When shall I make friends on the road?

songwriter

I heard that you shouldn't go out with a CC until you can ride for 2hrs atleast. I can (just) do 40 miles in 2.30hrs averaging 16.5.

How far of the pace am I?

angeleye

you saved me asking a similar question, done my first ever 40mile ride on sunday, managed 2h 7m , and first 10 miles in 28m 07s

gumball3000

At an average of 16 or so, in my opinion, you are more than ready to join any club. I rode with a new rider yesterday afternoon and we averaged under 15 mph over rolling terrain that I would normally average 17 to 18 mph.

The key is this... I don't mind riding with new members. Any half decent club should welcome you with open arms. Just let them know your concerns.

If they leave you behind or let you get dropped, they are not worth the effort.....

Good luck!

willbevan

I had the same concern when I joined a club back in October, I used to be a runner, got injured and picked up cycling to keep fit (shirts where starting to now lol)

Now when I first contacted them, via email, I asked about there rides, told them my fitness, and maximum milage I had done on a bike (15mi) and they invited me down to a ride during the week, now we didn't go fast, did about 18 miles I think, but as a chap mentioned above, they welcomed me as a new rider with open arms, happy to wait at the top of the hills and regroup etc! Couldn't of asked for more.

Will

ademort

Never mind about big distance fast speed, from what you say you are more than ready to join a club and any good club will make sure that if the pace or distance is too much for you then somebody from the club will stay with you, and assist you to get back to base. You will know on the first club-run if the club is worth joining. If they do leave you behind then try another club. However, i would say if you do go to a club then ask immediately on your first ride what they do if somebody is a little bit of the pace and how do they handle first time riders. Bigger clubs have several groups with varying distances and speeds depending on your ability. If possible then give them a call, it breaks the ice a little if you can, talk to the secretary or other club official and find out what days,times do they train and does that fit in with your free time, IMO the more you know beforehand the better. Good luck with your choice Ademort

geoff_ss

I don't ride on club runs any longer, but my own club (Derby Mercury) has a group of older riders (the Autumn Tints) who go on touring, rather than training, rides although some of them are ex-racing cyclists. It might be easier to go on a slower ride to learn how to ride in a disciplined group and have a laugh at the same time. In some groups riding without mudguards (and a rear mudflap) may not be appreciated in wet weather - though that seems to be less common these days.

Any club that won't take care of a new member isn't worth joining. Just make sure you have enough tools to repair minor faults, a pump and at least one spare inner tube. Plus extra clothing in case the weather gets nasty - a racing cape, say. Just make sure that the run you're joining isn't a 'take no prisoners' type training ride where, by mutual consent, you're on your own if you get shelled out.

If you're able to ride 50 miles without too much bother you will be able to cope easily. Just stay off the front for the first ride and enjoy it.

Geoff

JWSurrey

Yeah - 16mph should be good enough - If it isn't, find a different club!
Bear in mind you'll naturally go faster in a group in any case - I think it's mostly psychological, but there's always the fact that you'll be getting a bit of a tow too, esp. if it's windy.
You could always try your local CTC too.

OllyUK

Thanks for asking this..I was just thinking the same. I can now generally do ~17mph+ average over longer rides on my road bike so Im going to look into joining Melton Oplymic CC after Ive got my Janurary exams done.

jellybellywmb

I was thinking of joining Melton Olympic did a 15 mile loop in 56 mins so might give them a call to see if they can keep up with me

webbhost

excuse me for going off topic but what is a local CTC exactly?

geoff_ss

webbhost wrote:

excuse me for going off topic but what is a local CTC exactly?

The Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) as well as being a national club is organised with local groups which arrange rides and social events. It's probably a good start to riding in company as there are often ranges of runs directed at different needs - like families, older riders, hard riders for example.

If you visit the CTC web site there will be a directory of local groups (called District Associations - DA) and a contact. I've never ridden much with the local DA but I've ridden audax events they run and they're usually a pretty good bunch.

Personally, I think all regular riders should be CTC members for several reasons. First the 3rd party insurance (which some clubs insist on before you join a club ride) then the magazine and lastly to support the only national organisation able to stand up to the huge motoring lobby and influence government at all levels.

Geoff

Ste_S

Geoff_SS wrote:

In some groups riding without mudguards (and a rear mudflap) may not be appreciated in wet weather - though that seems to be less common these days.

I bought mudguards this winter and have started moaning about getting sprayed in the face from the rider in front - I'm now worried that I'll find a Carradice bag as an essential item for club runs

Songwriter, Angeleye, OllyUK, Jellbellywmb - You all should be fine with any decent club. If you haven't seen it, http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/clu/cluClubFinder.asp gives a list of clubs in your area

peejay78

mudguards are not optional, anyone who thinks they are whilst riding non-competitively in a bunch is a bit of a dick.

webbhost

sounds interesting, particually the third party insurance.

I figure this is insurance against damage to other peoples goods etc (so insuring other peoples cars if I hit them, and insuring medical costs should I accidentally mow down someone running across the road)?

Is that right?

any idea what the website address is?

Thanks!

geoff_ss

webbhost wrote:

sounds interesting, particually the third party insurance.

I figure this is insurance against damage to other peoples goods etc (so insuring other peoples cars if I hit them, and insuring medical costs should I accidentally mow down someone running across the road)?

Is that right?

any idea what the website address is?

Thanks!

Try http://www.ctc.org.uk/

Something I forgot to mention is the CTC organised cycle tours. My wife and I have been to Nepal and New Zealand on CTC tours and there are lots to less exotic (and less expensive) places all escorted by experienced cycle tourists.

hth

Geoff

Mettan

songwriter wrote:

I heard that you shouldn't go out with a CC until you can ride for 2hrs atleast. I can (just) do 40 miles in 2.30hrs averaging 16.5.

That's an excellent Avg over 40m - in these Winter conditions that'd be a good avg over 20m even, riding solo.

OllyUK

Im planning on signing up for CTC membership...looks well worth it at only £12 for students.

Sorry about being off topic but I found this on youtube the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyz5d3entBw&eurl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGYngjxJ ... re=related

Geoff do you think you could post a link to the directory of DAs please, I couldnt find it on their website.

geoff_ss

OllyUK wrote:

Im planning on signing up for CTC membership...looks well worth it at only £12 for students.

Geoff do you think you could post a link to the directory of DAs please, I couldn't find it on their website.

From the 'Home' page, select 'Search CTC' in the options at top left. Then select 'Local Groups' in the middle of the right hand column and follow it from there. Apparently there are 250 to choose from so there will probably one near you.

The CTC is an excellent organisation. The biggest event is the York Rally which takes place around June 21st and is well worth a visit. We've been going for over 25 years even when my enthusiasm had waned a bit we still enjoyed meeting old friends we only see there. We always used to ride up from Belper with camping stuff either on the Saturday morning or Friday evening but now we wimp out by taking the campervan, staying at Nayburn for a few days and riding in on the Selby/York cycle path straight into the rally site on the Knavesmire racecourse.

Geoff

nolf

OllyUK wrote:

Im planning on signing up for CTC membership...looks well worth it at only £12 for students.

Sorry about being off topic but I found this on youtube the other day and thoroughly enjoyed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyz5d3entBw&eurl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGYngjxJ ... re=related

Geoff do you think you could post a link to the directory of DAs please, I couldnt find it on their website.

Nice youtube videos

"The Editor of 'Cycling' knows that a cycle tour without a map, is like new potatoes without the smell of mint"