Joining An MTB Club

iluvstaffies

Just been browsing the routes and rides section and came across a post about Sherwood Pines Cycle Club. Had a look on the forums and it sounds good. Have signed up and am just waiting for a confirmation email so that I can ask a few questions on there.

I think I would like to join but I am just a bit worried it may be for more experienced riders. Do clubs usually cater for all levels of riders? I just don't want to turn up and be left in everyone's dust

I also don't have a really good bike either. Am sure it will be adequate but will I get laughed at with it? lol :oops:

thistle_

Most clubs (MTB and road) have fast and slow groups.
Best thing to do is turn up on a slower ride and work out if that's the pace for you or if you want to go out riding with some faster people.

You might get a bit of friendly banter if you've got a rubbish bike, but as long as you can ride it and you're not having to stop for mechanical problems every 5 minutes nobody is going to mind. It's not what you ride, it's how you ride it.

The Rookie

Most clubs are keen to bring in fresh 'blood', you'll get the mickey taken out of your bike choice whatever you ride (we tell the chap on his Spesh Enduro S-works he's overbiked all the time....), but most clubs are a friendly bunch and will do there best to accomodate you as long as they know you are trying!

iluvstaffies

Might have to give it a go then

As soon as I get the confirmation email to join the forum I will be able to find out more.

winter_zombie

hi

im local to sherwood pines and i bike their, im not in a club as i just do it for my own enjoyment. im into xc riding.
if you want to private message me we could always go around sherwood pines blue track.

how old are you and what bike ahev you got ??

Rushmore

Most good clubs will accommodate newbies.. So just go out there and get some!

iluvstaffies

winter zombie wrote:

hi

im local to sherwood pines and i bike their, im not in a club as i just do it for my own enjoyment. im into xc riding.
if you want to private message me we could always go around sherwood pines blue track.

how old are you and what bike ahev you got ??

I''ve got a Carrera Valour. It's ok for me at the moment and I do like it.

cooldad

I'm not a big joiner so avoid clubs, but arrange rides regularly through the Rides bit here, and have met a lot of good people.
And a couple of cnuts.

cooldad

And unless they are real cnuts, you'll find most people don't worry about what you ride, or how good you are.
I'm old, slow and a coward - if I don't want to do something heroic I just watch and laugh when someone falls off.

iluvstaffies

cooldad wrote:

And unless they are real cnuts, you'll find most people don't worry about what you ride, or how good you are.
I'm old, slow and a coward - if I don't want to do something heroic I just watch and laugh when someone falls off.

ha ha yes that sounds just like me! The second sentence that is, I'm not a cnut......

bloghog

I have ridden with a few clubs over the years, most are very friendly and accommodating with a fast and slow group or a kind of elastic band stretch of riders that are fast at the front and slower at the back with the fast riders waiting up after a climb or tough stretch. As long as you have got a basic bike that can stand up to xc and are able to fix a puncture and do basic repairs without relying on the group you should be fine. Group riding is one of the great things about mountain biking and make it a really social sport.