Cycle Clubs

Any club will ask you to wear a helmet.

I'd give Kingston a go as they allow newbs to attend their Sunday club run to see if they like it and then take it from there...

I'm not sure why they're "too far" you're gonna be riding into Surrey anyway?

Got to ride out to Kingston, then around Surrey, then back home, so probably looking at 70 to 90 miles rather than 40 to 50. They also seem a bit fast - 15-16mph average around the Surrey Hills? After 40 miles at 16mph I'll be a gibbering wreck.

But then looking at their site they seem to do a bunch of different club runs of different lengths, so maybe they'd be ok. And maybe that 16mph average isn't a real 16mph average and they wouldn't expect me to sustain it up hills. I'm no Voeckler, that's for sure. Might give them a go too, though, as I do like the cut of their gib generally and I've heard good things about them elsewhere.

It's like you've been watching my history Bothwell - I've been looking at the same thing (including this thread) in the same area.

I used to ride with Twickenham CC but stopped when I moved house as the commute to get to the early weekend rides was just too far (ironic considing the distance of the rides I'd be willing to do)...

I don't think the 'too far' is that ironic, really - if you've got to ride 20 miles just to get to the start point, you've got to get up much earlier than the people who live more locally. It's not so much the distance, it's that for a ride starting at 8am you've got to get up at about 5 unless you cane it to the start point and knacker yourself before the ride begins. I'd prefer to be reasonably fresh for the main ride so that I can enjoy it.

I wouldn't rule out DP. They attract the numbers to offer rides for all paces. They certainly didn't seem over zealous about membership when I gave them a try a couple of weeks ago - quite the opposite. From what I've heard the forum is fairly active too.

does anyone know of any clubs who regularly ride in/from North, NW London?

Got to ride out to Kingston, then around Surrey, then back home, so probably looking at 70 to 90 miles rather than 40 to 50. They also seem a bit fast - 15-16mph average around the Surrey Hills? After 40 miles at 16mph I'll be a gibbering wreck.

But then looking at their site they seem to do a bunch of different club runs of different lengths, so maybe they'd be ok. And maybe that 16mph average isn't a real 16mph average and they wouldn't expect me to sustain it up hills. I'm no Voeckler, that's for sure. Might give them a go too, though, as I do like the cut of their gib generally and I've heard good things about them elsewhere.

They're friendly and welcoming. I'd give them a go.

They will be expecting an influx of new riders given the Olympics, TDF...

15-16 mph average is easy in a group.

Is anyone familiar with any clubs in the Brentwood/Chelmsford area of Essex?

does anyone know of any clubs who regularly ride in/from North, NW London?

I've crossed paths with Southgate CC a few times on weekend mornings out in Hertfordshire. They seem to go out every week, even in really bad weather and look a chirpy bunch.

does anyone know of any clubs who regularly ride in/from North, NW London?

Try Willesden?

Bothwell, any club will ask you to wear a helmet (as Ved and Wayne have said).. wearing a helmet really isn't such a big deal, I don't know why people get so hung up on it.

Yeah, join the green team. For the record I hate the green kit but Willesden are a very friendly, old school club. Rides leave from Denham on Sat and Sun and some weekdays. There's usually easy and Team Quest fast bunches.

You gotta htfu, I have to ride 21 miles to get to my club runs! It's not that bad if you pootle, it's a nice warmup and if you are getting spat out the back at least you have an excuse ;)

Also, you may be looked down upon for not wearing a helmet initially, but they will get over it.. I turned up to my first club run on a fixed, no helmet and jeans ;)

?..I turned up to my first club run on a fixed, no helmet and jeans and now no club within 20 miles of my home will let me ride with them ;)

;o)

Serpentine CC ?
London Phoenix?

Lol

Is anyone familiar with any clubs in the Brentwood/Chelmsford area of Essex?

Glendene CC - Brentwood
Shaftesbury CC - Mountnessing
Chelmer CC - Chelmsford

Glendene CC - Brentwood
Shaftesbury CC - Mountnessing
Chelmer CC - Chelmsford

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!

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!).

Are there any based in the east that do Saturday morning runs? Not sure what the obsession with Sundays is for cyclists but I'm far less busy/hungover on most Saturdays!

Interesting article on this:

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/08/psychology-of-the-jersey/

Going back the South London clubs; I'll be going out with DP next week so thought it would be a good idea to try out their Saturday route on my own just to make sure I don't embarrass myself... It went okay but I would certainly not fancy it on fixed, there was a lot of climbing (obviously other people might be fine with it)!

Here's the route if anyone's interested (ignore the Brixton bit - they start in Herne Hill). http://app.strava.com/activities/19071960

I saw the Dulwich Paragon club run rolling out along College Road on Saturday morning and there must have been over 60 people in four groups. Is it always that busy? Judging from that, I would suggest DP caters to all abilities.

I don't know - I did it on my own yesterday.

When I spoke to them they said they'd had a massive surge of interest recently & I'd guess they're not usually that busy but the olympics/summer feeling has boosted their numbers.

I am quite looking forward to next week - I find long rides much more enjoyable in a group.

The majority were wearing DP jerseys, suggesting they weren't first timers.

Paragon rides are proper massive affairs. Looked more like a sportive heading down from Anerly Hill to West Wickham when I last saw them.

^ That's no bad thing.

Are there any based in the east that do Saturday morning runs? Not sure what the obsession with Sundays is for cyclists but I'm far less busy/hungover on most Saturdays!

Plenty of clubs still run Saturday rides, although these can be training rides, rather than the traditional Sunday club run which has more of a relaxed social aspect to it.

It really depends from club to club.