A CTC (cyclists touring club) club is very diferrent to a racing club. I am not saying worse or better just very different, they have a totally different set of goals. I am still a member of CTC and still go along to the member rides every now and then as I have made some good friends there. I also have a soft spot for them as it was the group I rode with for quite a while, when I first started cycling.
I offer only my humble opinion based on my member group.
Good points:
Normally very friendly, no one gets dropped, if you have a mechanical you will get help, you can stay out all day and stop at elevenses, lunch and afternoon tea , rides are very steady and very social and very touring oriented, you will eat loads and loads and loads
Bad points:
The rides are all day so you stop at elevenses, lunch and afternoon tea. You will eat loads and loads and loads. They base their rides on an all day ride and speeds are tailored. They are touring focused not racing focused. If you want to stretch your legs, learn through and off, work as a peleton, attack the terrain - forget it - if you have ever observed a football match played by 5 year olds you have a good visual metaphor for what our CTC group looks like on the road.
I am still a member of my local CTC group but I joined a race club because I got frustrated at how much they ate, how long they stopped for and how steady the rides were, my goals were different to theirs if you share any racing goals while a CTC club is a very good place to start you can end up getting a bit frustrated at the pace.
If I go out with CTC and stay out all day I leave home at 8.50 am and get back around 4.30pm and cover 60-65 miles. I can go out with my race club leaving home at 9.00am and get back indoors around 1.30pm having covered a similar distance.
Our member group also has two rides one a shorter slower ride at 12.50mph average and the other a quicker longer route but average at best is around 14mph.
You will have to join CTC I think memberships costs £39 or thereabouts for a single member. You do get added benefits 10M Liabs Insurance, Legal assistance, the magazine and a wiggle discount. But going along to the member group rides will be free as they are now financed at headquarters.