The Group Ride - Is It For Me?

For many people, the idea of a group ride is an intimidating thing. Joining a club appears to have little benefits if you've never joined one before. However, let's take a deeper dive and take a look at what's really going on.

Traditionally, cycling clubs were seen as the type of thing only serious racing cyclists did. They had the fancy kit and the stern looks. They never looked like the most welcoming of places for the casual cyclist who fancied a nice ride and a chat with similar minded folk.

Fast forward to today, and the majority of clubs are for the casual cyclist. Of course, there are still clubs for the hardened racer, but they're now a minority.

Before I go into why I've become a fan of the club/group ride, let's banish some of the urban myths about cycling;

1. The Highway Code actually states you should ride two abreast. The only time you don't is on narrow, or busy, roads. By riding two abreast, your group is now a shorter train for the motorist to overtake. Nice.

2. There's no such thing as "Road Tax". It was abolished in 1937 in the UK. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is all about how much your vehicle pollutes. Time for the cyclist to pull their "smug face". As for insurance, all cycle clubs have insurance, many of the members have their own insurance too, especially if they are British Cycling members. It's also worth remembering the following;

   1. most cyclists are also motorists

   2. we can't actually hear the ill-informed nonsense being shouted at us from car windows

3. Lycra. I've never really understood the stigma around cyclists wearing figure-hugging clothing. Horse riders wear jodhpurs, swimmers wear far more revealing cossies and trunks, just pop into town and check out some of the latest fashions. The phrase "thin end of the wedge" springs to mind.

Rant over, let's get back to the subject at hand.

For many years I rode on my own, occasionally calling up a friend to see if they fancied coming out to join me. I still do this occasionally, a ride on your own is great for clearing the head, and sometimes you fancy keeping it simple by only having one person to chat to.

One day, however, I took the plunge and joined my local club road ride. I'd built up a decent amount of fitness so I was confident I wouldn't slow them down, or get left behind. As it turns out, most clubs don't actually go that fast, and they have a policy of not leaving people behind. Larger clubs will put out several rides so you can find your preferred pace.

The main thing I noticed when I joined the club was how welcoming the others were. They are all normal people who happen to share the same hobby, so conversation is pretty easy for the newbie. You don't actually need "the right bike", or the right brand of clothing, or at least not out here in the 'Shire. The only stipulation will probably be to wear a helmet (the insurance company will like this), and fit mudguards for the winter so you don't spray everyone behind you.

If there's one lesson I took away from the whole Covid period, it was that us humans are social animals. We all know someone who is the exception to that rule (it might actually be you), but in the main we like to be around people with whom we share something in common. The opportunity to share time with like-minded folk, exercise, indulge in a bit of banter, and find a great café to stop at, is a joy after the drudgery of the working week.

No more was this evident on one of my most recent Sunday morning rides. It's not a surprise to those who know me, but I was late to the start of the ride. So late, that they had to leave without me. I knew they couldn't be too far away, so I pushed on. Then, sod's law, I suffered a puncture. New tube in, I chased on. I chased so hard that twinges of cramp came on. The weather was cold, things were not happy. Things, really, were not happy.

After 40 miles, I finally reached the café, met up with the group, took the banter about being late etc.... which was frankly deserved. There was no problem with me having time for some coffee and cake, something I believe is part of UK law(?)

On leaving the café, it was so apparent how much my mood had changed now I was back with my tribe. I was no longer cold and miserable. Everything felt good again, albeit a few twinges from the cramp gained earlier, but on the whole, I was a happy little soldier once again.

Since joining a cycling club and going out on group rides, my base of friends has increased massively. We go out on social events, and even take out bikes abroad on little holidays to amazing parts of Europe.

I've discovered all sorts of beautiful parts of the country that I'd probably have never thought to see had it not been for the club ride. If you're worried about ride distances and speeds, just remember that it's up to 30% easier to cycle when behind someone else. Plus, talking to someone distracts you from how much effort you're putting in. Speed and distance are not the problems many think they are.

If you're still not sure, check out the gallery of photos below. These are just some of the amazing memories gained since getting involved with cycling clubs.

By the time you read this, I'll have launched the Severn Cycleworks shop ride. Get in touch if you fancy joining us.