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Want to join a club

mask of sanitymask of sanity Posts: 610
edited July 2009 in Road beginners
I would say that's more then fast enough for most clubs! Also you have to remember that you use less energy in a group so you should be able to go faster and maintain a faster speed then you would compared to cycling alone.

I joined one the other day and they tend to average about 16/17 mph over a variety of distances. But I would say that any club that says they would drop you if you're to slow is one which you should stay away from. IMO a club run is meant to be a social thing rather then trying to go as fast as possible so one that says they would drop a newcomer wouldn't inspire me with much confidence tbh.

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  • explosifpeteexplosifpete Posts: 1,327
    Most of the larger clubs will have groups of all levels so you can work your way up to a level that suits you.
    As for your speed its not to bad at all, plus you will find that riding in a group will allow you to ride quite alot faster that you do in a group.
    As for the guys telling you that you would get dropped, why now try a ride with them, stay at the back and don't worry if your dropped or not.
    http://www.iwaxstudio.co.uk/
  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    A 'club run' should be more of a social thing. It is in our club anyhoo...
  • on the roadon the road Posts: 5,631
    djbarren wrote:
    I have on a number of occasions talked to a number of clubs and they have all said that they would drop me like a stone if I were to go out with them, thay said 17 mph average over 60 miles is too slow????
    You were obviously talking to the wrong clubs. Maybe they were out and out racing clubs, I know there are some clubs who are out and out racing clubs so only do very fast chaingangs. Most clubs have social rides as well as chaingangs, the social rides are meant to go at the pace off the slowest rider, in theory anyway.
  • rogerthecatrogerthecat Posts: 669
    djbarren, Sorry to jump on your thread, buts it's of the same ilk. Can anyone recommend a Club in the Ipswich area, I know of Sudbury and Stowmarket. Any feedback would be appreciated on these or any other clubs.

    Thanks :)
  • NWLondonerNWLondoner Posts: 2,047
    Well, avoid those clubs then.

    Finding the right club can be a pain but just keep looking and trying. Like the other have said many have different levels and most should have a social/easy pace rides for newbies.

    I have finally found a group of great guys on this actual forum and we go under the name of the RPCC. It all depends on your local terrain but sometimes the group will speed off in front (especially up hills) to get in a hard workout but will always wait at the top to re group.


    So keep looking and good luck.
  • fto-sifto-si Posts: 402
    rogerthecat wrote:
    djbarren, Sorry to jump on your thread, buts it's of the same ilk. Can anyone recommend a Club in the Ipswich area, I know of Sudbury and Stowmarket. Any feedback would be appreciated on these or any other clubs.

    Thanks :)

    I have sent you a PM re this
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  • jamlalajamlala Posts: 284
    Who can suggest a good a friendly club nr Brentwood in Essex? Again, sorry for the shameless hijacking of thread!!
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  • on the roadon the road Posts: 5,631
    Here's a list of clubs:

    http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... finder.asp
  • chaffordredchaffordred Posts: 131
    JamLala wrote:
    Who can suggest a good a friendly club nr Brentwood in Essex? Again, sorry for the shameless hijacking of thread!!

    Essex Roads Club runs go from Billericay every Sunday Morning at 9.00am.

    They have a variety of different levels. The intermediate group average about 18mph over 40+ miles and the training group do about 20+mph average over roughly 50 miles and it does get race like at times.

    They also have an early bird ride at 7.00am and TT'ing on Wednesday evenings.
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/1144043
    http://www.trainerroad.com/career/chaffordred
  • fto-sifto-si Posts: 402
    Anyone know what club had stopped by the river in Stratford St.Mary this morning?
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  • yogiyogi Posts: 456
    A 'club run' should be more of a social thing. It is in our club anyhoo...
    that is exactly what i am after, a bit of banter, advice and a run out with the lads kinda thing.

    Sounds like us, though I would add that we have a lot of women cycling with us too... which is nice. We've got some REAL characters too.

    Has anyone else noticed the huge surge of interest in cycling. And road cycling seems particularly sexy at present - or is it just a dream? (No smutty jokes please!).
    http://yogi.terapad.com
  • markos1963markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    yogi wrote:
    A 'club run' should be more of a social thing. It is in our club anyhoo...
    that is exactly what i am after, a bit of banter, advice and a run out with the lads kinda thing.

    Sounds like us, though I would add that we have a lot of women cycling with us too... which is nice. We've got some REAL characters too.

    Has anyone else noticed the huge surge of interest in cycling. And road cycling seems particularly sexy at present - or is it just a dream? (No smutty jokes please!).

    Definatly a big surge this year in newbies at the club, I even had a guy pull up to me the other day and enquire about my club because he had spotted my club jersey, I thought he was going to have a go about me holding him up in the road!
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/243 ... 8d.jpg?v=0
    http://img362.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... 076tl5.jpg
    http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3407 ... e001af.jpg
  • pedalrogpedalrog Posts: 633
    edited July 2009
    If any club says they will drop you after riding at around 17mph they don't deserve new members. My club has a variety of rides catering for very new people with an off-road ride to faster road rides for experienced riders only, with many other rides in between. We are recruiting at a tremendous rate.
    Your average of 17mph is pretty good considering you have no experience of riding with others. You certainly would have no problem with us and it sounds as though your potential for improvement is good, when you find a suitable club, your ability should soar.
    Look carefully, examine the websites and claims, read between the lines and don't pick a racing only club, look for one with varied cycling options, you won't regret it!
  • kellkell Posts: 32
    Sounds like us, though I would add that we have a lot of women cycling with us too... which is nice. We've got some REAL characters ...


    What are you trying to say about women cyclists?
  • suristasurista Posts: 141
    If you're just starting out, my rather limited experience would recommend to definitely avoid racing clubs. There was a club very close to me that would have been perfect to join, but they have been particularly unfriendly, bordering on out-right rudeness. Only reason I'm not outing them on this board is that they made it very clear that they were a racing club and were not interested in beginners.

    If anyone can recommend a social club in North London with a good vibe and that that likes to ride relatively hard on occasion, let me know.
    "It doesn't get any easier, you just get faster"
    http://blue-eyed-samurai.com/cycling/
  • yogiyogi Posts: 456
    Quote:
    Sounds like us, though I would add that we have a lot of women cycling with us too... which is nice. We've got some REAL characters ...

    What are you trying to say about women cyclists?
    When I say REAL characters, I'm talking about in the club generally (male & female) - not just women. A lot of the local clubs to us don't seem to have too many women cycling with them but I feel that our friendly welcoming atmosphere encourages people to join us. We don't take ourselves too seriously either!
    http://yogi.terapad.com
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