mdohertyjr

I will be brief with this, I just want opinions of those who are in bike clubs.

I signed up with a bike club two weeks ago at one of the rides they were sponsoring, and have not heard anything from them.

Is it above resonable expectations to get a welcome letter/email anything from clubs?

This would be my first club, so I honestly don't know the expectation.

Please share your experiences after you signed up for a club.

Thanks

Machka 

From my experience ... some clubs will send you a welcome package of some sort ... some don't.

Did they give you their website so you can look up the up-coming rides?

mdohertyjr

They did not, but I have been to thier site, and know they do have a calendar posted.

Machka 

Did they give you a membership number?

If so, then pick a ride and go.

If you don't have a membership number (usually on a card) you might want to email or ring someone up to find out when you'll get that.

alcjphil

Cycling clubs are volunteer run organizations, you get out of them what you put in. If you joined expecting them to take you by the hand for the whole season, you will be disappointed. Get out, get involved, meet the people, do the rides and you will have a great time. If you sit at home and wait for them to come looking for you, you will have wasted the membership fee

tsl

That pretty much says it.

My club is over 40 years old and has over 500 members. In-season, we have multiple rides every single day. Most everyone is too busy riding to much of anything else. We get a monthly email newsletter--maybe, if it rains a lot. Off-season is when we plan all the rides for the coming year, and go over statistics for the last one. There are dinners, lots of email traffic, and the newsletter is more regular.

Our new members get their membership card, good for discounts at the LBSs in town, and a CD containing the ride schedule and mapset. If you think your club should do the same, volunteer as the Membership Chair and put together your own welcome kit to send out. None of this happened in our club until someone volunteered to do it.

cc_rider

I'm involved in two clubs. I check the websites for interesting rides, and join in if I want to.
When I do show up, I get nudged to volunteer to lead a ride.

mdohertyjr

I don't know how you got that impression by my post. As I said, "This would be my first club, so I honestly don't know the expectation."

Thanks for everyone that has replied.

Keith99

As others have said the clubs are volunteer organizations.

Based on the SFVBC and the Los Angeles Wheelmen I would expect somekind of welcome package, just something explaining club rules, events and the like.

I'd also however not be surprised if it took a month or more to arrive, or a couple of days. All depending on how the schedule of the one lone volunteer who handles it.

colombo357

You might have better communication with other members if you join a more serious cycling club, or maybe even a cycling gang.

I'm thinking about starting my own cycling club called Charlie's Angels. I'm gonna be Bosley.

mdohertyjr

Damn, thats a hot idea.

Maybe I will start the A-Team.

I will be Col. John "Hannibal" Smith.

NoblePils

Better get used to snotty responses on these forums, some of the folks are mentsh, but you gotta put up with the all too frequent shvantz who "speaks before they think".

JMallez

i lead the bike club at my work and usually we would either email new recruits within one month or just include them in the monthly newsletter.

my advice, see how it goes for a month or two and if you think they could do a better job with new recruits volunteer to help out, you could do the new recruit communications or something. usually my motto is if something isn't getting done, i don't like the way something is being done, or if i can do it better i will volunteer to do it. you could actually get to know people a lot better and appreciate the club more by taking ownership of an aspect of the club.

rdtompki

When I've joined clubs (My wife and I belong to 3). I've typically e-mailed the Ride Coordinator with questions about ride paces, etc. I've always gotten a friendly response and a welcome to the club. Pick a ride from the club calendar or posted newsletter, show up and introduce yourself. Enjoy.

Kimmitt 

Yeah, it varies -- the big thing to understand is that clubs do tend to be run by volunteers, so they have the usual strengths and weaknesses of that model.

JanMM

On the club rides that I frequent, all are welcome. The sign-in sheet asks whether or not you are a member but no one is turned away. Membership fees help fund the SAG snacks. There is a forum on the club website and also contact info. Plus, lots of info about the club and events.

10 Wheels

How long are your club rides?

JanMM

usually the optional distances range from 25 to 60+. I've seen as low as 15 and as far as 100+.

www.cibaride.org

cyclezealot

After a ride, bring a six pack of a decent beer . If they are just regular people , you'll make friends for life. It is wise to check out the nature of the club you might join, and be sure your goals match theirs..

njkayaker

If you are paying dues, you should expect some sort of acknowledgment. A club that does not do this is a badly run.

It might be reasonable to allow for more time than two weeks. It's possible that the club batches sending stuff out and it can take a few days for stuff to get through the mail. (Recently, I got a mailed response 3 days after I mailed the application but I think that is unusual!)

Anyway, if you haven't got your response and there are rides you want to go on, send somebody an email. It's unlikely that they would not work something out.