Joe360

So I am relatively new to the forums and road riding in general. I've been on a bike in one way or another for most of my life, as a kid, bmx, and road now. I mostly ride solo and sometimes my wife tags along. I see people riding in big packs and I guess that they are on a club ride, right? What are the advantages of riding with a club. Are they open to whomever? I would like to find out more about these entities, as they seem fun. I am however a bit concerned as my bike is not all that great, and I am at a semi beginner level. I can easily go 50 miles but have not tried anything over that. I am currently riding a Masi Nuova Strada. I don't want to get segregated like the author of a post I just read on here. Any opinion would be welcomed.

StanSeven

Do a Google search of bicycle clubs in your area. Most clubs are opne to anyone and the membership fee is low. The main advantage is you have others to ride with and the rides vary by speed, location, and distance. Larger clubs have websites that explain the ride categories and average speed. If you ride solo, clubs are a good way to get faster and stronger riding in a group.

John_V 

It really depends on the bike club. Some bike clubs are all about speed and pace-lines and some are about riding and having fun. I ride with a bike club on two Saturday's of each month that falls in the last category. The club welcomes all riders and all types of bikes and does a casual ride between 14 and 20 miles at an average speed of 10-12 mph. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me its a break in my routine of riding solo and hard all the time. Most of the riders are around my age so we have certain things in common and that really helps on the ride. The advantage with this group is a relaxing, friendly ride where the ride is more for socialization than anything else.

If this club is about speed and you are interested in riding with them, I would approach one of them and ask about the ride. Make sure that you let them know about your skills as a rider as many of these groups do not want the responsibility of having an inexperienced rider with them that may drop and get lost or worst yet, get injured. All club/group rides have their own specific rules and standards so you may want to ask about them to see if you "qualify" (for lack of a better word). Club/group rides are a lot of fun, regardless of which type of group you ride with. The advantage with this group is that your speeds get faster because of the competitiveness of the group, but not much socialization unless its before or after the ride.

jayp410

I ride solo around 70%, club 30%. I feel safer riding on busier streets in a club, as multiple riders are much more visible. There are plenty of roads I would *never* ride on by myself, that I would with a club. Also there are witnesses so you're less likely to be messed with by drivers. Other people in a club may stop and help if you have a mechanical issue, etc.. (I said "may" because some do and others don't...it's best to be self sufficient). Also if you're on unfamiliar roads it helps to have other people there...usually some have ridden the route before and so you're less likely to get lost (although once in a while all of us in a group have taken a wrong turn). The other thing is if someone else has already planned out the routes, it gives you exposure to more places without having to plan out the route yourself.

I don't really get a whole lot of socialization on the club rides I do - but maybe that's just the large club size, or the fact that I don't ride with the club all the time, or maybe because I tend to show up 15 minutes before the ride leaves. However I've never witnessed any kind of snobbery about bike cost (as mentioned in another thread) but obviously if you have a nice (or unusual) bike people will be more likely to be ask questions about it. Also I wouldn't be surprised if there is an unconscious kind of thing where if you "fit in" (clothes, nicer bike, etc) people think you take the hobby seriously and they're more likely to see you around at future rides so it might be worth their time to get to know you.

zatopek

I've learned an enormous amount about training and racing from riding with my club's members. Having a group to hammer with encourages me to ride harder and longer than I might on my own. And, I've learned about an almost endless number of interesting and challenging routes.

CoyoteEatsGirl

Men's Cat 1-4, Women's Cat 1-3 don't pay extra fees in races if they're attached to a club. Also, you typically get a slick-looking kit.

Minor benefits also include club deals on all sorts of gear and services from sponsors, meeting really awesomely cool people you may make long term friends and riding partners out of, learning racing skills and strategies, finding extra motivation to get up and ride on the weekends and just generally having a good time. But never mind that kind of stuff.

datlas 

I love riding with my club. There is a wide range of riders, from total newbies who go out for a 10 mile ride and the leader teaches them to ride safely in a group, to long and hard hammerfest/sufferfest rides and everything in between.

Clubs, like people, come in all varieties but I would encourage you to seek out one in your area and see if you can ride along. Most clubs will let you ride with them even if you are not a member. Just be respectful and introduce yourself to the ride leader.

bbattle

The cycling club here is well over a hundred years old. They accept anybody and let anybody join their group rides; member or not. There is a racing group and a recreational group so I've never accidentally shown up at the 25+mph training ride or anything. They have a "Ride a Metric" or RAM series where they start off on short rides but by the end of the summer they are doing metric century rides. Very good for beginners as the pace is conversational and people learn to ride in groups.

I've met a lot of really nice people on club rides and subscribe to their e-mail list so I know what the weekly rides are.

berner

I think there are many benefits to club membership, depending on the club, ranging from fellowship to racing and training skills and mechanical tips. A very good reason, not usually brought up, is cycling advocacy and promoting the attitude that cycling belongs on our highways to discourage harassment.

hokie cycler

It's also a good opportunity to meet new people. I have found group rides to be much more enjoyable than solo rides, especially when doing rides longer than 20 or 25 miles.

ericm979

Some clubs are racing clubs. Some are "touring" clubs (but may have fast riders). Some racing clubs are invite only. Some club rides are for the club only; others are open to all. Ask at your favorite LBS.

bianchi10

not necassarily a club ride. I have a group of people I ride with all the time. sometimes its just 3 of us, sometimes its 10 of us. Maybe you enjoy riding solo, I personally cant stand it. I like riding with others because of conversation at times and for the main reason of competition. We do lots of hill climbing which I enjoy, but I'm a sprinter. when we are climbing and someone from my group passes me, its like a burst of NOS in my blood stream. it ups my game, keeps me riding harder. If I'm riding solo, I find myself allowing my cadance to slow down if I get tired, but riding in a group, I dont want to be the guy that false short or the last to crest a hill so I push on even when I'm tired.

halfspeed

Ask your LBS about club rides and what to expect. They can likely point you in the right direction.