Originally Posted by
Machka
I wouldn't be riding with that club!! A "definition" like that on a website would turn me right off. So maybe it's a good idea for clubs to post stuff like that ... so that people like me would know right away which clubs to avoid like the plague.
Of course it's a good idea to post ride guidelines. There are many different riding styles and capabilities and it's good for clubs to be transparent about the types of rides they offer.
Regardless, of what's posted it's often not a bad idea to go out on a ride as you're likely to meet at least a few others who have similar interests. Guidelines are very general and don't necessarily cover all riding styles. We have a small group of riders that have met regularly at the same time on Sat morning for many years. There's no formal organization other than start time. Routes are usually decided based on someone's suggestion in the morning and the group usually breaks up depending on how far and fast people want to ride. There's a much higher % of males in the group so the pace is faster than you might expect for a more balanced group. The women that ride are either faster than avg or ride together at a slower pace. The larger the group the more likely you are to find compatible riding partners.