Southern California - I have Bike ADD

No I actually don't have attention deficit disorder(at least as far as I know :twitchy:) but it feels like it at times. I haven't ridden my bike in almost two months. I find that when I ride I push myself for a few days and burn out, and don't ride again for a while.

But in all seriousness I have a question regarding bike clubs. I want to know, what the general consensus about bike clubs are? I am thinking about joining one to keep me motivated, and to meet other people who enjoy riding as well. I feel if I surround myself in an atmosphere in which a prescheduled time is set for weekly rides, I will get back into it.

What are a few good bike clubs around the Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank area, that I can join, that is not too race oriented(because as of now I do not think I want to race)? And do these clubs have different training rides, with a varying amount of miles and intensity for different riding levels? And if you have previous experience with such clubs, are the members personable?

Thank you all in advance.

Clubs are a great way to get into group rides and racing, and to get to know people who can offer advice.

Liquid Cycling (http://www.liquidcycling.com/) my club which is from various locations

PAA (http://www.paacycling.org/) large club local to Pasadena

SC Velo (http://www.scvelo.com/) another local favorite

Thanks, for those links. I have heard and checked out the PAA site before, they seem more race oriented, am I correct on that assumption? Also, do you have any more input on the liquid cycling club? Their site is still under construction and I would like to know a bit about the type of rides they have, the intensity of the rides(tempo and distance), along with overall friendliness of the members?

Thanks U. knight.

PAA is about 200 members, maybe 50 of them race regularly. They offer many different training rides and have people of all abilities.

All three of those are mostly race oriented, but PAA is such a large club that you will find more recreational riders in their midst than you would in some recreational clubs around here. Liquid Cycling is very race oriented, although the owner tries to reach out to all types. I don't know much about SC Velo except that they are also well represented in the race scene.

My favorite recreational club is the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club (www.sfvbc.org). A little bit further than you asked for (most rides start at the CSUN campus), but it's huge and has multiple rides almost every day, ranging from 25 mile social routes to full centuries to places like Ojai and Angeles Forest. I still drive out there or meet up along the way for a few of their rides myself.

PAA member here. We're actually closer to 300 people. And as stated, not everyone races. I was unattached for a couple years before I decided to take the plunge in Jan. I am glad I did. My ride calendar is never empty. Also, keep in mind, a couple of socal's largest non-club-specific rides are held in this area.
"Montrose ride" meets every Sat at Trader Joe's in South Pas at 8:20am
"Rose Bowl ride" every Tue/Thur at 6pm
various Griffith Park rides, sunday morning, which climb La Tuna

Anyone is welcome to join in on these rides. If you're feeling friendly, sit in and say hi to a few folks. You can get a feeling for different area clubs.

Because PAA is so huge, there seems to always be a wide selection of rides avail: Ladies Ride, Recovery Ride, Climb Wilson or GMR ride, Training Ride, TT practice, Track, Long Slow Distance. PAA is a club which has some racing members. With some of the smaller clubs, they might actually be for the single purpose of having a race team. Club Hollywood comes to mind as a smallish club which is not race-agro.

Feel free to PM me

Keep in mind that the Montrose Ride and the Rose Bowl ride are somewhat race oriented themselves.

im always scared to go to club rides because i'm slow

im always scared to go to club rides because i'm slow

Nah...do the SFVBC rides...many levels of riders...
And you aren't that slow....trust me!! I have tried to keep up with you at the RB!!!

Agreed. Just know which group rides to do. Montrose and Rose Bowl (Tue and Thur) are fast, 25+ mph rides, but the SFVBC #1 and #2 rides generally average about 12-14 mph.

im always scared to go to club rides because i'm slow

X2.

Also does anyone know the specifics of the PAA recovery ride? The tempo and distance?