So why join a cycling club?

Gavin Gilbert

A bit of Focus Grouping rather than self-promotion. As I have let slip in other topics, I’m with the Archer Road Club, and if I’m honest about things…we could do with a few more members. Over the past couple of years our ranks have been depleted by fatherhood, old age and those moving on to other things, like Olympic Gold medals.

In an effort to turn things around we’ve been raising our profile, and our game, and we are starting to see green shoots of recovery as a mini recruitment campaign starts to bear fruit. To help those shoots on I’m interested in is your opinions as to what you would want from a ‘generic’ cycling club. In particular I’m keen to hear the views of 2 classes of rider, the Sportif and the Commuter.

Rather than poach riders from other local clubs (who we want to stay friends with) we’ve decided a better approach would be to tap into the new generation of cyclists not yet within the club system and show them how membership expands possibilities. After all, it’s the route I took. I started as just a commuter, which got me into charity rides, which lead me to discovering Audax, which ultimately saw me start racing. I’m convinced it’s worth the subs, but what could we do to convince you to enlist with ‘a’ club?

I’m taking as read that a club needs a Sunday run, a cool jersey and a healthy social side (and we’ve those in place already) but what else?

Alternatively – if the Cycling Club thing is a turn-off, I’d also be interested in hearing why.

www.archer-rc.cyclists.co.uk

biondino

I'm not very confident about my cycling and suspect I am in that comfort zone of decent fitness but little serious conditioning that lies below - possibly well below - the cat 4 level. I'm crap on hills, tire easily when going fast and take ages to recover, and I am fairly sure I'll never make an effort to train up to the next level.

In a way I don't want any element of competitiveness to enter my cycling. I like going quickly, and I like scalping commuters as much as the next man, but.. I dunno. I'm one of nature's domestiques (this is so true, a psychiatrist would have a field day), basically.

biondino

I quite enjoy how you loathe the Dynamo, though, and perhaps that doesn't help your cause - if one club is so reviled doesn't that tar them all with the same brush?

Gavin Gilbert

biondino wrote:

I quite enjoy how you loathe the Dynamo, though, and perhaps that doesn't help your cause - if one club is so reviled doesn't that tar them all with the same brush?

Ah! but how I feel about one very unique club and my vocal objections to a particular trait of that outfit is another matter. And one that has been fully aired already.

Anyhow - cycling clubs aren't just about racing. I was a Willesden CC member for 6 years before I was talked into signing onto my first startsheet.

Jen J

biondino wrote:

I quite enjoy how you loathe the Dynamo, though, and perhaps that doesn't help your cause - if one club is so reviled doesn't that tar them all with the same brush?

Good point - my only experince of a cycling club is of LD flying round RP on Saturday mornings. That does not make me immediately think 'I want to join a cycling club'. More the opposite.

But I'm not really a club person. I was a member of a local running club for nearly a year before I resigned my membership, which I did because in all that time I'd never attended a single training session, a social run, or any evening events.

But then I'm not your typical club runner as I do long distance events rather than the usual races. I like to do my own thing.

That said, I've enjoyed a couple of rides around RP with people from here, and am vaguely thinking or joining a cycle club, or more likely, tri club, mainly to get/offer advice.

The 'problem' with that, is online forums such as this. I don't need to join a club to ask people advice - I can do it here. Same with running, I use a running site, and can ask advice there. (I've actually joined their online running club now)

Sorry, not the most helpful answer, but maybe by knowing why people *don't* join you can think of ways to turn that around?

always_tyred

My objection to cycling clubs is the alpha male boll.ocks on group rides.

don_don

In a way I don't want any element of competitiveness to enter my cycling. I like going quickly, and I like scalping commuters as much as the next man, but.. I dunno. I'm one of nature's domestiques (this is so true, a psychiatrist would have a field day), basically.

This reflects my attitude pretty well too. The only reason I would join a club is to meet more people to go out cycling with. I did go out with the local CTC a couple of times, but found them a bit slow. I probably ought to go out with the local County club, since they do have several 'grades' of Sunday ride. However, racing is a complete turn-off for me.

