moving on up

[cyclenic]

How should i go from pottering around on my bike on my days off, doing about 15 miles, on road on my mountain bike to, joining a club or something.

i work shifts and dont have the same days off one week to the next.

i'd like to meet others and have someone else to ride with. also thinking about joining a club, and getting a road bike too. but not sure where to start or what to do?

I know there are a lot of similar posts but any thoughts?

 

[Garz]

Well your doing the basics right which is getting out on the bike!

I would look to buy a new road bike as this will open up another dimension to cycling and if you were to join a club or go on some races/charity events make the experience easier.

You will naturally meet people on these rides so may not need to join a club, however it cant hurt to join one. I would however ensure you have some base fitness before joining a club as alot of these people are keen/serious and could be off putting for you if they leave you for dust. Once you have some fitness then your all set to go!

Good luck cyclenic!

 

[Joe24]

Get a road bike and get a base level of fitness.
My first club ride, id been bombing about on a folder doing about 15miles a night, and then when i got a road bike, doing 15 miles a night on that for a month, then went out on a club ride, then joined the club.
I was on flats and straps at first, then got clipless after a while, but was still fine in flats and straps with an old pair of trainers on, and baggy cycle trousers!
Soon went clipless, then got tighter trousers, then Lycra when it got to summer
Clubs are good i think. Meet new people, older people with alot more experience that can give you alot of help/bits that you may need for the bike, and then you end up getting fitter as you ride further and at a faster speed. Also opens up loads more roads, ive learnt to navigate better, and know alot more roads/different ways to places just by going different ways and going past places on club rides. Which means new places to go and train!
You might find theres a slower club ride, for if you want to just potter/dont have much fitness. My club has a slower club ride, which from what i hear gets a good amount of interest.
Get a road bike, doesnt have to be an amazing one, get some fitness, only need to do 15-20miles a day in the week, or every other day in the week to be fine to do a long ride at the weekends. But dont just potter these miles, try to get a decent average with it.
Then email a local club, ask which rides will be best for you, and see how you go

 

[cyclenic]

lovely thanks, any tips on a road bike?

 

[Joe24]

lovely thanks, any tips on a road bike?

Relax, and enjoy.
You will be fine, just relax on it. You will soon get used to how it handles/responds and then be comfortable on it.
Try to miss potholes if you can, makes for a nicer ride.
Take it easy, relax, and you will soon be belting along

 

[zacklaws]

I don't know if you have tried already, but how about looking on "Cyclechat" for other members in your area to go for rides with. Its what the forums for as well as just "chatting" etc.

I myself am a shift worker and get plenty of time midweek as well as weekends, but I am lucky in that my local pub has a cycle club with a lot of members and when I'm not working, fishing, bowling or many of the other activities I pursue, I can get out on rides with them, 2 nights of the week and also Saturdays and Sundays. Also when I can I like to get out with "Cyclechat" members.

Both types of ride I enjoy, one hurtling along at speed in a group, and the other laidback and lesurerly. Ironically though it took me three years to discover that my local had a road cycling club and I've been using the pub for 30+ years and know the people well. I also believe as well that there is two other cycle clubs in my town, one I know about but the other, I only see its name occasionally mentioned but cannot trace it.

But no matter who you find to cycle with, take advantage of being a shift worker and get out plenty on your own to acheive your own objectives and keep your eyes open for other groups of riders in your area, there could be an unknown group of cyclists on your doorstep as I found out.