Originally Posted by
kbarch
NYCC offers organization. A few rides are unlimited (like the ride of the course in advance of the NYC Marathon) but almost all rides are limited in size by their leaders - a single leader may accept as many as 12 or as few as six, but more popular rides have multiple leaders and can be bigger. In order to be assured of being allowed to participate, you have to sign up in advance. That's why I joined. You can't participate in the online forum or ride sign-up unless you're a member.
During the week there are mostly training rides and on weekends there are all kinds of cue-sheet rides. Of course A rides are typically faster and C rides typically slower and shorter, but the most significant distinction between them is the degree of paceline skill expected. A rides you're expected to be able to stay in a tight line up and down hills in a smoothly rotating paceline - consistent effort over varying terrain, maintaining a specified pace on flats in calm conditions. Anyone who can keep up is generally welcome on other rides, but if you aren't already proficient at paceline riding, on B rides you're expected to develop such skills, and on C rides you're taught them.
This may in itself yield insight as to why sometimes riders become disinterested in clubs. Riders may well enjoy cycling at higher speeds as they become fitter and fitter and therefore capable of "A" level speeds, and as well enjoy riding with groups of people for the social aspect. However, at the same time there may be no interest whatsoever in learning pacelining skills. These rides become technical exercises, as opposed to the social and recreational endeavors that got people riding in the first place.