Joining in a club run.... pros and cons please?

NWLondoner

I keep think about joining a club. Unfortunately the ones in my area have a membership that is of the older generation.

oldwelshman

guilliano wrote:

I've thought about Aylesbury, Amersham, Milton Keynes and have just been informed of Hemel Hempstead. Would be nice to meet up with some fellow riders in a couple of weeks (am away this weekend).

I ride down to Hemel from Dunstable and do clb ride on sat and sun when not racing, so you could join me.
We mostly ride towards your direction so you could swing off when convenient, thats what I do if I don't ride back to Hemel for extra miles.
I also go out your way often, infact went over Wing and up to Aston Hill and berko last night. PM me if you want my number to join me for a ride before going out on the weekends.

sampras38

volvicspar wrote:

I can't really think of any cons of a club run, but I don't like them. I don't like cafe stops and I don't like having to leave my bike outside a cafe. Yes I am paranoid. Prefer to make my own pace. :twisted:

That's been my only issue too, but I can certainly see how a social ride can be enjoyable, if that's what you're after. My own situation is slightly different whereas I don't get a huge amount of free time coz of family commitments and so I try and make the most out of every ride. I'm training for a 190km sportive at the moment and for the most part have been either riding alone, or with 1 or 2 other club riders. At least that way I'm ensured a fast ride. I went on a club ride at the weekend and even though we were in the fast group, they were still pretty slow. And they stopped at a cafe. I appreciate this was a club/social run, so I'm not complaining. I just felt it was a slight waste of a ride for me.

But everyone's requirements are different..;-)

SBezza

Frank the tank wrote:

IMHO Unless you're going to race in one form or another, there is not a lot of point in joining a club. You may aswell just ride with your mates or alone.

Totally disagree with that, joining a club, and going for club rides is a great move. When I first joined my club, I didn't have any intention of racing, and the vast majority of the club do not race. What was good was going for rides with like minded people, and having a great laugh doing it.

If you find a cycling club, that encompasses all facets of cycling you can not go wrong IMO, if you have no interest in racing, avoid a racing cycling club.

NGale

I'm a member of a cycle club made up of a few of the RN guys down in Dartmouth (they cycle independently of the RNRMCC)

No compulsion to enter races or such, the socials are a good laugh, and the little select group are a good bunch who understand that at the moment I can't cycle their distances but usually if I go along they get a route whereby I stop off at a pub at the half way mark. into the bargian they a free first aider which they utalise on a regular basis

Also being the only female I have had the pick of the unmarried/unattached ones

Mark_K

Strange i'm in Aylesbury and also thinking about joining Aylesbury CC ! But i have not long had my road bike and i'm worried about not being up to speed/fitness levels and then making a tool of myself :oops:

guilliano

Aylesbury have a slow run and a fast run, so I'm sure you could find a group to suit. The slow run will often have new riders so I'm sure someone will hang back if you struggle. I'm thinking about going with the Hemel Hempstead slow group on Sunday...... means I don't have to ride to the meeting point as I live in Leighton Buzzard and don't drive. See how fit I feel by Sunday I think.....

From what I know Aylesbury are a pretty welcoming bunch. Jeremy (club secretary) is a good bloke and a few of their riders come into the shop.

alecstilleyedye

i needed to borrow some bottom bracket tools, so i put as much on my club's website forum. within a couple of hours i had 3 offers, one of whom dropped them off to me.

i reckon that alone has saved me the cost of my annual membership.

ta macc wheelers

stevewj

Disadvantages of club runs -
having to go where they want to
getting back home way after you would have because the person taking the run goes the long way to the cafe so adding an hour to expected time
the t%^^*ers in front not called out potholes etc
have to wait for the guy who punctures
turn into a Dalmation in grotty weather cause they can't be bothered with mudguards
advantages of solo riding -
opposite of all of the above plus
its all your effort so you don't get drafting effect
get back home when you want to at a virtually guaranteed time (i.e. out at 9.00 , 50 miles, back by midday - aternoons your own. - brill)
better training for time trials

alecstilleyedye

disadvantages of a club? none.

you can still ride on your own whenever you want, at last in my club you can…

BMCCbry

Yeah, join the club - you'll enjoy it.

And if you don't like the ones that have been mentioned so far....there is Bicester, and we've got a new kit!