How to Choose
a Bike Club
By Fred Matheny for
www.RoadBikeRider.com
Cycling can be a solo
sport. Long rambles through the spring countryside,
hard rides in the hills, weekend tours to scenic
areas—all can be enjoyed with only your own thoughts
for company.
In fact, many cyclists
prefer to go alone. Then they can choose their own
route and are free to ride hard or stop and smell
the flowers, as their fancy prefers.
But cycling is also the
perfect group sport. Here are just five good reasons
for riding with others:
-
Part of the thrill
of riding a road bike is drafting other
cyclists in close proximity.
-
A group lets you
meet people, expanding your social horizons.
-
Racing is
inevitably a group activity, so if you plan to
compete it’s almost mandatory to train with
other racers at least part of the time.
-
Small group rides
are fast because you can share the work
at the front. You can cover more ground during
your training time.
-
Small groups are
safe because a pack of several riders is
that much more visible to motorists. And if you
have trouble of any sort, help is right there.
To get these benefits,
it’s a good idea to join a bike club even if you
ride alone much of the time due to preference or
your schedule.
But if there are two or
more clubs in your area, how do you know which one
to join? It depends on what you want to do and how
you want to do it. Are you interested in
recreational rides or racing?
Get to know area
cyclists and ask why they joined the club they did.
Go to club events to watch the organization and feel
the atmosphere. Sit in on a club’s monthly meeting
to hear about issues and see what kind of people are
at the helm.
Participate in club
rides and tune in to the tenor of the group. Is it
supportive or critical of other riders? Remember, if
you enjoy cycling, you should enjoy it even more in
the company of fellow riders. It pays to pick your
club carefully.
Recreational/Touring
Clubs
Most clubs are geared to
promoting fun rides and tours. Here are some ways
you can identify a club that’s doing it right.
-
Good clubs offer a
full schedule of weekend rides plus
occasional longer tours.
-
Good clubs grade
rides in terms of distance, speed and
ability so that newcomers don’t accidentally
bite off more than they can chew. One sure sign
of a poor club is when a ride rated “easy” turns
into a race as the leader shows off his fitness
and power.
-
Good clubs have
rides that encourage participation by the
whole family. They sometimes sponsor low-key
time trials (safe races against the clock) and
encourage everyone to participate, regardless of
fitness or skill.
-
Good clubs have
social gatherings like potlucks or
“restaurant rides” that bring people together
off the bike.
-
Good clubs are
active in politics. They support local
and state bicycle advocacy organizations. They
often are the force behind bicycle path
construction, traffic ordinances that favor
cyclists, and campaigns urging residents to
reduce air pollution by commuting to work by
bike.
-
Good clubs sponsor a
major yearly event, such as a century
ride. These rides are well organized, safe, and
promoted to the regional cycling community.
Shorter distances will be included to welcome
everyone, not just enthusiasts.
-
Good clubs regularly
publish a newsletter to keep members
motivated and updated on rides and other events.
Racing Clubs
Some
recreational/touring clubs have a racing division,
while other clubs are strictly racing organizations.
They exist to help talented cyclists achieve
competitive goals. If you want to race, joining a
good racing club is a key step toward realizing your
potential.
Some clubs are geared to
junior riders, some to masters, and others
concentrate on Category 1-5 riders. If you find two
or more clubs that seem meet your needs, make your
choice using this criteria:
This may mean the coach
is certified by USA Cycling (the governing body of
U.S. bike racing), but many fine coaches don’t have
formal certification.
Good coaches have time
to work with young or inexperienced cyclists. They
have the patience to bring beginning cyclists along
slowly, letting them develop at their own rate
without undue pressure.
Good coaches aren’t
slaves to one coaching system. They don’t blindly
follow some formula but instead devise training and
racing strategies geared to individual cyclists.
In the winter, riders
meet for weight training and stationary bike work.
They train together in the early season, doing long
base-building rides. They practice team tactics on
training rides and use them in races. They travel to
events together, sometimes in a team van.
There’s usually a local
time trial series and a weekly evening criterium in
which members hone their skills for the real races
on the weekend. These practice races are a good
measure of the club. Look for events that start on
time, are well organized and take place on
safe-but-challenging courses.
Cycling is a relatively
expensive sport, so good clubs work hard to secure
sponsorships from non-cycling companies as well as
from the industry and bike shops. These sponsorships
help cover the cost of clothing, equipment and
travel. Shops also may offer parts and service
discounts to club members.
Team members encourage
each other with advice and consolation. (One sure
sign of a poor club is people yelling at each other
on training rides, dispensing criticism instead of
support.) Training rides should be designed to help
everyone improve. Race strategy should be based on
teamwork rather than on showcasing star athletes.
Receive a FREE copy
of the eBook “29 Pro Cycling Secrets for Roadies” by
subscribing to the RoadBikeRider Newsletter at
www.RoadBikeRider.com. No cost or obligation! |