What is a man to do?

[Cameronmu917772]

For around a year now I have been cycling and over that time I have progressed to the stage I'm at now.
Where that I am very keen to get out learn technique and relay my hobby with friends and others like minded. The problem being at the moment is I don't have anyone to go on rides with. Well I do but he is very weather/a lot of other crapy excuses not to ride. I have though of joining a club and plan on going through to the city to meet boys for a club ride. Truth is I am not as fit as I used to be and my larger rides are between 30 and 40 miles. I don't want to be that guy that turns up and holds them up! Is it easier to ride in Peloton?

Just looking for some advise here. Have you thought the same and taken the jump or are you still just hitting the hills your self because of this?

 

[MikeW-71]

It is easier to ride with others, partly because a group provides shelter from the wind and you get chatting, which helps the time pass.

I am still in two minds about joining a club as on the one hand I would like to improve, but on the other I don't want to end up taking it too seriously and sucking the enjoyment out of it.

There are often forum rides organised on here and I've been out with the CC Ecosse guys (and gals) a few times now and they're a damn good group to ride with. No worries about pace either.

There's a ride from Edinburgh a week on sunday

 

[cyberknight]

Best thing to do is research the clubs you might ride with , look on their sites and contact the secretaires for information about what you can expect and is expected of you .
The club i ride with has a number of rides in the week and the sunday run is divided into 3 paces, the slower two having a no drop policy where someone will make sure your not left to your own devices and the group will wait for anyone dropped if the pace gets to much.The fast group stays together till after the cake stop then its up to you to stay with them.
As @MikeW-71 says its a lot easier to ride in a group as you get shelter and the ones in front can pull you along like race cars drafting so you can ride faster for longer.
These links are handy .
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/technique-the-secrets-of-group-road-riding-28701/
http://www.redhillcc.co.uk/page/group-riding