I suppose my ideal club would be one which encourages a mix of ages and abilities, catered for both road and mountain bikers, and organised a couple of touring trips away every year, as well as Sunday rides.

jonginge

biondino, the 2nd and 3rd laps we did in RP the other week were faster than club run pace (unless its a training run) and the first lap was maybe just slower. You'd do fine. Most clubs have a 'leave no-one behind' policy and have runs for those who just want a social ride as well as for racing snakes. I prefer a social ride on a sunday myself That said I haven't been out with the club (KingstonWheelers) for ages due to being a lazy arse on a sunday morning :oops:

AT: the alpha male thing probably depends on the club/ type of ride. Can't say I've noticed it with my social rides with KW

always_tyred

JonGinge wrote:

biondino, the 2nd and 3rd laps we did in RP the other week were faster than club run pace (unless its a training run) and the first lap was maybe just slower. You'd do fine. Most clubs have a 'leave no-one behind' policy and have runs for those who just want a social ride as well as for racing snakes. I prefer a social ride on a sunday myself That said I haven't been out with the club (KingstonWheelers) for ages due to being a lazy ars* on a sunday morning :oops:

AT: the alpha male thing probably depends on the club/ type of ride. Can't say I've noticed it with my social rides with KW

That's good to know, actually. I am quite local to that bunch from West Lothian who started a club from this forum. Aside from the same lazy bastarditis on weekend mornings which I too suffer from, I was considering suspending my disbelief and giving another club a try.

itboffin

Another reason why the SCR CC should be formed, we have a totally different attitude. biondino I have to disagree with you this time, on the SCR RP ride you were the perfect picture of team work and leadership, it was you that called the peloton to order to ensure no one was left behind, I might also add you showed an excellent turn of pace that day.

Chapeau

Surely the reason for the success of the commuter threads on this forum is due to the inclusive nature, we do this for fun.

Jen J

itboffin wrote:

Another reason why the SCR CC should be formed, we have a totally different attitude. biondino I have to disagree with you this time, on the SCR RP ride you were the perfect picture of team work and leadership, it was you that called the peloton to order to ensure no one was left behind, I might also add you showed an excellent turn of pace that day.

Chapeau

Surely the reason for the success of the commuter threads on this forum is due to the inclusive nature, we do this for fun.

Nah. I find you all quite unfriendly.

biondino

Thanks ITB, that means a lot! I guess I was answering Gavin in that a lot of my concern IS probably wrong or paranoid, or only partly true, but they're my reasons nevertheless. I know I love group cycling; I just prefer it with friends.

knight2k

biondino wrote:

Thanks ITB, that means a lot! I guess I was answering Gavin in that a lot of my concern IS probably wrong or paranoid, or only partly true, but they're my reasons nevertheless. I know I love group cycling; I just prefer it with friends.

When you cycle regularly with a group of people they become your friends. I've found this with the club I joined last year. Riding in a group is much easier than riding on your own too, and the Sunday morning club run gives you the discipline to get up and go for it; even if the weather isn't the greatest.

lost_in_thought

Now Gavin, I'm going to be honest here, as I'm someone who's looked at joining a cycling club, and mentioned it on here a couple of times too. Both of those times you've kindly pointed me towards your website, so thanks for that!

However, it begs the question - what stopped me from signing up?

Well a big part of it was the website and its content - being on here I'm quite an internetty person, so that's always going to be my first and often only port of call. Your site doesn't explain the most basic of my questions - what do you actually *do* in your club?

You've got a lot of history, a few pictures, some results, some info about sunday rides, some results of competitions, some info about the Archer Grand Prix, and some past members.

What you don't have is the one thing I wanted to see - a schedule of rides, use of the HIllingdon circuit, socials, what you do in the week, etc. etc. I also like to return to my Yokel lifestyle on the weekend, so would prefer a club that does evening rides in the week.

Also, your winter rides - your site says they proceed at a 'steady level 2 pace' - I don't know what this means so automatically think they'll be too fast for me.

To be fair, I could have just contacted you or someone else, but I'm from the MTV generation so want everything at my fingertips with minimal effort. :P

So there you go! I hope you don't think I'm being rude, call it constructive criticism.

chromehoof

Always Tyred wrote:

My objection to cycling clubs is the alpha male boll.ocks on group rides.

I have to say I agree with this.

One thing I have found though is that people who are late to cycling often underestimate themselves in terms of their capabilities. I joined a club this year, only because a mate of mine set it up. The training spins weren't anything hectic, and if you had a bad day you could nearly be sure someone else would be in the same boat and you wouldn't get left out in the cold.

I'm with whoever mentioned they could do without a competitive element to their cycling. I only really like to be competitive with myself - see what I can push myself to do. I don't really like having to cycle at an appointed time and prefer to be able to head where I want, when I want.

I've never done a race though. I have vowed to do at least one sometime soon, just to quell that curiosity I have.

Kieran_Burns

biondino wrote:

I'm not very confident about my cycling and suspect I am in that comfort zone of decent fitness but little serious conditioning that lies below - possibly well below - the cat 4 level. I'm crap on hills, tire easily when going fast and take ages to recover, and I am fairly sure I'll never make an effort to train up to the next level.

I could just of easily written this as they are my sentiments exactly.

For me, cycling is something I do which is akin to meditation. I don't wish to get all tree-huggy here but I find the solitary time on the bike to be very theraputic. I can talk through ideas to myself, develop theories. I've even written several new chapters of a book I mean to complete, all on the commute.

