Joining a club to become a better cyclist?

KnightOfTheLongTights

Thinking of joining a club in order to a) get more experience of riding in a big group and improve handling, b) improve my base fitness and leg strength with longer rides over the winter, c) generally get fitter and faster, and d) maybe race.

I'd be interested to learn from people their experience of joining a club for these sorts of purposes.

I was keen to join a club that is competitively focused - but at 40 years of age, I think I'd be right in thinking that I’m coming to it a bit too late to get into road racing seriously?

(As a vague indicator of fitness, I can currently ride 33 undulating km in an hour, after a year's riding but only really the last six months properly.)

Which leaves time-trialling, and, er what else? When a club says it is a ‘racing-orientated club’, what sort of events doesn that generally refer to? I'm now thinking that if I'm not going to get fast enough to race in the next two years, I may as well join a club where there isn't a pressure or expectation to race ... Hmmm.

For any south London riders out there, the clubs nearest to me would be Twickenham CC, Kingston Wheelers and Dulwich Paragon – I’d be interested in any observations about the atmos. at these respectively.

Dynamo’s close too, but I’ve not heard much positive about them. And Imperial I have heard is very race-orientated.

Ta.

Slimbods

Joining a club is pretty much essential if you're thinking of doing any competative cycling. Most leagues and time trials require a club membership of some sort.

That requirement aside, a clubs got many other benefits; the social and competitive aspect keeps you interested, group riding is fun, learning to ride in bunches is good for racing safety and there's often benefits around kit discounts and race entry fees.

As for what club, best way is to join the club runs and get to know them that way. Most clubs are happy for non members to tag along, try a few out over a couple of sundays and I think you'll have a good idea which club fits you best.

Age 40's a great time to start competative cycling, in some ways better than 30's. At 30 you're racing against seniors in their 20's, at 40 you're racing against vets 40+, so you're a nipper with an advantage!

Most road races will have a class to suit you, handicap races are a particularly good way of getting into it, and are usually very popular with riders of all abilities.

None of my local clubs are purely race focussed, that sounds more like a team than a club. Most clubs seem to be centred around the club run/social ride from what I've seen.

dawebbo

Care to share why so negative about London Dynamo?

KnightOfTheLongTights

dawebbo wrote:

Care to share why so negative about London Dynamo?

Well I said I had not heard much positive - a couple of people I've spoken to had reservations about the, er, 'attitude' there, that's all ... but tittle-tattle really, so I shouldn't take as fact - and certainly don't mean to offend.

Thanks Slimbods, that's helpful.

dawebbo

From the numerous people I know at various clubs, I don't think there is fundamentally much difference in attitude between any of them.

My advice is to try the club who's rides are easiest for you to get to, then you're more likely to go.

mclarent

You don't "have" to join a club to achieve what you want, but it'll def make it easier and it's a great thing to do IME. I'd recommend you don't rush in to joining any club, they'll take you name and money as readily in March as they will in October. Try riding a few times with each to see who you get on with best.

Tom Butcher

I wouldn't join a club straight away either - try some club runs and some chain gangs - even go down to a few of the winter leagues and look at the results of local lvrc (vets) races. Have a look at the local cyclocross league results and see who is racing them. And of course the most important thing - who has the best kit !

Once you commit it's much harder changing clubs than joining the right one in the first place - when I say harder I mean some people are bound to think what was wrong with us then ?

As for being 40 - agree that is no age. In cycling it's possible to be fast well into your 50s (at least) - maybe not quite as fast as you might have been but but the fall off doesn't have to be as much as you might expect. As well as road racing have a look at cyclocross - not my thing but plenty seem to like it - and the results usually have age categories so you've got something to aim for. There's a guy in our club who is relatively new to cycling finishing top 30 out of about 180 riders in our local league and he's over 50 so you can be competitive.

It does take commitment - cycling isn't an easy sport - but that applies at any age.

Velomanuk

I am a member of Twickenhamcc and have been for a number of years, why don't you pop down and say hello on a Tuesday evening at 7pm, there are turbo sessions from now on right through the winter and still 2 or 3 groups who go out on the road, but why don't you just come down and have a chat , we are good at that too, nice tea and cakes available too, we can give you more of an idea if we are what you are looking for.

Monty Dog

Plenty of people are getting back into racing at 40, so don't worry in that respect. If you have any aspiration to race then you'll struggle to get the quality training riding on your own. Getting into longer rides now helps - people tend to take an easier month or two post-season and kick-up in January. CX racing is good too and will give you a feel for riding on your limit, but at least only lasts 60 mins maximum.

racingcondor

I agree with Monty, your age isn't a problem (unless you're aiming to turn pro!).

I suspect you'd be fine with any of the larger clubs (Dulwich and Kingston definitely, I don't know how big Twickenam is) but if you're interested then you're welcome to join the Dulwich ride on a Saturday morning. We set off from Herne Hill Velodrome in groups of 10-15 starting at around 9am for 30+ miles.

If you're considering those clubs then it sounds like you're based near me (I'm in Clapham).

Or you can do what I did and pick your club by which kit you prefer...

KnightOfTheLongTights

Thanks for all the replies - v encouraging. A very good mate of mine was a strong racing member of Twickenham CC for a number of years, so I've been leaning towards them - plus I have actually been out on a club run with them, and I like the shirts!

KnightOfTheLongTights

(Am In Battersea, by the way - the ride to Twickenham out through Putney and Richmond is a bit of a pain in the arse in the evening rush-hour, but it probably wouldn't be much better over to Dulwich.)

Lazarus

Be careful of those Twickenham clubbies they turn up everywhere ! !

http://www.acme-wheelers.co.uk/photo-gallery/146-2011-dragon-ride