Did you join the closest cycling club to you?

Gav888

Hi,

Im interested in joining a cycling club and there are 2 im thinking of, one is approx 10 miles from my home, the other is approx 20 miles.

At present its 70 / 30 in favour of the one that is 20 odd miles away, and I was considering driving there with the bike in the boot and then going on the club run because im still new to this sport and riding 40 odd miles there and back, plus 50 odd miles on the club run would kill me.....

Does anyone travel far to a club run or do people generally join the closest club to them?

dave milne

I am spoilt for choice in south london and joined one 8 miles away when there are a few closer. I knew some of the people there already and the 16 extra miles is a good thing

disgruntledgoat

My club is about 20 miles away, the nearer one was pretty much exclusively a TT club at the time. I tend to ride out to the club runs and then pull off on the way back as they pass my town (or in that general direction).

BeaconRuth

FWIW my club is based about 25 miles away from where I live. (When I changed jobs and moved house I stayed in the same club.) There have been times when I've regularly ridden across to join the club run, but I don't do it in mid winter because it would mean setting off in the dark. The extra mileage isn't really an issue once you're used to it if you have the time and the desire to do it. I don't do it these days except in the autumn because the clubrun is not ideal for my training.

The worst thing about being a long way from the club is that it means all other club activities are a long way away too. I can't really justify lots of round trips of 60 miles in the car for weekly club nights, social occasions, committee meetings, club events etc etc. All in all I don't see many of my clubmates very often, which is a big shame. I wouldn't choose a club that was such a long way away if I was going to join a new one.

Ruth

Pokerface

I originally joined the closest club but didn't suit the type of riding they do (mostly hills). I still do their TTs though.

When looking for a new club (after moving to a new town) - I shopped around a bit. Went for rides with a few before settling on one - and it wasn't the closest one. Went with the club that I felt would suit me best, even if I have to travel further to ride with them.

Rouge Penguin

i'm still freshmeat on here, so go easy. Is there a list of local clubs, or clubs posters are involved available on here somewhere?

vorsprung

Rouge Penguin wrote:

i'm still freshmeat on here, so go easy. Is there a list of local clubs, or clubs posters are involved available on here somewhere?

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... finder.asp

DomPro

I joined my closest one 10 miles away. Also happens to be the best CC in the world imo.

markos1963

I drive nearly 20 miles for my club runs but its worth it, the clubs much bigger than my local one and has better/longer club rides so it got my vote. One downside came up this sunday we went on a ride to a seaside resort only 4 miles from my house alonf roads that I train on through the week and to cap it off we came home on a road that passed only 1/4 mile from my front door! In answer to your post Gavin go for the club that suits your riding needs best, if that means 20 miles of driving it will be worthit in the long run.

Homer J

Join the one with the fittest birds, you can't beat eye candy on a club run

matterai

I joined the one nearest to where I live (about 2 miles away) for convenience and because my father and grandfather used to belong to it.

Have only just joined so I will see how I get on there.

jgsi

Homer J wrote:

Join the one with the fittest birds, you can't beat eye candy on a club run

too right... but I would never never never drive to a club run... that is bad form