Road club run's being unfriendly...

bulluke23

I have always held back from going to club rides as I am not sure I am good enough but have decided to give it a try. From looking online I have found a couple of clubs that do ride's nearby in Leicester. The only problem is that a few forums have mentioned that both clubs are not that friendly unless you are a die hard cyclist wanting to eventually race.

It this true with most clubs.

desweller

No. Our local club is very friendly, with several different levels of riders. The best thing you can do is give them a try on the Sunday run just to see what they're like.

T-Rekster

Had a look at my local club, seems as if your either in to racing or if you must insist on club leisure runs theses are restricted to the winter months October to April....... :shock:

Who the F... wants to take leisurely afternoon country rides in bloody november/ december/ january........

so for the time being, I'm sticking to just doing my own thing

.

fludey

Let me know how you get on and which one you join, im pretty much in the same boat as you and im a yocal!

Scrumple

MTFU and go try one.

It will not be easy, as my 1st club run was 55 miles and I was dropped after the cafe with 15 to go. No one will be unfriendly, but they wont want to be held up at crawling pace or if you pop after 30 or so.

That said, they should stick with you, make sure you are ok, and if you do pop they ought to make sure you can get back ok.

The next one gets easier, then suddenly you are keeping up.

There is no easy way to get good enough. And, they are bound to be a little "unfriendly" the first time you venture out, as no one will be quite sure if you are new, if you know someone, or where you came from.

Stick with it, and you will be one of the gang in no time.

lucan

I'd say it depends on the club. There are probably two extremes and everything in between. In my club there are probably half a dozen members who race and a few more who time trial, out of 70+ members.

There is a choice of 4 groups to ride with on a Sunday, including the slowest of the four which prides itself on never leaving anyone behind. Anyone who finds that group too slow can move up to the next group anytime they like, including mid-ride if paths cross.

Equally, if a new member wants to come along and try the fastest group that's not a problem either, although those who go with the fast group and get dropped are usually on their own from that point, although all the groups will stop for a mechanical problem.

I would advise anyone thinking of trying a club ride to give it a go. If you don't like it, move on to another club until you find one that suits you. There is plenty of choice in most areas.

Davros2nd

Hi,

The Leicester Forest club is fantastic - they do a ride every Saturday from Desford cross roads. I was a member of a club near Leicester last year (which was not very friendly), but decided it was not for me and joined the Leicester Forest this year. The club has all types of riders and the club runs on Saturday are great.

PM me if you want anymore details.

vorsprung

Look, a club is just the people in it

If they like racing and that's what they are into then that's what they will be aiming to do

So if you go on their club run they will ride it like a race. If you are looking for a gentle pootle to a cafe then you are out of luck

OTOH some cycling groups are not interested in racing at all

My local CTC group does a ride every wednesday when we visit a local pub, different one every week. In the summer some people ride the local time trial and then join us at the pub afterwards

markos1963

By 'friendly' what do you mean? Are you looking for a social event with the club members entertaining you with tales of hilarious daring do?
As with most things you get back what you put in. I go out of my way to chat to new riders in my club and make them feel welcome but sometimes it's a hard job.
A lot of experienced club members enjoy riding in a group but not necessarily keen to spend 50 miles talking all the time, faster groups especially tend to quieten down as they ride at speeds over 20mph just inches from each others wheels.
Most decent clubs will run a beginners/slow group which should have a policy of waiting for slower riders.
My club (VC Norwich) will be running some 'try us out' days this year. Riders who want to try club rides can come out in various groups with distances ranging from 20-50miles

carl_p

Seems you have a very good recommendation for a club in your area. That's great get out there and enjoy.

I'm with Scrumple on a lot of this, and this comes from someone who has only been club riding for less than a year. Make some enquiries about what average speeds and distances their "club run" covers so you know what to expect.

Any good club who wants to attract new members will look after newbies and most will allow you a few rides before you have to formally join. So if you don't like it, don't join and move on.

Finally, don't be afraid to shout "off the back" or "ease up" if you start to get dropped - it's very easy when riding in a group to forget what is going on behind and most will agree it's better to slow for a minute to let you catch up rather than having to stop and then turn go back to look for you!. Good luck in your search.

LeicesterLad

Do me a favour and let me know how you get on!

