kristen dean
Active Member
I took part in the L2B yesterday and really enjoyed it. Thing is its got me wanting some slightly more competitive riding. How do i get started? Join a club?
competitive riding
- Thread starter kristen dean
- Start date
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black'n'yellow
Guest
Definitely join a club. Congrats on being infected with the competition bug.. 
OP
OP
kristen dean
Active Member
Ok cool, can anyone recommend a good club in our around essex area?
black'n'yellow
Guest
lots of clubs in Essex - this might help you find a local one...
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder
LosingFocus
Lost it, got it again.
Serious question Ian, based on your reply to me in another thread - why join a club, why not just follow them around on the public roads?
If the question relates to racing, then it's better to be a club member than not for assorted reasons - but affiliation helps with race entries and the like.
On balance, it's not expensive to join a club. Benefits - usually insurance, you're more actively engaged in the cycling community, social side of things etc... Each to their own but if you're keen enough on cycling to follow a club around, then it seems only logical to join the club. I can see why one would just ride around a 'sportive' without paying (so long as you're not helping yourself to the 'freebies' people have paid for) but for the sake of £24 (in the case of my club) it seems pretty cheap for annual membership.
Clubs and/or sportives, neither are for me.
Though I do see the benefits of club rides rather then Sportives
People join Clubs to better themselves and enjoy being and riding with like minded people without having to pay for what is now getting silly money (£25 for a days cycle ride?) around the countryside.
But each to their own and all that.
I just don't get the paying for cycle ride thing that's all.
Anyway, in reply to the opening question:
Yes, join a club. There'll be lots of advice and help; different groups which will help you get up to the required fitness; knowledge of where to start racing and help with applying for a licence and the like; advice on tactics where the best races are....You can get lots of advice from forums but nothing beats advice from people who ride with you, know your riding strengths and the area.
Yes, join a club. There'll be lots of advice and help; different groups which will help you get up to the required fitness; knowledge of where to start racing and help with applying for a licence and the like; advice on tactics where the best races are....You can get lots of advice from forums but nothing beats advice from people who ride with you, know your riding strengths and the area.
RoadBikeRecommendation
Regular
- Location
- United Kingdom
Depends where you're located. Essex Roads CC in Billericay is well regarded. I take part in their open TTs on wednesday evenings during summer. They also have varying levels of club rides on a sunday morning.
David Dobedoe
Regular
- Location
- Eden Valley, Cumbria
I can't recommend a club but, if its competition that excites you make the effort to go along to at least a couple of clubs and find out who is involved in what. Your probably going to get the most benefit from a group/club that has a chain gang where you can learn to ride fast in a group and also short mid week club time trials. You may find that you enjoy both or that you have a strong preference for one type of racing over another. Whilst your at it have a go at everything you can, grass track, cycle cross, Audax etc Time to focus as you find out what you enjoy the most. It sounds like your new to this, let people know so they can guide you especially if you get involved in anything resembling bunched racing (which is the best fun in my humble opinion when your fit enough to join in and also its the place a novice is most likely to cause chaos! ) Don't worry about equipment any road race type bike and a helmet is all you need to get going.
