Derby Mercury and Mercia Cycling Clubs

LeighM

I'm looking for a local cycling club for group rides and maybe TTs and both Derby Mercury and Mercia look like likely options.

Has anyone got any comments or opinions regarding either of them or experiences to share?

e999sam

I'm a member of DMRC. It's a well established club with plenty of members. They do club runs every Saturday and Sunday. They have a TT league on a Tuesday night during the season and there is a chain gang that runs Tuesday and Thursday. They have done several trips away while I've been a member but as yet I've not partisipated.
Don't know much about Mercia but again they are a well established club. Another option in the area is South Pennine RC.

DeVlaeminck

I am also Derby Mercury. Both are quite active clubs locally. Partly it'll come down to where you live, partly what kind of riding you want to do (racing, audax, MTB, road fitness?) and partly which kit you prefer. You can join in on any of our rides without being a club member so no need to join up just yet come along and give us a try and do the same with Mercia and see which you prefer. Feel free to pm me for more details on what there is going on as there are lots of rides some of which aren't tied to any particular club but if you are new to the area or to road cycling it can take a bit of time before you find out what is on.

supermurph09

Leigh, whereabouts are you based?

LeighM

I'm a member of Derby Triathlon Club, but whilst their swim and run training is excellent, people seem to do their own thing when it comes to the bike, no doubt many of them are members of either club. I want to improve my bike speed so want a group that will push me, but not so much that I'm dying after 2km and dropped after 3. I average 28-30kph on my training rides.

I imagine both clubs are very similar in what they offer, I expect they've both got their own idiosyncrasies and political nuances too.

Supermurph09 wrote:

Leigh, whereabouts are you based?

I'm in Hilton, so both clubs are close by.

DeVlaeminck wrote:

... and partly which kit you prefer

I think I like the Mercia kit more, but then Black is more flattering

DeVlaeminck

If you are primarily a triathlete in a club there is no need for you to join either - you could pick local training rides at times, locations and speeds that suit you - although you may wish to join a club eventually I'd start off trying the local rides and seeing what suits you.

nochekmate

I'm also a member of Derby Tri and a former member of Mercia CC (haven't paid this year's subs I'm afraid :oops: ) but still ride out with them regularly on Sunday mornings.

Really I would say it depends on where you are based as to whether DMRC or Mercia CC would be most suitable and given that you are in Hilton then I would have thought that Mercia's base is much closer for you. I am based in Repton and therefore Mercia CC is more convenient for me. Generally a decent number of riders at the weekend (meet Sunday 9.15am from Burton Town Hall), three different groups. Last week, having had a recent fall, I went with the middle group - 50+ miles at 18.5mph & the quicker group can expect to ride at 20mph+ and don't expect them to wait for you if you choose to go with them and get dropped - middle group often re-groups and a cafe stop offers a break.

South Pennine do a ride from Willington double roundabout on a Wednesday at 9.30am and also on Saturday at 9.15am - both usually quite sharp rides though. 30-40 miles @ 22mph.

Never really been out with DM and the South Pennine rides are usually a mix of the three clubs. I feel that Mercia is a more active club than South Pennine in terms of numbers on the group rides/racing etc.

There's also a much smaller group that goes out from Repton itself on Sundays - leaves Repton Cross at 9am and also has a Thursday ride during the summer months - leave Repton Cross at 7pm I think (may not continue throughout the winter - not sure).

Obviously tri and TT season are about finished - presumably you are aware of Derby Tri's TT series on Tuesday evenings from Repton during the summer?

Finally, Mercia's kit does look a lot better than DM's!

woolwich

I raced Mercia's Open 25 this year. Really friendly and well organised bunch. Recommended event.

Where are you based? I would have thought club runs would be very different. Mercia more Trent Valley whereas a good sunday run from Derby could put you in the Peaks.

nochekmate

Mercia do indeed generally cycle around the Trent Valley region but occasionally a Sunday run goes to the Peak District around the Ashbourne area, Brassington, Longcliffe etc.

LeighM

Thanks for the info guys. I think go along to a couple of the group rides and see which I prefer - the one stops at the best cafe