EC1 Collective

I suspect the irony was intentional. Ed didn't quote the rest of their about page:

Why start a bike club? Because it's awesome. But also because when we first thought we might like to join a bike club we couldn't find one that didn't seem totally elitist and unwelcoming.

So we made up our own and gave it a silly name.

It's easy to define yourself as a list of what you're nots. And what we're not, first of all, is a traditional cycling club. We don't demand you buy our kit before you join. We don't stipulate minimum speeds at which you must be able to ride – although we might stalk you a bit on Strava when you first get in touch, but that's really just because we're nosy. We won't even demand you remove the tri bars from your bike before riding with us – although we reserve the right to keep quietly considering them to be an aberration.

We won't ever turn someone away who wants to ride with BBBC.

There's every chance that all those other clubs we thought about joining are full of wonderful, warm, friendly and funny human beings, but sadly they do a really good job of hiding that under layers and layers of unfriendly language and moody ride photos. Or they just never reply to emails. What is it with bike people and never replying to emails?

All you need to join BBBC is the desire to do so. And a bike to ride. Honestly, even that last part isn't mandatory.

Also, guys, lets talk about membership fees. Paying for the privilege of buying our kit and riding your bike with a bunch of awesome people? What's that about? BBBC is free to join. And it always will be.

Despite the dumb name, they're the anti ec1 by the looks of it.

the extremist wing of ec1 collective

What does *blokes who bonk and birds who baroude* mean ?

Cute, don't give it long before they fall into the 'trappings' of running a club that's more than the chums you already ride with.

Serious question, who is more serious about not being serious, bbbc or cityboyscc?

Solo EC1 jersey spotted in richmond park today.

Stopped by side of road and blocking traffic on top of Broomfield Hill.

Lolz.

BBBC look like a legit club. Jersey is nice. Top work by Milltag.

Which cycling clubs were unfriendly and hid behind moody photographs? Is it the same clubs who devote time to running amateur races and coaching kids?

To be fair, when I lived in Walthamstow I emailed two local clubs about coming along on one of their club runs, with the idea of joining their club, and didn't hear back from either of them.

Yeah, I get the feeling they mean RPR et all, which is a yuppie cycling club for the terminally humourless.

Was one of then Lea Valley? In which case please accept our apologies. We have email/ forum problems and so a lot of the communication has shifted to FB. Which I regret; but if you are still interested in riding in NE London then do get in touch with us.

Edward, Chairman of LVCC

I agree with the point you are making , but I also know of clubs who match the BBCC description .

Why would anyone want to be in a club when they can be on the Friendliest Cycling Forum on the Internet?

Does it have a club?

Yes. If you want the club cap please add your name to the list, or start a new list. >>>>>>

But how can they be humourless when they've all got such hilarious nicknames!?

This was two or three years ago (I'm back in herts now), but I think one was Cycling Club Hackney and the other may have been you guys, I seem to recall typing "cycling club walthamstow" into Google and emailing the top one, appears to be you guys these days but don't know if it was back then.

Thanks for the response though!

Stinky club chat >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

There is something to be said for just turning up to a club run and introducing yourself, you're unlikely to be turned away by anyone, so perhaps a big dose of HTFU required.

It's such flawed thinking. These guys make out they're serious and into competing, in which case they should support a local club or there'll be no races in which to compete.

They're the same kids who ran home from the youth club disco because nobody spoke to them. I did that too, but I learned my lesson eventually.

It takes a bit of courage though. I know we're friendly, but trying to join a club run when the general perception of cycling clubs is skinny dudes on expensive bikes with expensive clothes who can go really fast. You might be able to see why people with no experience start their own. Isn't that how we started?

I mean, i remember turning up to tnrc and grupetto rides and being a bit nervous.

That's all well and good, but I'd met a cycling club Hackney chap on my commute who'd suggested I email as he wasn't sure if they ran club runs during summer as they were usually racing.

The other club's site didn't look like it'd been updated in several years and although it mentioned a 9am Sunday start, I didn't want to drag my (then almost guaranteed hungover) arse out of bed for 9am only to find myself in an empty car park.

Saying that, now I'm back in herts I've been meaning to turn up to a North Road CC ride for several months but haven't yet gathered the wherewithal to do so...

I turned up to a local club ride this week and found only a handful of people approachable. Those who were communicative were quite forthcoming but as a group people were not welcoming. It wasn't that people were rude but more a lack of awareness that a newcomer had turned up. Very different from my experiences of tnrc, Hounslow and District Wheelers and a couple of other clubs I have tagged along with. But it was nowhere near as bad as turning up to ride with London Dynamo who are an utter shower of cunts.

Actually I'd be interested to witness an EC1 vs Dynamo meeting, imagine it'd be quite entertaining.

skinny dudes on expensive bikes with expensive clothes who can go really fast

It is that though, right?