If you want to mingle with fellow cyclists, improve your fitness or just head out on long rides then a cycling club is a good option. Finding the right one isn’t the easiest thing, but the British Cycling Club finder is a good place to start.
Another great way to find a good one is by recommendations. Are you part of a cycling club? If so, how is it?
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A timely post. I’m thinking of joining my first Dulwich Paragon club ride tomorrow – and really struggling to get over that fear of being in a group of Proper Cyclists, regardless of how welcoming they are (and I’m sure they are). Interested to know if others have done it, and how they found it.
I rode with Paragon last week (my first ever club ride) and stupidly bonked after 25 miles, got dropped and by the time I’d found some sugar and recovered, they were long gone. That’s fair enough, even in an intermediate group (their website says they won’t leave anyone behind) but I wrote to the group leader when I got back to say I’d got back safely and sorry for causing any concern – never heard back.
I’m not sure why I had a different experience to many others – if there’s anyone from Paragon on here, care to comment?
Sorry to hear that Woody,
Not sure which group you were in ? but the faster groups will (necessarily) wait for less time/cover more ground, between stops.
I’m surprised that you didn’t hear back though, normally it should happen. Hope that it hasn’t put you off though.
Alistair
Cheers Alistair,
I wasnt actually in one of the fast groups – most definitely in the medium group with three other first-timers.
I’ve got w couple of weeks off anyway – so will give them another go then.
I went out three times with them on a recumbent fairly recently;
they were then starting at crystal palace at the cafe but i think they now start at herne hill; when i did it we all went down to elmers end and then split into groups by speed; i went intermediate and struggled on the hills but they kindly waited for me;
i think i should have gone in a slower group; i am sure there will be a slow group from herne hill that you can start with;
i found them very friendly and approachable and helpfull
do give it a go; i was really surprised that i could even do the distance!
i am sure you will be ok
bob
Thanks for all the replies everyone – useful to hear other’s experiences. Will be there tomorrow, lurking in the slow group at the back I suspect…
So, I did it, loved it, and would recommend Dulwich Paragon to anyone like me trying to make the transition from commuter to something more. Hugely enjoyable and still smiling many hours later.
If Andreas doesn’t mind, I’ve post some rambling thoughts about it over here:
http://byekick.com/journal/over-the-hillside
Absolutely fine to link if it’s relevant 😉
Taking a look at your post now..
I joined Dulwich Paragon about three years ago. Very friendly bunch and had a group to suit every ability. When I began i was three stone heavier and a proper slow coach. First time I ever rode out I picked a group who was far too fast for me and got dropped.
Great thing about the whole club doing the same route was that a slower group came along a bit later and I tagged on with them.
Now I ride out with the fast group and love it. We do try to ensure we don’t leave anyone behind, I’ve even waited with someone for a slower group to come along to make sure they’re being looked after then tried to catch up with my orignal group.
If someone mechanicals, we try and help them get back on the road as quickly as possible, or wait with them unitl the next group can pick them up.
I’m very sorry if someone has ever felt left behind my us, it’s definitely NOT what we try and do. I don’t live anywhere near Dulwich, I live in Camden but ride with DP most weekends as they’re the nicest bunch I’ve come across (having tried quite a few clubs around London).
Please try and ride with us again, befriend one of us club old timers when we meet and introduce oyurself as new (you can’t miss us as we’re all in DP kit from head to toe!). We’ll try and get you in the riight group and I always look after first timers on their first few rides out, as I remember what it was like being a newbie.
Alex
P.S. and by all abilities, I really mean it. Doesn’t matter whether you are hard core road racer or just a weekend pootler, there will be a group going your speed you can get into.
Wish I’d signed up sooner, might have spent more of my life not fat!
A
I ride with Dulwich Paragon (about 3 years now) and have found them a friendly, welcoming, group of ordinary people….who just like to ride.
There are many sectors within the club, racing, cross, sportives etc. but for the most part, people just share a fondness for two wheels.
Whether it be travelling to work, to the cafe/pub, or to Europe for a big Sportive, you’ll find someone to ride/talk/drink/eat with.
In short, I’m only sorry I didn’t do it before I turned 50 !!
Already set two of my New Year Resolutions:
1. Buy a road bike
2. Join a club (Kingston Wheelers maybe, anyone know anything about them? Similar set up to Dulwich?)
I was wondering if anyone knew of a London touring club that was more orientated towards people in their 20-30s?
Did you ever find a club geared towards people in their 20-30s?
I once looked into a joining a club and made contact with my local. They seemed very nice, but not being of anything other than low to medium fitness (more on the low side than the medium) was also very concerned about ‘keeping up’ so never went along.
