Looking to start riding longer distances
 

I've been riding a road bike for about a year now, gradually increasing the length of my rides. The problem is, I don't have time to keep planning long rides. Right now, I do about 40 km rides, and I'm hoping to do a 100 km one by the end of the year. I don't know much about club cycling, would joining a club be a good way to do longer rides without having to plan all my routes?

Definitely...

Check with your local clubs and see what they do.

Here in the Dallas, Texas, there are a lot of charity rides where you go pay your $30 and ride a 100k ride with rest stops furnished by the organizers. That's a great way to get into riding longer distances like that. But those rides tend to be more common in larger urban areas here, and simply may not be done in your part of the world. There are also bike clubs around, but not so active right close to me, I think I'd have to drive quite a ways to get in on 100k club rides.

Why do you need to plan them? Just get on your bike and ride. When you're ready, turn around and head home. It's pretty easy. :)

Depending on where you live, there might be some books, maps, etc. on local riding. I would ask at a bike shop in your area. Also, these days with GPS phones it's easier to explore places you may not be that familiar with.

Where I live, San Francisco, some bicycle shops also have weekly or monthly rides that are open to the public.

I never have been over there, but I recall some past posts discussing how when you got off the main roads, the contry roads could just be a regular maze. Unlike the roads in places where they've all been built in the last 100 years. Anyway, some planning could be helpful in getting back home.

+1

That's what I do!! :D


Maze or not, just keep cycling and you'll get somewhere. I've cycled in England on several occasions, and I had a general map, but found that a compass was a more effective tool ... you just generally go east for a while and once you've cycled 50 km or so, you start heading west. If you get a bit lost, you just end up cycling further.


OP - join the CTC. They're a great group and they will actually cycle some weekend mid-distance rides in the 70 to 120 km range. I've ridden with them (the midlands group) a couple times and had a lot of fun.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/

Then if you want to head into long distance stuff, join Audax UK.
http://www.audax.uk.net/index2.htm

For sure. Choose the club to suit your needs. Racing or touring.. If they race and you don't , you will lag behind and get discouraged.. Choose one that supports your goals... It took me about 2 months to condition my legs before I'd consider climbing...
Don't think you'll be ready to increase your miles drastically . Take them up gradually...
..A club member took much of the winter off. He had been pretty fit before winter struck.. Busy with a soccer team , his winter sport , so he missed many club rides.. So we went on a metric century last Sunday...
All the riding he's missed.. He cramped four times. One cramp was so painful, looked like he was going to die.. you can loose your fitness in no time, if you start missing out on your bike routine..

I've ridden all over Scotland without a map and I am from the States. I haven't actually ridden in England (proper) but it can't be that much different. Especially for a local.