London Groups/Club Social Rides - help please

[GrumpyGregry]

Dear friend of mine, a lady of mature years, has been bitten by the cycling bug. Plans to do a London-Paris sponsored doodad next year.

Lives atop a huge hill in Kenley (near Purley) in that strange bit of the world which is either Surrey or London but isn't too sure.

She wants a to join a group that does social rides and her searching on the web has only revealed "clubs full of men comparing times and equipment".

Any lovely cyclechat peeps want to give me some clues as to who she could join in with.

PS. She would also like to know which London bike shops have the best ranges of women's cycling clothing in stock. (I've suggested Evans at Gatwick, just down the road as a starter for 10) She isn't into buying clothes online due to hassle of post office queues for returns)

 

[zimzum42]

Addiscombe have a slower, social group on their weekend rides...

Otherwise she can do the CycleChat Sunday London ride!

 

[dellzeqq]

http://www.cyclingswlondon.org.uk/

.....seriously. If she wants to know how to ride a bike properly, this is the way to go. Go out with the Beddington Beginners, and then ride with the C+M. She'll pick up a lot of good habits.

Women's clothing is difficult. The ranges in shops is very restricted - I don't think her local, Chas Roberts has much at all, and Evans' range is marred by silly flower motifs. Decathlon has a decent range and (whisper this) some Bikehuts are ok. Otherwise it really is mail order....

 

[gaz]

Addiscombe is pretty much her only option. I'm not aware of any other clubs in that part of south london that do any rides that she would be looking for.

For local bike shops she has
Bike plus on brighton road in sanderstead (run by geoffrey butler so the service is damn good). I haven't been there in a while, so i can't comment on what it is like now, but they do have a good range of clothes.
Geoffrey butler on brighton road in south croydon. They have a great range of clothes, with a more racey feel, don't let this put her off as they have good base layers, jackets, gloves, hats, shorts and longs
Evans in west croydon has a good stock of jackets etc... but not an amazing amount of specific womens clothing

 

[Fiona N]

A shame she doesn't live in Kent as Kent Ladies seem to be just what she's after. Mind you I would have misgivings about the bright pink club gear but at least it's visible and not "hi-vis" green/yellow (AKA urban camoflage)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You are all stars. Many thanks.

 

[buddha]

There's quite a few ladies "of mature years" in the Bigfoot CC social rides.

 

[ianrauk]

Lewisham Cyclists
Bromley Cyclists
Pollards Hill Cyclists

All cater for the non race crowd, not much lycra on these rides. More social pootles then anything.
Each group will have plenty of rides for the novice rider and the groups are very friendly & welcoming.
They are turn up and go rides, so no need to join any sort of club.

Lewisham and Bromley rides usually start at Bromley Station and/or Catford. Pollards Hill in Pollards Hill.
All easy to get to from Purley.

 

[StuartG]

Addiscombe is pretty much her only option. I'm not aware of any other clubs in that part of south london that do any rides that she would be looking for.

Ahem - the Anerley. The club captain lives in Kenley, the President is a lady, we start in Purley every Sunday and are even slower than the Addiscombe besides being much smalleer and prettier (if a little older having set the pace for British Cycling Clubs since 1881).

Join us for next Sunday's ride. Details here: http://anerleybc.org