As all of my cycling is commuting or very leisurely weekend rides with girlfriend it is difficult to tell how one would fare with ‘real’ cycists, but I do crave that sense of cycling along in a goup of cyclists. One day I will pluck up the courage and do it. One day.
Enjoyed your blog post so much so that i did a Blog post of my own which should help those ” NEWBIES ” and encourge them to make the effort to participate !
Checkout my twitter “Skippydetour ” or go to ” http://t.co/CPrDLl8 ” where you can see some of the “rules of the road ” !
Travelling around Europe i join any Saturday or Sunday ride that i can find but will throw a ” U turn ” whever i see a group that takes my fancy on the days i have no commitments . Blogs in the next days will reveal some of my latest escapades .
Thanks, interesting post.
I’ve been looking around South West London for a club to make the transition from a commuter to a more serious rider. No much luck yet in finding a group that accommodate beginners. Although I’m wondering if I should just jump into an intermediate group and see what happens.
If anybody would recommend a club, please do post here!
dS
I ride sometimes with London Dynamo, on their four-laps of richmond park, Saturday mornings.
This works well, they ride in groups of eight, fastest set off first, so it’s easy to hang around looking at each group and judging by weight and age the one you’ll fit into.
If you do get dropped by your group then you can sit up and wait for the next one.
the group riding is in a tight ‘chain’ formation – constantly rotating round, read the instructions on their website, tell the team leader if its your first time. They group will keep together very tightly, breaking up on the hills, and reforming at the top/bottom.
and the nice thing is — your are in the park, so even if you abandon completely after a couple of laps, you’re still only a mile or two from the cafe where everyone stopes at the end for a tea.
Anyone know of a good, friendly North London club? Tried a few, but I’ve got no response to emails expressing interest 🙁
Gregarios Superclub Ciclista !!
Although I appreciate that for many club cycling gives great pleasure for me the joy of cycling has always been its solitary nature. Time to think sort the world and my head into some sort of order. The beauty of the bicycle I guess. Offers so much is so many ways to so many.
For those of you based in Greenwich and Bexley, I’m a member of Limited Edition Cycling club which caters for both boroughs. The club was formed last October and I’ve been riding with them since February this year. We’ve got a good mix of a couple of ex-Pros, some very keen enthusiasts and some fairly new beginners.
We ride out of Eltham Park on a Sunday morning and you’ll find us in Bexley Village on our training loops on a Tuesday evening.
All the rides are graded 1-5 in difficulty, 1 is easy and flat, 5+ for the hardened long distances and hill climbs around Kent. We dont leave anyone behind but its common sense to only take on what you can cope with.
I was initially wary of joining a club. I was overweight and struggling to do 30miles at 12mph let alone be any quicker. 7 months later with some hard work (and in excess of 3,000 miles on the bike), I’m 2 stone lighter and doing the same distances around 17mph, actually enjoy taking on the climbs and I’ve completed my maiden century ride and my first two sportives.
Without a shadow of a doubt, best thing I’ve done is joining the club. I’ve learnt a lot and made a lot of new friends in the process and the best advice I can give to anyone is just go for it.
Hey John – thanks for the comment. Very encouraging to hear about your experience with your cycling club and it’s good to see the rides are helping you improve your fitness and performance.
Anyone know how friendly the Dulwich Paragons and/or London Dynamo’s are to women? Done a little bit of touring and looking to do more and love cycling in a group….I miss the longer rides as recently I’ve just been commuting. Would like to do some training for speed to see how fast I can go too!
Hi Claire, there were certainly quite a few women in my group on the ride I did with Paragon – and all looked like regulars which is a good sign.
Andreas – you seem to have an uncanny knack of bringing up certain topics at exactly the right time!! Probably why you’ve built up such a popular blog 🙂
So, yes. Cycling clubs. I live in Streatham and have done what most people I imagine have done. I searched google for cycling clubs in south London. I came across the usual (Kingston wheelers, dulwich dynamo etc.) but felt slightly intimidated by them and was disappointed to find there wasn’t one closer. I thought about going along to the kingston richmond park outings but it’s not close by and I’ve never managed it.
Having read the encouraging comments here I am quite tempted to give Dulwich Dynamo Saturday club ride a go – actually quite close to me. Maybe next weekend if I’m free…
Have you tried Brixton cycling club, it’s pretty close to you since u are based in Streatham.
Can anyone please tell me if the Eltham Paragon CC are still in existance. I am writing a series of stories about racing in the UK and especially at the Crystal Palace. Also if anyone has any stories about racing in the Palace please let me know. My main focus is racing in the 50’s to the 70’s including the British (1970) and the World Cyclo-Cross Championships (1973).
