How do you know you’re choosing the right club?
We’d be lying if we said it was as easy as walking into a cafe and ordering your favourite coffee – but rest assured, it’s not impossible. It can just take some serious conversations with yourself to sum up your findings on different clubs.
Choosing the right club starts with knowing what you want from it – what kind of riding are you wanting to do, what kind of people do you want to meet, and are you looking for a club that puts on events/specific training sessions or one that just does group rides.
“We tried joining one of those rides, and then we joined another and another one. So, we eventually thought, you know, we’re having fun with this group, why don’t we join the club” – Alex, club cyclist from Penge CC
Questions to ask before joining a cycling club
To help make your decisions, here’s some information it’s useful to seek out about a prospective club:
- Who does the club appeal to i.e., gender or age?
- What discipline of cycling does the club cater too?
- What level of ability does the club cater to?
- Can they help you progress?
- Do they put on specific training sessions?
- Do they run group rides for different abilities?
- Are membership fees affordable?
- Are they local?
- Do you have things in common with current members – can you see yourself making friends?
- Are they taking on new members?
- What is the cost of the kit, and do they have a payment plan if required?
- Can you eventually race for them if this is something you’re thinking about?
- Can you take part in a few trial rides before committing?
Check out the profiles and reviews for the clubs you’re considering on our website, to help gain information and insights that will hopefully answer some of the questions you have. It’s also worth checking the club’s social media pages, to see if there is further information or photos of some of the rides your chosen club(s) have done.
Now, your first port of call, after contacting clubs and clearing up questions you have, is experiencing the club first hand. Get yourself signed up to a group ride to see if the club fits you and you fit them – see if they have like-minded people and culture. The first club ride you try might turn out to be the perfect one, but don’t be disheartened if not. There are many other clubs out there and having to test a few won’t harm. Just think of the experience you’re gaining while trialling them.
“Finding the right group which has the same kind of thinking as you, is quite important. I feel like it’s more like a friendship club” – Alex, club cyclist from Penge CC.
