First proper club ride yesterday.

[ColinJ]

It certainly opened my eyes to a new weekend destination, which can be reached from my home without too much effort as there's only one major hill. It's exactly 50 miles there and back from my buddy's house so 59 from my house.

I'm trying to guess where it is! Knott End, Glasson Dock or perhaps Settle?

 

[DCLane]

I've looked at clubs local to me, but none do Saturday rides apart - I can't do most Sunday's.

So for now I've got my own company to ride with!

 

[Dave 123]

I really want to join a club, but there doesn't seem to be one for slow ladies like me.
When I've looked on line at the clubs locally they all have too high mph's, even for their beginner's rides.
I got a bit excited when I discovered Sky Breeze rides, but typically they don't have anything close enough.
I'll stick to riding with Mr6, he goes as slow as me and he even buys the cake sometimes.

Sandra, can you stick up a poster in a LBS? There are bound to be loads of people in your area who match your speed.

 

[ianrauk]

I really want to join a club, but there doesn't seem to be one for slow ladies like me.
When I've looked on line at the clubs locally they all have too high mph's, even for their beginner's rides.
I got a bit excited when I discovered Sky Breeze rides, but typically they don't have anything close enough.
I'll stick to riding with Mr6, he goes as slow as me and he even buys the cake sometimes.

Have you tried your local CTC group?
CTC rides are generally not fast.

 

[DCLane]

Have you tried your local CTC group?
CTC rides are generally not fast.

True - my local one (Huddersfield) seems to eat more cakes than ride . They're also VERY slow.

 

[Globalti]

I'm trying to guess where it is! Knott End, Glasson Dock or perhaps Settle?

Nearly right Colin, it's Airton, a tiny village with a BIG tea shop near Settle. From Hellifield you cross the railway and go north east to Otterburn, from there carry on south east to Bell Busk then north along a beautiful flat-bottomed valley to Airton for the cafe and thence a big long climb north west and a steep drop down into Settle. A fantastic ride; we did it from Whalley (50 miles) but for a beginner just the circuit from Settle would be a fantastic little trip.

 

[ColinJ]

Ah, that's one place I haven't been to yet! I've looked at those roads on the OS map in the past and thought about riding over there. Sounds like it would make a good forum ride in 2013 when I should be fit and well again. Maybe with one or two extra hills chucked in ...

 

[jim55]

I can't get on and don't feel comfortable riding in close proximity to other people, that's what puts me off a club

 

[Sandra6]

Have you tried your local CTC group?
CTC rides are generally not fast.

I've had a look on their website, but they only do two local rides a month (the rest are too far from me) and I could only make one of those due to work. The next is in October, but it's a 50miler, not sure if that's the best idea or not.
Putting a notice up in the LBS might be the way forward, I'm also thinking about using the sky breeze website, they have an "organise a ride" page or something.
I'd just worry about a load of serious roadies turning up and making me look silly.

 

[screenman]

You will find that in most clubs there are many rides going on that are not just the organised one's. Our's has wrinkly rides, ladies rides and lots more.