Are you a member of a cycle club?

[Gandalf]

There are a number of reasons why I haven't joined a club, though I wouldn't rule it out.

I have been on a few group rides rides and for me it's often a case of 'nice ride shame about the interminable cafe and pub stops'.

I dislike the cafe/ pub stops because to me it's an extravagance I can't really afford and being vegan there's never anything I can eat anyway. Plain salad and chips for which you've paid a fortune begins to pall after a while. Don't get me started on pub prices.

My other problem is having a resentful and unsupportive wife. She can just about cope with my manufactured commute to work each day and a very rare weekend foray but that's about as much as I can hope to get away with.

Most club runs seem to be on a Sunday as well, which I can't do.

 

[Jonathing]

I think i would look a bit of a plonker if i turned up on my hard tail whilst every one else was on a road bike

.

We are primarily a road-bike club but have a couple of guys who come out on hardtail MTBs. They both go like sh*t off a shovel which ups the paced of the whole group as no one want to be seen to be slower than the guy on the mountain bike.

 

[Sittingduck]

Not in a club myself. Have thought about it many times but too fat/slow uphill for the clubs I have liked the look of. Could probably keep up with the medium pace groups, on the flat but the sniff of an incline would see me blow out of the back and this would be demoralising/embarrassing, regardless if the group wait for you at the top or not.

and probably a lower ave speed too (my commute average is about 18mph over 9 miles).

Do you really consider this to be a lower/slower average speed, on a commute? Wow

Are you are talking about rolling avg or 'cruising speed'?

 

[nosherduke996]

There are a number of reasons why I haven't joined a club, though I wouldn't rule it out.

I have been on a few group rides rides and for me it's often a case of 'nice ride shame about the interminable cafe and pub stops'.

I dislike the cafe/ pub stops because to me it's an extravagance I can't really afford and being vegan there's never anything I can eat anyway. Plain salad and chips for which you've paid a fortune begins to pall after a while. Don't get me started on pub prices.

My other problem is having a resentful and unsupportive wife. She can just about cope with my manufactured commute to work each day and a very rare weekend foray but that's about as much as I can hope to get away with.

Most club runs seem to be on a Sunday as well, which I can't do.

You need to sort it ! No one deserves to be ruled by their partner, you only get the one chance in this world so make the most of it.

 

[snorri]

Tried a couple of group runs but didn't entirely enjoy them. There is a need for greater concentration when cycling in close formation and this reduces the mental relaxation which cycling provides.

 

[Intelligenthamster]

I'm naturally shy, non-competitive and rubbish at hills. Although I often think I would like to have company while riding I do not think a club would be for me.

 

[400bhp]

The other club I wanted to join was Stetford Wheelers, but despite the name they actually set off from a pub in Lymm. That would be an extra 30 miles (15 eachway) on my ride getting there and back.

I actually saw them this morning outside the Green Dragon in Lymm.

I used to be a member and they would often start from Dane Rd in Sale. Do they not do that now?

What about Seamons CC in Altrincham?

Whereabouts are you in Manc?

 

[summerdays]

I'm naturally shy, non-competitive and rubbish at hills. Although I often think I would like to have company while riding I do not think a club would be for me.

Me too - I'd like a pootling club ...

I would like to join a club but fear of the unknown, whether I'd be able to keep up, or all be mechanically minded - which I'm not, puts me off from investigating. I keep meaning to try and get a friend to accompany me to boost my confidence.

 

[jay clock]

Tri club yes. Very friendly, huge range of ages, and very supportive (because most people are poor at one or more event so much less bragging).

My local cycle club is 98% male and that vibe puts me off.

 

[cyclegeek]

I actually saw them this morning outside the Green Dragon in Lymm.

I used to be a member and they would often start from Dane Rd in Sale. Do they not do that now?

What about Seamons CC in Altrincham?

Whereabouts are you in Manc?

I have never heard of Seamons CC untill now. They never came up on any of my searches. I live in central Manchester but saturday often sees me staying at my girlfriends on the other side of Moston. She works on sunday which gives me plenty of time to go for my ride.

I did email Stretford wheelers but the person who got back to me did say they meet at the Green Dragon and mentioned nothing of Sale. riding from the mrs to there and then getting back is just to much added on to the rides.

Will have a look at this Seamons CC though. Thanks.

 

[cyclegeek]

Plus the mrs is going to be moving in with me soon, but still getting to Lymm will still be a fair few extra miles.

 

[henshaw11]

>henshaw11, on 27 August 2011 - 23:33:07, said: and probably a lower ave speed too (my commute average is about 18mph over 9 miles).

Do you really consider this to be a lower/slower average speed, on a commute? Wow

Are you are talking about rolling avg or 'cruising speed'?

Errr..not on a commute - just in terms of, if a club ride cranks along at the 20+ mark with some drafting advantage, the non-drafting/undraftable tool on the 'bent (ie me) might be struggling a tad, particularly on longer rides. Tho' I guess there will be differently-paced club rides...
I guess a mostly-rolling average - I still haven't got around to putting a computer on the 'bent but my commute's 9 miles, fairly flat, there's a few traffic lights - few times I've timed myself (both ways the same day) - 31 minutes (more like 17.4 mph in fact).

Not sure what my top speed is, judging by traffic I'm following I'd guess mid, mebbe upper 20's but I can only keep that up for so long..

 

[HLaB]

I'm a member of a club mainly because of the banter, you can see a lot of my runs revolve round a cafe stop

 

[400bhp]

I have never heard of Seamons CC untill now. They never came up on any of my searches. I live in central Manchester but saturday often sees me staying at my girlfriends on the other side of Moston. She works on sunday which gives me plenty of time to go for my ride.

I did email Stretford wheelers but the person who got back to me did say they meet at the Green Dragon and mentioned nothing of Sale. riding from the mrs to there and then getting back is just to much added on to the rides.

Will have a look at this Seamons CC though. Thanks.

Seamons is supposed to be a very good club and I will probably join (currently a member of North Cheshire Clarion but, like you, their start places are around 15 miles away for me). I have emailed Seamons about a couple of things and got a good response back. I like the fact there are 3-4 different rides for different abilities.

 

[fimm]

I'm not a memeber of a cycling club but I am a member of a triathlon club. I rarely cycle with them, though, as their cycle rides start at a not very convenient time and place for me! I do run and swim with them most weeks.