I believe the Paragom promoted the Brian Robinson Grand Prix. I am also featuring the Tuesday evening events that Dennis Tarr won on a regular basis.
Thanks.
I believe the Eltham Paragon along with the Ruxley Wheelers joined together and formed the Gemini CC in the mid/late 1960’s
…..sorry my mistake it was the Eltham Paragon and the Mercury CC that joined to make the Gemini BC in 1970
Hello everyone
Does anybody know of any cycle clubs in London that ride vintage bicycles? I’d like to join a club but I’m not into the lycra and road bike scene. I’ve got a Triumph traffic master and I just like riding it in my jeans. I like long rides and would like to maybe make friends with people who own similar bikes or just cyclists. I’ve been in London for 5 months and it’s about time I made friends with people outside work who enjoy cycling. I’m not a competitive type. I’m not into racing people. I’d just like to ride along new routes, stop off for coffee/ pub etc. I can’t find any vintage cycling clubs on the net but I dream of being in a club where we ride like “The Smiths” in that “Stop me” video. Ha ha :OD
Did you have any joy with this Mike?
I think London Cycle Campaign do less sporty type rides but I’ve never joined up and found out for sure…
I’ve found a lot of cycle clubs are geared up (boom boom) to doing competitions and I’m too old / busy for that!
Cheers,
Sara
I am 75. Did a bit of club cycling 60 years ago (Fountain cc). Do some sporadic touring now and then (Nullabor plain Oz 2012, SW Oz 2012, Spain and France 2000 and 2006), always kept myself fit for last 55 years at least (serious jogger, gym work, bike). Now wish to do some TDF mountains in 2013. Intend to buy a road/sportive bike for the purpose.
I would appreciate any advice on this (type of bike, training, etc) from anyone of any age, but particularly seniors who may have already done something like this themselves>
Bringing this one back from the dead…..
Anyone know of any clubs around Fulham/Putmey?
I currently only own a fixie which I commute on, but looking to make the jump over to a ‘proper’ road bike and join a club.
Would any club accept me on my fixie or do I have to own a geared road bike?
Cheers!
Hi
We are a small club called East London CSC we race bikes in a sport called cycle speedway we have now finished our racing for this season and are putting together a winter training programme I will be putting dates on our website once we confirm our dates. Please keep an eye on the site as we are looking to recruit new members. On our website is a little description of the sport and our track address for more info please use the contact details on our website.
eastlondoncyclespeedway
Hi,
I’m looking to join a cycling club to make the move up from commuting, maybe the Dulwich Paragons as I live nearby. I can’t ride with drop handle bars due to back problems, so I don’t have a typical road bike. I do though use a very good Specialized ‘fast hybrid’, which is pretty fast. Am I going to be able to join a slow to intermediary group ride or am I going to get some very funny looks?
Hi Amy
You would be most welcome at Dulwich Paragon, where there is a large Ladies section.
There are also many people who don’t ride “drops”, but flat bars, and at various speeds.
Try the “beginners” ride (first Sat of each month) bookable on the DP website, no charge and you get a chance to try-us-out !
Hope to see you.
Alistair
Hi Amy,
I’ve actually joined Dulwich Paragon.
I guess it depends how fast and how long you can go…
DP is quite welcoming and inclusive – but is a ‘sporting club’ – so not really about relaxed rides to cafes. (Though you can arrange those!)
Your best bet is to come along to a try ride on first Saturday of the month – as long as you’re fit enough to do the distance – about 55km… – and see how you get on. Join the ‘steady’ group and people will wait if you’re slower.
I think most people will be on road bikes, and clipped in, and lycra, but they won’t care if you’re not. I remember one girl had flat handlebars and trainers for a while – but she had to be quite strong to get up the hills…
BTW, book the try ride on Rider HQ site.
Hope that helps!
Sara
We are a walking and cycling club (plus a few other activities) and we have one or two cycle rides every week suitable for beginners during the warmer months.
Non members can come on up to three events to try us out.
http://www.clog.org.uk
I read that you once cycled with a Fountain C.C. about 60 years ago. My late father, Arthur Rayner, his brother William (Bill) and wife, May, were all very active members pre war. In fact I have just found a photo of the Annual Dinner dated 5th February 1938 and I can see my grandfather, grandmother and father in the photo. There must be towards 100 people at the dinner, with the men all very smartly dressed in suits, many with bow-ties.
My father was a time-trialist and I have quite a collection of his medals and I have some wonderful photos of him racing in his knitted black gear.
Our late daughter, his granddaughter, Pippa Handley, went on to become a professional ride and represented Scotland in the Delhi Commonwealth Games in time trial and road race.
I was wondering if there still was a Fountain C.C. and if so might they be interested in copies of the photos and if there were other photos of my Dad around that I could have?