More bums on saddles: why Britain's cycling clubs are thriving

[Wankelschrauben]

Say that to my face and it wont be so passive.

I love face to face confrontations.

 

[Jezston]

I haven't joined any formal local cycling clubs because I have found one where I like the jersey yet!

 

[ColinJ]

Besides some of us old, fat slow ones used to be young slim fast ones and learnt that's its good to be generous and patient to the old and slow as you will get to be them some day

Okay, we can never be young again, but I'm still planning to slim down and speed up. I want to be one of the riders waiting patiently at the top of the climbs on my forum rides!

 

[Fab Foodie]

I haven't joined any formal local cycling clubs because I have found one where I like the jersey yet!

We're planning to have AC/DC on our Jerseys, Abingdon Cycling/Drinking Club ....
Our Cycling HQ is the Kings Head and Bell.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Did you say cake ? That throws a completely different light on things, sign me up right now.
Yes your probably right in that the forum probably reveals a harsher impression of things than if you actually attended an event.
I wasnt saying i had any kind of a problem btw i was just saying i didnt really fancy joining a middle aged boys club particulary in light of some of the things ive been called on here for expressing an alternative opinion.
I might take your ctc advice or try a sportive.

There's no cycling without cake .
But here's what's interesting, I'd never consider doing a Sportive, too much Testosterone and Macho posturing for my liking (and money-making too). All carbon, Lycra and timing chips. If I want to know how fast I am I'd run the local 10 or 25TT. It goes to show that cycling is a broad church where hopefully there's something for everyone. Enjoy!
If you do one, let us know how you get on.

 

[apollo179]

I love face to face confrontations.

Yes but your are from maidstone so that kinda goes without saying.

 

[apollo179]

Apollo 179, I'm not sure I know what you want out of this debate? Maybe it might help if you give us an insight into what your insecurities are regarding cycling and cyclists? Perhaps then we could be of some use.
Maybe we could start with a clean sheet?

Perhaps forums are not for you, or maybe others may be more to your taste, there's Bikeradar, yacf, CTC and I'm sure MTB and other forums I'm not aware of that suit you better, either way, forums change, they're just a reflection of their members at any given time. Many here are refugees from forums that became to infantile and peurile, that's maybe why we have the demographic we do, but it's ever changing.
If clubs aren't your thing, have you been on any Charity rides or similar where there are all the benefits of riding with others but on your own terms and without any commitment?
What age group are you looking for? What kind of people would you like to ride with? Maybe try and emphasise some positive attributes of what you'd like in an ideal world and let's see if anything fits.

Regarding Pirahnas and toes, don't assume everything unknown contains badness, that's not a happy way to look at the world.

Hey fabfoodie ive already got what i came for out of this particular debate and that was simply to give my opininion.
Im not looking for another forum but thanks for the suggestion , i stumbled into this one purely by chance and it suits me fine .

 

[apollo179]

There's no cycling without cake .
But here's what's interesting, I'd never consider doing a Sportive, too much Testosterone and Macho posturing for my liking (and money-making too). All carbon, Lycra and timing chips. If I want to know how fast I am I'd run the local 10 or 25TT. It goes to show that cycling is a broad church where hopefully there's something for everyone. Enjoy!
If you do one, let us know how you get on.

Interesting we differ cos i regard a competetive event as an acceptable outlet for macho testosterone driven chest beating posturing , its the verbal manifestation that i personally find nauseating.
That said the reality is im a long way off - i presume you need a proper big wheeled road bike for a sportive and i need to get in some 100+ milers and get a grip on a minor problem with cramp (otherwise im ready to go) also have to buy some lycra i guess.
As you say anyone can guage how quick they are by just timing themeselves but i can appreciate the competetive impulse , like i can appreciate scr.
Enjoy indeed!
i will ley you know when i do one in due course .

