Are you a member of a cycle club?

[What's that clunking?]

Please excuse me if it's a common question, I've only recently joined and noticed there seem to be a lot of people who aren't members of clubs.


I only ask since when I decided I wanted to take up cycling properly joining a club seemed the best way of getting support and meeting like minded people, just wondering what the proportions of club members to non members is on the forum.

Also, any comments are welcome as to why you've chosen to join/not join a club?

I'm genuinely interested as my club are always looking to grow our membership and make our club attractive to cyclists of all abilities and in all forms of cycling, so suggestions for what we could do to attract people who aren't interested in the club system are especially welcome

 

[Nebulous]

I am fairly new to cycling - but this is a huge topic.

There is often a mismatch between what people want from a club and what the club wants from them. We're used to a consumer society and people expect to get a lot for their £20 a year fees - whereas clubs think new people should feel privileged to be allowed in and should keep quiet and commit to supporting club events regularly.

My previous experience of clubs has been through my children participating in sports. That was very frustrating. Some good social events / fund raisers but a lot of political jockeying for position, badmouthing and fighting.

Then there's the whole what do I wear, what bike do I need, will anyone speak to me?

I am near a big club, but their website was horribly out of date, it wasn't clear if I could try a clubrun before joining, and I emailed to ask without a response.

I then emailed a smaller club some distance away, with a much friendlier internet presence. They responded quickly, invited me along on the clubrun, I went and eventually joined. They are great, friendly, active, interested in all sorts of cycling, not just one discipline. The distance does bring some difficulties- I struggle to get to the evening time trial consistently for instance- but it has certainly been worth doing.

 

[apollo179]

Interesting topic.
Im not a member of a club but it does interest me.
What appeals to me is the cycling - the enjoyment of cycling as a part of a group and seeing how i would compare.
What deters me is : lack of information and as it appears to me the over emphasis on the social aspect - i dont really want to to have a lengthy stop at a pub half way on an 80 miler.
Anyone who wants to chat can do it while cycling imho.

 

[the_mikey]

i dont really want to to have a lengthy stop at a pub half way on an 80 miler.

I agree! I've tried to find cycling groups that I can feel part of but I've come to the conclusion that my lifestyle generally doesn't lend itself to being part of a cycling group, or club. I work full time, I don't drink. I enjoy the occasional sportive, but also most of the time I cycle alone, cycling etiquette is not something I'm overly familiar with, since I don't cycle with other riders most of the time.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Joined my first cycle club, The nomads, in the mid 1980's, late 1980's I moved to the Coventry Road Club

http://www.coventryroadclub.org.uk/

I am still a member now but tend to ride out to the café on my own and ride back with either one of my mates or one of the groups, during the 1990's I was a regular on the veterans ride.

 

[Bluebell72]

No, not a member of a club.

I cycle for headspace and personal enjoyment - I like my own company and peace and quiet.
My impression (though may be wrong!) is that clubs are full of competitive people, and also those who have joined for the company of others.

 

[ELL]

I joined a club because when I stopped commuting to work on my bike I wanted something that would still keep me motivated to go out. The club I am with have 3 groups (fast no stop, fast with a stop and steady) but normally only 1 or 2 groups go out. I go with the steady group because I just want to enjoy the ride and have a chat in the group. We average 15-17mph on a 50-60 mile ride and I am more than happy with this. I now commute again over double the distance I used to and go on club rides at the weekend and love it all.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I agree! I've tried to find cycling groups that I can feel part of but I've come to the conclusion that my lifestyle generally doesn't lend itself to being part of a cycling group, or club. I work full time, I don't drink. I enjoy the occasional sportive, but also most of the time I cycle alone, cycling etiquette is not something I'm overly familiar with, since I don't cycle with other riders most of the time.

^+1

 

[cyberknight]

I commute pretty much every day to work and go out a couple of times a month with my local cycle club , all dependent on family commitments .

To me the club run is a chance to talk to others about the "sport" i enjoy and to meet people outside the work / home circle ,it helps me to unwind and gives me some precious "me " time which is rare.Very often i am not even allowed to get in the door (still in sweaty lycra)before a 4 year old and SWMBO wants me to play, fix things etc etc.

This is my CC..

http://www.merciacyclingclub.co.uk/

 

[danger mouse]

Maybe its the sport thing that puts me off joining a club. Ive started cycling for fitness weight loss and the enjoyment.

Agree with Bluebell. Its a good time for me to get my own space away from stress and people.

I am friendly

, but Ive always enjoyed individual sports, Xcountry etc.

 

[Theseus]

Never seen the need. If I want to ride with anyone, I call on some mates, join one of the CC rides or go on a charity bash.

 

[cyberknight]

Maybe its the sport thing that puts me off joining a club. Ive started cycling for fitness weight loss and the enjoyment.

Agree with Bluebell. Its a good time for me to get my own space away from stress and people.

I am friendly

, but Ive always enjoyed individual sports, Xcountry etc.

I use the term sport very loosely my cycle club runs a medium group for those of us out for fun, the CTC is also a more relaxed ride (from what i gather ) .

 

[monnet]

I find club riding brilliant. I always rode on my own/ with mates. When I moved to a new area I thought I'd join a club to get to know the roads as much as anything. I think it's one of the best things I've ever done. I should also add that everyone was super friendly when I joined, no snobbishness just a warm welcome for a fellow cyclist.

We have a range of rides to suit pretty much everyone interested in road riding (and a very active MTB section too). Basically, there are 40-ish mile club runs on a Saturday of varying speeds all meeting up at the same cafe for a brew and a bit of cake. The routes are pre planned so if I just want to tootle out under my own steam, I know where they're meeting and I can do my solo ride and then meet up for a chat. There's 80 mile runs with a cafe stop on Sunday. Evening rides to a pub. Chaingang. TTs. Track nights. Cross races. Road races. Like minded people get together to organise trips - the traditional youth hostelling rides; training camps in Mallorca and Lanzarote; Pyreneen Raids; continental sportives.

I've learnt loads from riding with guys who have been riding longer than me and/or at a higher level. If I don't want to go out with the club, I don't. If I'm struggling for motivation or the weather's a bit iffy, it helps to know that the club ride will almost certainly be on. For me it's a bit like Cheers - sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your name. The club's like that -disappear for 3 months, come back and everyone asks how you are and then it's back to racing each other up the hills, sprinting for signs etc. And you get the bonus of a couple of hours bike chat.

I could wax lyrical about the joys and flexibility of being a club. It's £12 to join my club (if you're not BC or CTC then it's an extra £12 for the insurance.) I reckon that's great value. Beyond that you don't need to do anything else if you don't want.

 

[007fair]

Not a member of a club. I enjoy the peace and quiet and also ride as and when my kids and wife and weather allow. I like the freedom to go where I want also at my pace.

But!... am becoming more aware of the possibility of trying a club out as it would improve my fitness and stamina and I would like to do a few long rides at some point (LEJOG etc) For now though No club

 

[Keith Oates]

I'm a member of two clubs one in Manila and one in Guangzhou, China. During the last ten years I've started 3 clubs in various Chinese Towns where i've been working, but I'm not sure if they are still active or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!