Obviously im local but never went down the club route for various reasons, being that i seem younger than most club riders around here which adds to the difficulty of fitting in, but mainly because i ride an old Raleigh Record Sprint at present and i would die of shame, adding to that i do not drive, so id have to ride from wigston all the way out to desford cross roads, by which time im half nakard just in time for the start of the club run. None of my mates are into cycling, so on the negative side its been quite a lonely hobby, but like someone said i should probably just MTFU but ive never been good at joining news things or getting off my arse and trying new things, so ill just keep plodding on my tod for the time being. :oops:

markos1963

LeicesterLad wrote:

Do me a favour and let me know how you get on!

Obviously im local but never went down the club route for various reasons, being that i seem younger than most club riders around here which adds to the difficulty of fitting in, but mainly because i ride an old Raleigh Record Sprint at present and i would die of shame, adding to that i do not drive, so id have to ride from wigston all the way out to desford cross roads, by which time im half nakard just in time for the start of the club run. None of my mates are into cycling, so on the negative side its been quite a lonely hobby, but like someone said i should probably just MTFU but ive never been good at joining news things or getting off my ars* and trying new things, so ill just keep plodding on my tod for the time being. :oops:

Nothing wrong with a Record Sprint, I had one as my first bike only 3 years ago. Nobody in my club said anything detrimental about it at all and most wanted to know more. I 'commute' 18 miles by bike in for my club run, making my summer sunday runs around 90miles(more than a lot of sportives and a hell of a lot cheaper)

ductions

I rode with a Leicestershire road club on a few Sunday club runs while I was deciding whether to join them or not. I did enjoy the rides, the guy who ran the Sunday runs really knew his routes, but I didn't feel very welcome at all.

After I get back from my holiday I think I'm gonna join Leicester Forest CC. I really would like to get into racing.

rc856

I was lucky that the local clubs to me had websites that I could read before turning up.
As said above, we have 3 runs, no-one is left etc.
We also have a club forum so you can 'get to know' people before you meet them face to face.

I read a lot about unfriendly clubs but is it just a case of settling in?
Obviously the 10 or 20 others in the run won't be thinking it's unfriendly?

I've chatted all the way round a run and also rode mostly in silence.
Just depends who you find yourself next to.

From reading this thread, are there not 3 potential Leic newbies?
All meet up and go along together!

MountainMonster

Don't forget, if you don't like the other clubs you can always set your own up!

bulluke23

First things first, what is up with the people putting MTFU!!

Anyway rant over!
Every weekend and when I can week days I get out and do 40-60 miles by myself but want a improve. I hope that by joining a club it will improve my fitness and average speed.

Thanks for the suggestions about local clubs. I have heard about the Sunday club being worse and is a shame as that is nearest. Think I will give them both a go and see.

Will let you know LeicesterLad and fludey

Anyone in the Leicester area fancies a ride sometime PM me

Scrumple

bulluke23 wrote:

First things first, what is up with the people putting MTFU!!

It is gentle teasing -

Getting you used to standing up for yourself when you get dropped.

I bothered to answer you, so you should figure I'm not being nasty, just encouraging you to get out and try. Like I said, socialising and riding isn't easy, but stick with it. Some of my group never talk, some do... And like others said you may drop off the back and not be seen as everyone will assume you are with someone else and not take responsibility.

Keep at it.

MountainMonster

If you want a very social ride, with lots of breaks and entertainment, you should pick up mountain biking. We always take breaks and have a laugh.

The road world is much more performance oriented than the mtb side of things.

cougie

I think you just have to try it for yourself. But put yourself in their position - if you are deadly slow - would you be waiting up for slowcoaches every Sunday ride ? And if you do take the winter off - then your first few rides will be slow or short or both.

All the club riders I do ride throughout the year. What would you do on a Sunday if you didn't cycle ? :shock:

As the others have said - keep at it. If you do get dropped to begin with - keep trying and soon enough you'll be flying along with them.

Tonymufc

Scrumple wrote:

MTFU and go try one.

It will not be easy, as my 1st club run was 55 miles and I was dropped after the cafe with 15 to go. No one will be unfriendly, but they wont want to be held up at crawling pace or if you pop after 30 or so.

That said, they should stick with you, make sure you are ok, and if you do pop they ought to make sure you can get back ok.

The next one gets easier, then suddenly you are keeping up.

There is no easy way to get good enough. And, they are bound to be a little "unfriendly" the first time you venture out, as no one will be quite sure if you are new, if you know someone, or where you came from.

Stick with it, and you will be one of the gang in no time.

