How do you start?

Saint said:

OK - as a reasonably experienced cyclist of many years I usually ride on my
own for either leisure or training but am now considering joining a Club for
group rides and wanted to ask a few questions before I go ahead.

Shoot....

Quoted message said:

Firstly are Clubs as friendly towards new members as they'd have you
believe? Most cyclists appear to be very friendly people but it would help
if a warm welcome is assured until I get to know them.

Of a Sat/Sun we tend to have two runs. One will be the members who are
sometimes racers and one will be the riders who think the other group
will be too fast for them. There probably isn't very much difference in
the pace between these groups, unless the 'quicker' group goes on a
hilly route.

Quoted message said:

Next what type of bikes to Club members tend to take on rides at weekends?
I am not talking about a racing Club - more one with planned rides to
certain destinations as a leisure activity (but not at tortoise pace
either).

Quoted message said:

I have a very nice road bike which I love to ride but am not sure whether it
would be suitable as I can't fit it with a rack or anything to carry gear.
My other bike is a hybrid (Dawes Discovery - flat bars with a rack fitted)
which I like riding also but I'm not sure whether I'd get left behind in
terms of pace on this. Are these the kind of bikes that Club/weekend riders
use for such purposes or are they more Audax type?

I ride a 653 steel road bike when I expect it to be mostly dry. My
winter bike / work commuter which I use when it's raining before I set
out is a Ridgeback 'hybrid' with mudguards (and very important if you
want to remain a poular club rider - mudflaps).

Average speed on a flat ride is 17 - 19 mph. But we wait for anybody who
doesn't object to being waited for.

Quoted message said:

Finally what do you normally have to take with you for a ride of sat 60 - 70
miles? I'd expect enough to eat/drink, money, lights and spare tube/repair
outfit as a minimum. Anything I missed?

Couple of inner tubes, piece of cut up old tyre or maybe even a spare
tyre. Money. Drink. Food (flapjack, mars bar, other energy bar ...).
Rain jacket (unless very sure of the weather - some were caught out last
sunday). Tools (Allen keys, chain tool, spoke key). Mobile phone. And
keys to get in when I get home.

Quoted message said:

Finally finally does anyone on here ride in such a Club in the Merseyside
area? If so I'd welcome the chance to chat some more about it.

I take the runs for the Birkenhead North End. <http://www.bnecc.co.uk/>

If you want to head in that direction, we leave the Eureka Cafe at 10 am
tomorrow (Sat) or 9:30 on Sunday. Ask for me, or email me if you have
further questions.

"Saint" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

OK - as a reasonably experienced cyclist of many years I usually ride on

my

Quoted message said:

own for either leisure or training but am now considering joining a Club

for

Quoted message said:

group rides and wanted to ask a few questions before I go ahead.

Firstly are Clubs as friendly towards new members as they'd have you
believe? Most cyclists appear to be very friendly people but it would

help

Quoted message said:

if a warm welcome is assured until I get to know them.

I can only speak for the Bristol DA of the CTC, which is split into
half-a-dozen sections, all of which have given me a warm welcome. I do most
of my riding with the Bristol Section, and they are very friendly.

Quoted message said:

Next what type of bikes to Club members tend to take on rides at weekends?
I am not talking about a racing Club - more one with planned rides to
certain destinations as a leisure activity (but not at tortoise pace
either).

A typical Sunday ride will have a majority of touring bikes, Dawes Galaxies
usually, a smattering of hybrids, a mountain bike or two, and the occasional
recumbent. And a Moulton when Vin graces us with his presence (He is 70+
has never ridden anything other than a Moulton and still passes some of the
younger riders going up hills!)

Quoted message said:

I have a very nice road bike which I love to ride but am not sure whether

it

Quoted message said:

would be suitable as I can't fit it with a rack or anything to carry gear.
My other bike is a hybrid (Dawes Discovery - flat bars with a rack fitted)
which I like riding also but I'm not sure whether I'd get left behind in
terms of pace on this. Are these the kind of bikes that Club/weekend

riders

Quoted message said:

use for such purposes or are they more Audax type?

Yeah, sure. If you can carry things in a rucksack you'll be fine on the
road bike, but the Discovery will fit in well. As for being left behind, we
have the rides graded by pace: easy, less than 10mph, medium, between
10/14mph, hard, over 14mph. Distances vary accordingly, from 12 to
120miles.

Quoted message said:

Finally what do you normally have to take with you for a ride of sat 60 -

70

Quoted message said:

miles? I'd expect enough to eat/drink, money, lights and spare

tube/repair

Quoted message said:

outfit as a minimum. Anything I missed?

SOH absolutely necessary on our rides! Don't leave home without it!

Quoted message said:

Finally finally does anyone on here ride in such a Club in the Merseyside
area? If so I'd welcome the chance to chat some more about it.

Don't know, but check out the local CTC, my memories of the very brief
riding I did with them are very warm.

Quoted message said:

Thanks in advance.

S

--
cheers

Rich

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Firstly are Clubs as friendly towards new members as they'd have you
believe?

Depends on the individual club.>Next what type of bikes to Club members tend to
take on rides at weekends?

Depends on the individual club.

Quoted message said:

Are these the kind of bikes that Club/weekend riders
use for such purposes or are they more Audax type

Again, as per all of your questions, it depends on the individual club.

Quoted message said:

Finally what do you normally have to take with you for a ride of sat 60 - 70
miles? I'd expect enough to eat/drink, money, lights and spare tube/repair
outfit as a minimum. Anything I missed?

I'd be taking toolkit, money, phone, etc., etc. and dependent upon weather
forecast, waterproofs.

Quoted message said:

Finally finally does anyone on here ride in such a Club in the Merseyside
area?

For a full list of clubs

www.ctc.org.uk - and link into http://www.ctc.org.uk/services/regions.aspx
you should be able to find out about CTC in your area.

www.ctt.org.uk and click on the member clubs link on the left

then try British Cycling "find a club" at
http://www.bcf.uk.com/clubs/2003/clubs_contents.shtml

Get the contact details and start phoning the people who are the contact points
and ask them all of your questions, then you'll be getting it from the correct
horse's mouth for the individual club.

Cheers, helen s

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