A club run would not allow me the luxury of this. It's not that I'm anti-social: I've joined car clubs and gone to many club meets (and love them), it's just that one of my key motivations for cycling is its solitary nature. It's one of the reasons why I refuse to join a gym: as above, the Alpha Male BS gets me down.

LIT made some very good points as well: if you do want to attract new members you need your primary means of communication to be 'inclusive'. Use of terms such as 'level 2' mean nothing to a new cyclist and simply makes it sound elitist. You need people to see that you have plans, arrange social events - one and off the saddle.

There's a cycle club near here (I have NO idea where) that I reguarly see having a HUGE breakfast at the local truckers cafe (flaming stunning food!) and then going out for a ride to burn it off. It sounds daft, but that kind of thing IS inclusive. I'd go for the chance to eat the food and then work it off

SBezza

I joined my local club, as I was bored of just cycling on my own all the time, I enjoy the social side of club runs etc.

Now I choose a club, that offered 5 levels of club rides on a Saturday and 2 on a Sunday, so no matter how I was feeling there was always a club run, that I could join and keep up with. It was the best thing I ever did, I have got better as I have progressed up the groups, and I have never been dropped, and we have never intentionally dropped fellow riders (we wait at the top of hills/road junctions etc), any club that does this is not worth joining.

I think with a decent cycling club (rather than just a pure racing club), you should never drop anyone, and friendlyness should be a big part of the club. Getting new members must be a difficult thing to do, especially if there are a few clubs in the area. When you have a selection of runs, put up the average speeds of the runs, so people know what to expect, and keep to these speeds. Have a contact number for a club run captain, so potential members can call and get reassurance that they will be able to manage.

I think you should also offer to let people join a club run before they have to join, it gives people an idea without committing to the club, generally if you are a good club and the person feels confident in the club run, they will no doubt join.

In short, be respectful of new potential members, be friendly, and be encouraging.

always_tyred

I think that once you are embedded in a sport, its easy to forget what its like not to be.

I used to be a keen rower and I still row. If you are new to the sport, its difficult to get into a boat, let alone avoid going for a swim. Once you do get into a boat, it tends to be traumatic nothing like it looks on TV. It is not an accessible sport.

Some clubs bring new people in a hell of a lot better than others, but I've never been a member of a club which didn't THINK it was a great club and inclusive of new members.

With cycling clubs/group rides, there is a danger of "the ride" (which becomes its own entity) being intolerant of the new person. The club in question can often kid itself that this isn't the case because the new person slinks off and never comes back.

wgwarburton

Years ago I joined my local cycling club on a weekend training run to see what it was like. They were looking to do about 60-70 miles but after forty or so, and ten miles from home, I knew that I would be holding them up if I tried to stick with them. I thanked them and dropped out to head home, pretty much wrung out.
This was on a training run... what would a race be like?

I've never gone back, nor given any serious thought to racing, since. I reckon I don't have the physique for it- too big, especially for climbing, which is where races are won & lost, I understand.

Looking back, I regret not having had the opportunity to try riding at a track- It's possible I would have been better suited to track sprinting than road riding and it might have been fun.

Don't know if my experience is relevant, except inasmuch as you need to let people know what your club has to offer and to get that across to people who might want it.
What's the point of your club? Racing? Helping people get together for day trips? Organising tours/expeditions/track sessions? Offering technical help? Campaigning for better facilities? You need to advertise to the people you want to join you, so that they know that they want to join....

Cheers,
W.

biondino

SBezza's club sounds excellent - which one is it?

The alpha male b0llocks - yep, that's really the number one reason. I'd happily join an all girls club! (and my pink jacket will fit right in)

SBezza

I am in the San Fairy Ann CC which is based in Maidstone, Kent. http://sanfairyanncc.co.uk

It really is a great club with well over 300 members, from youngsters to 70+ year old members that continue to cycle, do quite a few social activities, and run various type events throughout the year.

Not noticed any male alpha crap in any of the groups I have ridden with, and we all have a great laugh.

gtvlusso

I only joined a cycle club to do some racing - good base for Triathlon stuff too. However, I am not someone that wants to actively go out on a leisurely ride with a few people - prefer my own company and my own pace or just bimbling around with the wife or MTB'ing with my mates (we are almost a club anyway!)

I am a member of a triathlon club for coaching and encouragement (and discounts in gyms and pools!). I am also a rowing club member (as I cannot afford a racing boat!) and I used to race in a crew.

Socially, I am always with the rowing club lot as they are the most piss'test and go out all the time (will be in Putney on Friday night for 4's head on Saturday - come on Bristol!). The triathlon lot don't drink/smoke/fall over and eat kebabs - not much fun, but nice young people. The cycling club is either serious racers who are bike nerds (yet never fix their own bikes and wear team kit - bit dull) or old people who like to cycle in country parks.

