Anyone else similar to me?

[wiggydiggy]

The CTC club near me keeps posting nice looking rides, one of these days I'll decide I'm old and crusty enough to join them.

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Solo cyclist here, also. I always have ridden alone, it wouldn't actually occur to me to ask anyone to join me, but then I don't have any friends, so...

The only time I ever actually rode regularly with anyone was commuting to work by bike way back in the late seventies-eighties, but we were riding to work, what was there to talk about?

All I really do is pootle around. There used to be a couple of older guys around here who did the same, you'd see them now and again, just out and about, going nowhere special, doing nothing in particular. Haven't seen them for years so they must have popped off. I could be the local, old, cycling weirdo these days, but that's ok.

If anyone wants to form an anti-social cycling club I'd be up for that, we could all arrange to meet somewhere then none of us would turn up, it'd be great!

Happy cycling everyone, however you do it.

 

[Jenkins]

Another problem with clubs - routes fixed in advance. I went out this morning and changed my mind on which way I was going at the end of the road. Try doing that on a club ride

 

[Ianonabike]

I just do my own thing - slowly!

 

[katiewlx]

I’m amazed at peoples perception of how cliquey cycling clubs are when their experience of cycling clubs is just passing them on the road.😉

I dont want to derail this thread into another cycling club debate, but I can assure you Ive had more experience of them, than merely passing them on the road, remember you dont have to be a member to do their trial group rides.

 

[Reynard]

Clubs of any kind (my experiences are with cat clubs) will always rise or fall depending on the calibre of the people at the helm.

But since I'm not really a peopley person, I prefer to do my activities in a club of one, or in ways that have absolutely no strings attached. Although I do go walking once a week with a friend who lives in the same village as me, and I'll happily steward at cat shows when I'm not judging. But I refuse to get involved in the club stuff. Life's far too short.

 

[Bristolian]

Sorry, but I haven't read all the posts here - way too many

Since I took up cycling again in early 2023 I have been a lone rider for the same reason many above give and hadn't really given any thought to joining a club until about a month ago when I came across a group of about 12 riders stopped at the side of the road. I pulled over to see if they were lost only to see they were stood around watching one of their members mending a puncture. There were a couple giving actual assistance aided by a steady stream of moderately amusing quips/tips/advice from the side-lines

Anyway, I got chatting to a few of the older riders there and it turns out they are members of a club based just a couple of miles from home who have regular weekend and mid-week rides. After about ten minutes they'd fixed the puncture and we went our separate ways but ever since I've been wondering about going on one of their rides to see what it's like.

I'm not a stranger to group riding, although I have done a couple of rides with one friend in the last two years, it's been possibly 35-40 years since I last did any proper group riding. They've got a 35 mile ride this weekend which is described as "easy" so I many just pop along and see how it goes

 

[steveindenmark]

I ride with Jannie occasionally. Otherwise its all solo. I can stop and start when I want, change the route, stop and take photos, enjoy the silence.

 

[Psamathe]

I just do my own thing - slowly!

Whilst not club member and not done club/group rides, it's an aspect that would concern me. Sometimes on inclines my legs suffer and go slower but then they pick-up and bit faster. Sometimes looking around at wildlife and countryside so going slower. Sometimes see some creature that I want to ID so pull in completely to get a better/longer look. None of this fits well when in the middle of a tight group.

I suspect a lot might depend on what somebody is wanting to do. If training, maybe better to be in a tight group so when feeling a bit fatigued you have to push yourself more rather than slow.

But above theoretical thoughts as not done group rides, just seen them on the roads.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Whilst not club member and not done club/group rides, it's an aspect that would concern me. Sometimes on inclines my legs suffer and go slower but then they pick-up and bit faster. Sometimes looking around at wildlife and countryside so going slower. Sometimes see some creature that I want to ID so pull in completely to get a better/longer look. None of this fits well when in the middle of a tight group.

I suspect a lot might depend on what somebody is wanting to do. If training, maybe better to be in a tight group so when feeling a bit fatigued you have to push yourself more rather than slow.

But above theoretical thoughts as not done group rides, just seen them on the roads.

I'm also not sure how other team members would react to my insistence of taking pictures of my bike in front of a boat/train/church/unusual object/memorial et c, even if I explained...

 

[esoxlucius]

There seems to be one clear theme emerging regarding clubbies. They are an extremely devisive bunch, very marmite like.

 

[sevenfourate]

I'm also not sure how other team members would react to my insistence of taking pictures of my bike in front of a boat/train/church/unusual object/memorial et c, even if I explained...

The few times I join a riding buddy and stop to get a snap related to a CC challenge: I can almost hear the “What again !” whirring through their head….

I’ve never even tried to explain. Which probably doesn’t help 🤣

 

[All uphill]

There seems to be one clear theme emerging regarding clubbies. They are an extremely devisive bunch, very marmite like.

It's just that cycling can be so many things; a competitive sport, a social event, an escape, a way to explore the world or, shockingly, just a means of transport.

I'll ride a bike for my purposes and celebrate that others ride their bikes for other reasons.

 

[All uphill]

The few times I join a riding buddy and stop to get a snap related to a CC challenge: I can almost hear the “What again !” whirring through their head….

I’ve never even tried to explain. Which probably doesn’t help 🤣

Trying to explain is doomed to fail, ime.

Was it Churchill who said " Don't apologize and don't explain". ?