 

[Fab Foodie]

Interesting we differ cos i regard a competetive event as an acceptable outlet for macho testosterone driven chest beating posturing , its the verbal manifestation that i personally find nauseating.
That said the reality is im a long way off - i presume you need a proper big wheeled road bike for a sportive and i need to get in some 100+ milers and get a grip on a minor problem with cramp (otherwise im ready to go) also have to buy some lycra i guess.
As you say anyone can guage how quick they are by just timing themeselves but i can appreciate the competetive impulse , like i can appreciate scr.
Enjoy indeed!
i will ley you know when i do one in due course .

Ha! You'll become MAMIL in no time
I caught you 'Cramp' thread, and Fiona has it correct, nobody really knows what causes or exactly what the cure is, most stuff written about cramp is bunk, BUT ... what you see is that cramp is a feature of early season exertion, so there is a very strong link with Cardiovascular fitness, cramp threads at this time of year are rare because people are in much better shape.
With the winter coming, just concentrate on gentle miles, warm-up slowly, spin the pedals rather than push a big gear, good long winter miles pay dividends in the spring.

 

[2PedalsTez]

Not wanting to sound a touch 'simple', but...
I love cycling because I can go for a ride alone (which I find quite therapeutic)
I love cycling because when on events, I can chat to people from all walks of life that I wouldn't normally chat to (I may be guilty of chatting too much!)
Cycling is not elitist (in my opinion)
I would like to join a club or regular group ride, but my work and home comittments don't always allow (but I will keep an eye out for the social ride)

I think this forum is pretty much spot on.

 

[2PedalsTez]

Oh, shucks, you didn't have to ...

(Could you remind me where to send the cheques - I've lost your addresses! )

Any chance of paying you some retrospective compliments? (I can use the cash)

If it helps, I am prepared to lie too

 

[ColinJ]

Any chance of paying you some retrospective compliments? (I can use the cash)

Unfortunately, the online compliment fund has dried up so I'll be relying on spontaneous freebies for the foreseeable future!

 

[apollo179]

Ha! You'll become MAMIL in no time
I caught you 'Cramp' thread, and Fiona has it correct, nobody really knows what causes or exactly what the cure is, most stuff written about cramp is bunk, BUT ... what you see is that cramp is a feature of early season exertion, so there is a very strong link with Cardiovascular fitness, cramp threads at this time of year are rare because people are in much better shape.
With the winter coming, just concentrate on gentle miles, warm-up slowly, spin the pedals rather than push a big gear, good long winter miles pay dividends in the spring.

Ive got 80 miles planned for tomorrow so we will see about the cramp.
Yes ime trying to enforce the spinning thing and the warm up slowly as well. My problem is that on a time to distance covered basis if i warmed up any slower i would be traveling backwards. My regular 80 mile trip takes me 6 hours which when you consider that we have newcomers on the forum questioning why they are only doing 17mph makes me look pretty slow.
Whats you and your groups mph ?

 

[apollo179]

Not wanting to sound a touch 'simple', but...
I love cycling because I can go for a ride alone (which I find quite therapeutic)
I love cycling because when on events, I can chat to people from all walks of life that I wouldn't normally chat to (I may be guilty of chatting too much!)
Cycling is not elitist (in my opinion)
I would like to join a club or regular group ride, but my work and home comittments don't always allow (but I will keep an eye out for the social ride)

I think this forum is pretty much spot on.

+1 good post.
Cycling alone is quite therapeutic.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ive got 80 miles planned for tomorrow so we will see about the cramp.
Yes ime trying to enforce the spinning thing and the warm up slowly as well. My problem is that on a time to distance covered basis if i warmed up any slower i would be traveling backwards. My regular 80 mile trip takes me 6 hours which when you consider that we have newcomers on the forum questioning why they are only doing 17mph makes me look pretty slow.
Whats you and your groups mph ?

Group riding of course depend on the group, but our genteel social fgroup will average say 10-12 (it's flattish where we take them). I did a easy 30 spinning along with my mate this morning and we avaraged 15mph. We we ride together on club nights we do 22 miles at 20mph ave.
80 miles on at 12 mph riding alone sounds just peachy. Riding with others is always faster as you can share the work. Don't beat yourself up, enjoy the ride! By most peoples reckoning, 80 miles on a bike is like walking to the moon and back.