Spot on.

Dunkeldog

Another Leics loner here. Looked into a few local clubs - haven't joined yet but would like to know how you get on bulluke. Seems there's a few Leics folks on, looks like we could have ourselves a Bikeradar club run one weekend?

fludey

Was just thinking that, enough to start your own club here!

Can I join?

mattshrops

what is it about leicester were none of you socialised as children

leicester loners cc

bulluke23

Not sure about the others mattshrops but I am new to the area so is hard to get your foot in the door.

Dunkeldog and fludey think you could be onto something!! Leicester Loners cc could be up and running soon

rogerthecat

Club runs, now there’s a sore point first and only club run was with a club in Suffolk, (I move around), not been riding very long about 6 months; anyways I e-mailed the guy in charge, spoke to him on the phone all was well, tipped up at the RV, which was a 8 mile ride from my house, as I was expecting to do a 50 - 60 mile ride as part of a group so my normal 40 mile max at that point should have been enough, 30% less effort when riding as a group so I am told.

Anyway the guy I had spoken to was not there, again fine, so I just got chatting with who was, when we stopped at the 50 mile point for cake and tea which the club paid for btw, I asked how far do we have to go now, thinking 10 - 20 miles and home "we are at the half way point" came the reply OMG :shock: was my first reaction followed by trepidation, so after we set off again fair dues to the guys I stopped taking a turn on the front and sat in the middle of the peloton for the rest of the ride home, they were concerned and considerate offering gels et al, we finally got back to the start and one of the guys rode with me home the other 8 miles.

Now then whilst out on the ride, like every group of people you have your a-holes and good eggs, it’s gonna happen;

After I got home I thought I was going to die, my body had just been baptised in fire!

I have heard of people Bonking before I was very lucky for it not to happen to me.

My point is, I like to know where I am going, how long it is and travel under my own steam, if I want to stop and admire the views I can, if I want to sit on a bench and have a banana I can, that said I would never of been able to solo 116 miles after only 6 months in a saddle. Riding with a Club will develop you as a rider.

You MUST go for at least 1 club ride, otherwise you will regret it this I promise you.

Take from this what you will!

Feetsocks

+1 for Leicester Forest CC.

However, being a typical Leicester person, I ride alone mostly

Secteur

Going for my first ride with a club tonight - the newly re-formed Chorley Cycle Club - a bit nervous (in case I'm crap compared to the others) and a bit excited (new routes, benefits of riding in a group etc).

Only pain is that I need to drive to the meet point to get there in time & not be already knackered, but it's only a short run so legs shouldn't be too wobbly to drive home!

RDB66

Secteur wrote:

Going for my first ride with a club tonight - the newly re-formed Chorley Cycle Club - a bit nervous (in case I'm crap compared to the others) and a bit excited (new routes, benefits of riding in a group etc).

Only pain is that I need to drive to the meet point to get there in time & not be already knackered, but it's only a short run so legs shouldn't be too wobbly to drive home!

Good on ya Sec. Let us know how you got on and try to get someone to have a look at your position on the bike.
Some old boy in the club, who's been riding 50 odd years will put you right.

Good luck mate and enjoy it.

Dicky.

Secteur

Went really well - very friendly group, very relaxed - all in all a really good club & would definitely recommend it. Just such a shame it's so far from my house - I had to drive to get there which takes the shine off it a bit. However, as a club goes, it was great.

simon_e

bulluke23 wrote:

I have heard about the Sunday club being worse and is a shame as that is nearest. Think I will give them both a go and see.

It's the only way, you might be pleasantly surprised. I think people can sometimes find what they were looking for. It's like pubs, bands, teams - one man's meat is another man's poison.

I wouldn't necessarily believe those Internet Forum People™ anyway, otherwise I'd now be convinced that every piece of clothing, bike component and allen key that I possess is cheap junk and beneath contempt

CyclingBantam

Simon E wrote:

bulluke23 wrote:

I have heard about the Sunday club being worse and is a shame as that is nearest. Think I will give them both a go and see.

It's the only way, you might be pleasantly surprised. I think people can sometimes find what they were looking for. It's like pubs, bands, teams - one man's meat is another man's poison.

I wouldn't necessarily believe those Internet Forum People™ anyway, otherwise I'd now be convinced that every piece of clothing, bike component and allen key that I possess is cheap junk and beneath contempt

Oh no. I've been caught out like that before...

snigger


...ahem.