with them, all very friendly and all like minded, and picked up a few hints and tips on the way.
Would thoroughly recommend giving a club a go or finding some like minded people at least, it's made riding much more fun and much easier to go further without realising, enjoy!!!
Roll on a week and they were all there again, I asked could I join in, and that was over a year ago, it's not an official club ride, just a group of mates. I now see them most weeks for cycling and a couple of beers, not always at the same time though, honest.
I've never joined the local club as rides as the weekends can be tricky to get out, but our mid week rides are excellent, I've meet some cracking people, completed a few sportives and my first 100 miles with them, all very friendly and all like minded, and picked up a few hints and tips on the way.
Would thoroughly recommend giving a club a go or finding some like minded people at least, it's made riding much more fun and much easier to go further without realising, enjoy!!!
Edited by K1909 on Monday 7th August 20:51
Edited by K1909 on Monday 7th August 21:13
EliseNick said:
K1909 said:
Would thoroughly recommend giving a club a go or finding some like minded people at least, it's made riding much more fun and much easier to go funeral without realising, enjoy!!!
I was considering checking out my local club, but you've rather put me off the idea.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff