Good cycle clubs in south west london / london area?

leejdavies

I thought this the most suitable place to ask such a question.

Basically looking to join a club to improve riding and make it a more regular activity after doing, and enjoying, a few TT's and Sportive's this year with the aim at hopefully some lower category racing. :twisted:

I moved to London for uni purposes and beforehand used to do downhill and 4x. Given that london has no hills I now have a road bike. So preferably would like a club that dabbles in a bit of both. I'm aware of Dulwich Paragon and London Dynamo thanks to their bright blue kit.

What's the best way to go about joining a club?

Any advice welcome.

Thanks,
Lee

jibberjim

leejdavies wrote:

What's the best way to go about joining a club?

Go along on a club ride, talk to the people, see if they're normal.

When you find they're not, see if they're appropriately different to normal that you can get along with them.

pinkbikini

leejdavies wrote:

What's the best way to go about joining a club?

Go along on a club ride, talk to the people, see if they're normal.

They may not be. Or it might just be you!

As above, good advice, just turn up on a few rides with different clubs and see where the natural fit lies.

drewfromrisca

When I lived down that way I was with Kingston Wheelers. Nice bunch.

Now Dynamo...I know I'll upset few people on here but hey ho here goes - I went out with them once, I did a turn on the front, turned around after 500 metres or so and found myself all alone!!! I was in the middle of nowhere with no clue where to go (only lived in London for about 2 months and this was in Surrey somewhere, 1st time ever been there) it took me hours to get home. To be honest I should have realised from the start as they weren't exactly "sociable" when I arrived shall we say! But each to their own and I'm not going to generalise, I'm sure there are a nice Dynamo members.

max888

Twickenham CC; http://www.twickenhamcc.co.uk/.

alan_sherman

Who did you do your TTs through? Obvious start point.

Otherwise try your local club. There is a listing on the British Cycling website I believe. What area do you live in?

leejdavies

alan sherman wrote:

Who did you do your TTs through? Obvious start point.

Otherwise try your local club. There is a listing on the British Cycling website I believe. What area do you live in?

Did some TTs at the Hog Hill circuit, cycling there after work, run by Lea Valley CC. Bit too far away to frequent though.

Just moved in to Wimbledon area but the thing with London is there are probably quite a few local clubs. Looked up clubs on the BC site, just contacted London Pheonix although it seems there are others closer to home.

Anyone aware of a club called CS Grupetto? according to BC website its the closest club.

oscarbudgie

drewfromrisca wrote:

When I lived down that way I was with Kingston Wheelers. Nice bunch.

Now Dynamo...I know I'll upset few people on here but hey ho here goes - I went out with them once, I did a turn on the front, turned around after 500 metres or so and found myself all alone!!! I was in the middle of nowhere with no clue where to go (only lived in London for about 2 months and this was in Surrey somewhere, 1st time ever been there) it took me hours to get home. To be honest I should have realised from the start as they weren't exactly "sociable" when I arrived shall we say! But each to their own and I'm not going to generalise, I'm sure there are a nice Dynamo members.

There probably are (some nice Dynamo members) - but they definitely have a reputation for being a bunch of bell ends.

alan_sherman

Wimbledon hey? I've thought there is a need for a cycle club out of Wimbledon for a while, but I don't know of one.

The big, obvious choices are Dynamo & Kingston Wheelers. Also if you like running then I've seen a few Clapham Chasers about, Pearson cycles out of Sutton and Prologue cycles out of Sheen have clubs / teams. Phoenix are further east, or Addiscome Wheelers down near Croyden (so on the way out to the country).

I've never heard of CS Grupetto, but then there are lots of old clubs that still exist but you don't necessarily see about.

Pick one you can get to easily (especially for beer nights).

mroli

I met a Dynamos rider who said that it is actually the "better" riders at the club that give the rest of the club a bad reputation - that they are the ones hooning round RP and riding aggressively. I dunno - I think if you have a club as big as LD, there are the same proportion of dicks at your club, just more of them.

errorist

@ allan sherman and leejdavies

I'm in Raynes Park. If you guys are up for putting together a small group for some rides I'd be happy to join in!

leejdavies

Kingston could be a good bet… On the way out of London. Although judging by the map search on BC site SW19 is in need of some form of club. I thought there would be some form of club for wimbledon. Oh well.

errorist

Did you see my post above?

pinkbikini

leejdavies, try London Dynamo. I also live in Wimbledon - getting to Richmond Park, where the majority of rides start, is really quick. Try a Saturday am club run round the park - currently start at 08:30. Introduce yourself at the beginning as a visitor and someone should show you the ropes. There are plenty of other rides around Surrey, out to Chertsey, etc that happen on a regular basis, so just ask. Lots of us race to varying degrees of success, there are some really strong TTers in the club if that's your bag.
There is a fairly keen contingent of MTBers in Dynamo who organise rides around the Surrey Hills too, so you should find some outlet for your more dirty tendencies!
Cross also tends to feature at this time of year.

In the interests of balance try Kingston Wheelers too - they're another great club, friendly bunch, lots of rides in the same areas.

Not a plug really, as neither club is exactly struggling for membership, but thought you might find it useful.

sampras38

drewfromrisca wrote:

When I lived down that way I was with Kingston Wheelers. Nice bunch.

Now Dynamo...I know I'll upset few people on here but hey ho here goes - I went out with them once, I did a turn on the front, turned around after 500 metres or so and found myself all alone!!! I was in the middle of nowhere with no clue where to go (only lived in London for about 2 months and this was in Surrey somewhere, 1st time ever been there) it took me hours to get home. To be honest I should have realised from the start as they weren't exactly "sociable" when I arrived shall we say! But each to their own and I'm not going to generalise, I'm sure there are a nice Dynamo members.

I've ridden with both Kingston and London D's, and they are both good clubs. I seem to bump into LD wherever I go..even the Alps, but then they are a big club. Some may be put loff by that but personally I wouldn't let it bother you.

Ridden with Kingston Wheelers a couple of times also, and again, nice people.

leejdavies

Errorist,

Sounds like a good idea. Just moved to wimbledon so only done a few trips to the park but want to establish a few routes down into Surrey. Add a bit of variation. The park save for the deer gets a little boring. I'll PM you about meeting up.

Pinkbikini / sampras38,

Thanks for the advice. Might contact LD and pop along to the park. I was only put off of them because I was unsure of their actual base?!

sampras38

leejdavies wrote:

Errorist,

Sounds like a good idea. Just moved to wimbledon so only done a few trips to the park but want to establish a few routes down into Surrey. Add a bit of variation. The park save for the deer gets a little boring. I'll PM you about meeting up.

Pinkbikini / sampras38,

Thanks for the advice. Might contact LD and pop along to the park. I was only put off of them because I was unsure of their actual base?!

And if you like hill climbing, the LD lot spend a fair amount of time around Box Hill. I often see them on my hill training routes.

leejdavies

Ah yes. I was going to do a recce to there tomorrow. Having lived in SE last year I used to venture out to the ide hill, toys hill area.

Sounds like fun :twisted:

wayne182

CS Grupetto is not quite dead yet Alan :shock:

We've got a few guys riding and getting results at Cat 2, a few guys riding track and racing at the National Masters and can regularly be seen on the classic sportives, Had a nice chat with a couple of wheelers on Paris Roubaix this year.

We're a little bit below the usual club radars as we're primarily a bunch of mates who've ridden together for ages as opposed to some of the more conventional and established clubs in the area

Headhuunter

In SE London/Kent as well as Dulwich Paragon there's:
Woolwich CC
West Kent CC
Gemini BC
Bigfoot
Velo Club Londres
to name a few

porker33

HH, is there a reason to omit GS Avanti from the Se London / Kent list?

I thought you were a member?

Headhuunter

porker33 wrote:

HH, is there a reason to omit GS Avanti from the Se London / Kent list?

I thought you were a member?

Oops. No didn't mean to omit them! They're a good bunch...