I was in a motorcycle club for years, we used to ride all over Europe to various events and races and drink as much as possible, before gingerly heading home on what was left of our motorbikes - everything else seems like the volume has been turned down since those heady days.....

Chriscommuter

Guys,

I 've ony just caught up with this thread not having logged in for a while.

As JoGinge says the Kingston Wheeler Sunday Club Runs are very un alpha male!

We have a number of groups with the young fast group gong of for a training ride then 2 or 3 groups going off for social ries. We wait for everyone at th tops of hills, help with fixing puncturesetc etc etc.

If people like biodino, Jen J want to come along, just turn up on a Sun morning.

Last Sun we had a lady came on her own and said she was so nervous that she hardly slept the night before, by the time we were coming back from Box Hill she was flying past me with a big grin on her face and seemed to be really keen to come again..

Feel free to give it a try..

Chris

p.s. you don't need to join immediately, just enjoy.

il_principe

I've always been put off by the idea of a club. I have 2 friends and now my brother to ride with so I see no need for a club. The 2 mates are ironman level triathletes so keep me on my toes as much as a club would. Also I have no intention of racing and I’ve always suspected that a club would push me down this route or judge me for not racing. Mainly though cycling is something deeply personal for me, and I've always worried that a club might somehow tarnish my enjoyment of cycling by somehow changing the way it fits in to my lifestyle (hate that word), perhaps by "officialising" it.

On the other hand I'm quite drawn by the idea of a London SCR club. No bureaucracy, no registration, no racing or TT'ing or audaxing. Just a bunch of people that enjoy cycling getting together for the odd, inclusive ride around RP or out into Surrey. A sort of physical extension of the forum where the more experienced can offer advice, bike fettling etc - without the intimidating mien that seems to exude from so many clubs.

squired

The main thing that always put me off getting involved with cycling clubs was the timing of the rides. I get up early all week for work, so weekends are my one chance to stay up late and then sleep in until whatever time my body wants me to wake up. Afternoon rides that are a couple of hours would be perfect for me, so that is what I end up doing, by myself.

Cycle clubs have their regular club runs, but I think more relaxed "fun" rides around local lanes/roads would probably be popular. Not too far or too long (time-wise) but enough for those who like riding but aren't competitive.

linsen

I feel I'd be too slow but I'd like to give it a go.
I also struggle to find time for regular commitments

SBezza

squired wrote:

Cycle clubs have their regular club runs, but I think more relaxed "fun" rides around local lanes/roads would probably be popular. Not too far or too long (time-wise) but enough for those who like riding but aren't competitive.

Alot of cycle club club runs are more fun rides, it is only racing clubs that tend to turn into mini races etc.

Our club has club runs from an average of 8 to 10mph, all the way to 18+mph, obviously the club racers tend to go in the faster groups, were as the more social riders go with the slower groups, but they are all fun rides around the local lanes, I am never more than 30 minutes from my house. There is a run for every type of rider.

I like the fact that on a Saturday morning, I can forget about work, family etc, and go out with like minded people for a great social ride. I can make it as hard oe as easy as I like within the ride, and it is great to have a good cafe stop midway for early lunch.

I know pure racing clubs are different with the attitude, but there are probably plenty of cycling clubs out there that offer exactly what you want.

lost_in_thought

jashburnham wrote:

On the other hand I'm quite drawn by the idea of a London SCR club. No bureaucracy, no registration, no racing or TT'ing or audaxing. Just a bunch of people that enjoy cycling getting together for the odd, inclusive ride around RP or out into Surrey. A sort of physical extension of the forum where the more experienced can offer advice, bike fettling etc - without the intimidating mien that seems to exude from so many clubs.

See, I'm even worried about being too slow for an SCR cycling club! Ahhhh paranoia...

But I like the idea.

boybiker

I think the best way to avoid problems with members coming for a week and then disappearing is to make sure club rides and other activities cater for all abilities.For example our club ride on a Sunday ranges from a slow group which will ride maybe 40 miles at an average of 14-15 miles an hour and will never drop anyone to a fast group , usually people in training,which will ride maybe 70-75 miles at an average of 20-21 miles an hour and will drop people.
As long as members know what to expect they cannot complain if they go out with the fast group and get dropped in the middle of nowhere.

itboffin

+1

If successful we could even extend to the odd team sportive event.

don_don

See, I'm even worried about being too slow for an SCR cycling club! Ahhhh paranoia...

Isn't that a common thread with a lot of folks, who would like to have a go but feel they won't be able to keep up? Maybe we should just go along as SBezza says and see what happens. Chances are none of us are as slow as we might think.

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