Cycle Clubs

Would they be welcoming to a club noob turning up and riding on their club runs? I saw some on the glendene site, but the distance varied and there was no indication about speed.

I don't want to get dropped on my first time out with them!

I think perhaps the Chelmer is your best bet - they run three groups a lot of the time, an A, B and C group with the speed and distance varying, the A group being the fastest. You could have a go with the C group and if its too slow you try the next one up. And like all clubs, I'm fairly certain they would welcome a noob with open arms. Don't worry too much about all these assertions that ***all ***clubs insist on helmets - mine certainly doesn't and I see plenty of riders on weekend club runs in cotton caps.

As far speeds - I would imagine the slower groups average around 15mph (could be slower) - if you want to mix it with the quickest riders in any club I would suggest you need to be able to ride at 20mph avg. for 50+ miles (obviously in a tight group this is a lot easier than doing that solo!).