Intimidated by more experienced cyclists :/

[Anonymous1502]

I would like to join a cycling club however I am a beginner cyclist and I am not a very fast cyclist I would like to join a cycling club as cycling in groups sounds fun and I could potentially learn new cycling routes. However I am worried that I am too slow and I will get left behind and I am not too good with hills either.

 

[Jimidh]

Depends on your area and what cycling clubs you have around you.

Yes some clubs can be elitist butothers are very welcoming of beginners and have various different groups going out of differing abilities.

Look up British Cycling and Cycling UK for clubs in your area and check their websites to see what type of activities they are up to.

 

[mythste]

Where abouts are you based?

Most areas have a huge but quiet contingent of people just like you, except they have each other which makes the whole thing a lot lovelier for everyone involved. I know a bunch of people in the Northwest who would gladly help but outside of that I'm sure between the forum we have most areas covered!

 

[vickster]

Plenty of ladies club runs which may appeal There’s also the Breeze rides to look at

Some of the large London clubs might be a tad full on judging by the groups of Lycra warriors I see on a Sunday around SW London!

 

[DCLane]

It'll depend on the club. Mine's got a Ladies' section who have three basic rules, paraphrased by me as: 1. Every lady is important, no matter how fast or slow. 2. Stop and wait at the top of every hill. 3. Don't laugh at the slower ladies. Men are allowed but any who don't behave are disposed of. They've gone from 0 five years ago to at least 60 currently as a result of respecting every rider.

The better ones will be supportive, although it may take a little time to find the right one. Breeze rides are a decent start and British Cycling's clubfinder system will help: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder

Where are you at?

 

[Anonymous1502]

It'll depend on the club. Mine's got a Ladies' section who have three basic rules, paraphrased by me as: 1. Every lady is important, no matter how fast or slow. 2. Stop and wait at the top of every hill. 3. Don't laugh at the slower ladies. Men are allowed but any who don't behave are disposed of. They've gone from 0 five years ago to at least 60 currently as a result of respecting every rider.

The better ones will be supportive, although it may take a little time to find the right one. Breeze rides are a decent start and British Cycling's clubfinder system will help: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder

Where are you at?

Depending how stuff goes with uni I will be either in London or Edinburgh

 

[Anonymous1502]

Where abouts are you based?

Most areas have a huge but quiet contingent of people just like you, except they have each other which makes the whole thing a lot lovelier for everyone involved. I know a bunch of people in the Northwest who would gladly help but outside of that I'm sure between the forum we have most areas covered!

Depending how stuff goes with uni I will be either in London or Edinburgh

 

[Anonymous1502]

It'll depend on the club. Mine's got a Ladies' section who have three basic rules, paraphrased by me as: 1. Every lady is important, no matter how fast or slow. 2. Stop and wait at the top of every hill. 3. Don't laugh at the slower ladies. Men are allowed but any who don't behave are disposed of. They've gone from 0 five years ago to at least 60 currently as a result of respecting every rider.

The better ones will be supportive, although it may take a little time to find the right one. Breeze rides are a decent start and British Cycling's clubfinder system will help: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/clubfinder

Where are you at?

Your club sounds like a really encouraging one (good for boosting morale )

 

[DCLane]

Depending how stuff goes with uni I will be either in London or Edinburgh

You've got lots of choice then. If it's Edinburgh @Pat "5mph" will have contacts with Belles on Bikes. Wherever you are in London there will be options for you at your level.

Hope uni goes well.

 

[Anonymous1502]

You've got lots of choice then. If it's Edinburgh @Pat "5mph" will have contacts with Belles on Bikes. Wherever you are in London there will be options for you at your level.

Hope uni goes well.

Thank you once I know what my uni situation be I will start looking into clubs. Do you think it is better to be part of a single gender club or a mixed one?

 

[rogerzilla]

Depends on the club. Beacon RCC were excellent when I lived in Birmingham. The clubs round here, less so.

 

[screenman]

If you saw the club I belong to out on a Sunday run in full club kit you might think elitist, in truth a dozen riders may be so, the other over 190 riders not so and are not out on that run but doing smaller slower runs in maybe smaller groups. We have riders from 5 to 95 years old, some do not even ride a bike any more, but still have cycling in thier blood.

 

[DCLane]

Thank you once I know what my uni situation be I will start looking into clubs. Do you think it is better to be part of a single gender club or a mixed one?

It'll depend on the club. Making contact with potential ones is a start: there should be a Ladies' ride leader in mixed clubs. Their Facebook page and club page will give some information and a feel of how it operates.

If they're a British Cycling club then you get up to 5 rides with a club without having to join them so you get an idea of whether they're suitable. Cycling UK groups are probably similar.

 

[HLaB]

Depending how stuff goes with uni I will be either in London or Edinburgh

If its Edinburgh at one end of the Spectrum you've got SPOKES monthly rides (a really friendly and laid back bunch) but you are probably too fast for them and the ERC (Edinburgh Road Club) who have groups right through to elite

 

[Julia9054]

I would possibly look to see if there is a university cycling society once you start.