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How to Find and Vet a Bike Club

05.25.2024 by Scott Jangro // Leave a Comment

Joining a bike club can be a fantastic way to enhance your cycling experience, meet like-minded folks, and improve your skills. But how do you choose the right one? Here’s a guide to help you vet a bike club and find your perfect fit.

Why Join?

First things first, why should you join a bike club? Well, being part of a club can offer a sense of community and camaraderie. It’s a great way to stay motivated, learn from others, and explore new routes. Plus, it’s always more fun to ride with friends than alone!

What Do You Want from the Club?

Before you start looking for a club, think about what you want to get out of it. Are you looking for social rides, competitive racing, or just some company on your weekend jaunts? Knowing your goals will help you find a club that aligns with your interests.

How to Find a Club

Finding the right club can be easier than you think. Here are some great ways to start your search:

  1. Ask at a Local Bike Shop: Bike shops are often hubs for the local cycling community. The staff usually know about nearby clubs and can provide recommendations based on your interests and skill level.
  2. Look on Strava: Strava is a popular app among cyclists. You can join local cycling groups, see their activities, and even connect with club members. It’s a great way to get a sense of the club’s vibe and activities.
  3. Search on Facebook: Many bike clubs have Facebook pages or groups. These can be excellent resources for finding out about upcoming rides, club events, and member experiences. You can also join discussions and ask questions directly.
  4. Check Meetup.com: Meetup.com is a platform for organizing and finding local groups. Search for cycling meetups in your area. These groups often welcome newcomers and host a variety of rides catering to different skill levels.
  5. Local Community Boards and Parks: Community centers and parks sometimes have bulletin boards with information about local clubs and events. It’s worth checking these out, especially if you prefer in-person over online searches.
  6. Word of Mouth: Don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth. Ask friends, coworkers, or acquaintances who cycle if they know of any good clubs. Personal recommendations can often lead you to the best fit.

ABC Groups

Many clubs divide riders into groups based on skill levels, often labeled as A, B, and C groups. A groups are typically for advanced riders who love speed and endurance challenges. B groups are for intermediate riders looking for a good workout without the intense pace. C groups cater to beginners or those who prefer a more relaxed ride. Find out which group suits your level and interests.

Drop and No-Drop Rides

Another important factor to consider is whether the club offers drop or no-drop rides. Drop rides mean that if you can’t keep up, you might be left behind. No-drop rides ensure that no one gets left behind, which can be reassuring for newer riders. Decide which type of ride fits your comfort level.

Exposure to Other Types of Biking

Some clubs focus solely on road biking, while others might offer a mix of disciplines, including mountain biking, cyclocross, or racing. If you’re interested in trying out different types of biking, look for a club that provides that exposure. It’s a great way to diversify your skills and find new passions.

Family-Friendly?

If you have a family, you might want to join a club that offers family-friendly events and rides. Some clubs organize rides that are suitable for kids and beginners, making it a great way to spend time with your loved ones and introduce them to the joys of cycling.

Instruction: Riding and Maintenance

Lastly, check if the club offers any instructional sessions. Many clubs provide riding clinics, maintenance workshops, and safety courses. These can be incredibly valuable, especially if you’re looking to improve your riding technique or learn how to take care of your bike.

My Experience

I was a member for several years in the Minuteman bike club in metro west Boston. It was an amazing experience. I learned new routes, was pushed to my limits on many rides, especially when I moved up a level for a little “extra”. The group was very inclusive, motivating, and generally friendly. I did join with some friends, so we had a small group within the group, which helped a lot confidence-wise. The camaraderie and support made a huge difference, and I always looked forward to our rides.

Final Thoughts

Joining a bike club can significantly enrich your cycling experience. By considering these factors, you’ll be well on your way to finding a club that meets your needs and enhances your love for biking. So, get out there, vet those clubs, and happy riding!

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Categories // Community, Rides

Waving — or Not

10.15.2013 by Ray Niekamp // 8 Comments

I’ve been feeling guilty lately. Not because I’ve done anything wrong, or bad…well, maybe some folks would blame me for what I’ve not been doing.

I haven’t been waving regularly to other cyclists I encounter on the road. I know, it’s cycling etiquette — when you meet someone in the oncoming lane, you wave.

It seems that instead of doing that, I play “cycle wave chicken.” That is, how long do you hold off on waving before you have to? Hey, I’m not the only one. I bet half the bikers I meet are playing the same game.

waveWhy, just this evening, coming home from an after-work ride, I see a cyclist heading my way. I check him out — do I recognize the jersey, or the bike, or the rider? Should I get ready to wave if I know the person? Should I wait until he acknowledges me first? Oh, crap. He just waved. Both my hands are clamped to the hoods. I return his greeting with a nod of the head.

The nod. Let’s face it, the nod isn’t an adequate substitute for the wave. Sure, you’re acknowledging the other rider, but it’s kind of condescending, isn’t it? So to take the haughtiness out of my nods, I put on a big smile as I bob my head up and down. Now, I’m not being condescending. I’m just being the village idiot.

I’m not sure where this hesitancy to wave came from. Why, I can remember a post on this very blog where I took a pro-wave attitude. It’s just that, over the years, I stopped following my own good advice.

Let’s face it, lots of times, you wave, and — nothing. No one likes rejection. Get rejected often enough, and you’re going to stop doing what gets you rejected, right?

But those no-wavers — they follow a type. Most often, they’re racer wannabes. They’ve got way faster bikes than mine. Their kit is all of one type, usually a pro team, but lots of times from a local bike shop or local racing club. Clearly, I’m just not worthy of receiving their blessing.

And those aren’t the only no-wave types. Right after I bumbled the return wave today, I resolved to do better. Ah, here comes someone. No, don’t recognize anything about him. He’s not really in cycling kit. He’s got a low-end solid color jersey, and his shorts aren’t even real cycling shorts — they’re nylon, like basketball shorts. He’s got a nice helmet, though. I wave, and — nothing. Now this guy isn’t too good to wave back at me. He must be just some guy out for a little exercise on his bike. He hasn’t learned the ways of the cyclist yet.

How about this small bunch of riders coming up a gentle hill toward me? There’s a complication here. I’m on a divided street — one lane plus a bike lane in each direction, but a raised median down the middle. Now, does that median serve as a social separation as well as a physical separation? Hm. I could ponder that one for quite awhile, and while I’m pondering, they’ve already gone by in the opposite direction. I guess the way you deal with a median is, if you recognize the other bikers, you wave. If not, you don’t.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? All right, I’ve convinced myself. Next time I’m on my bike, I will be waving. I’ll be the first to wave — again. I won’t feel rejected if the wave isn’t returned. I’ll forget it immediately, and I’ll just keep waving. Unless I’m flying down a hill at 35 mph – plus. Or unless I’m pedaling up a stiff hill, and I need both hands on the bars for added power. But otherwise — yeah, I’ll be waving.

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Categories // Community Tags // wave

Social Media and Bicycling

04.13.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 7 Comments

This evening was the first Run Far Time Trial of the year in Austin. It’s run every other Tuesday from now through September. I didn’t ride it tonight, because I’m pointing toward this weekend’s MS 150, but I did head out there for my usual Tuesday evening Veloway ride.

I won’t go into details about the time trial itself, because I’ve written about it once or twice in the past. For me, being there held the prospect of putting some faces with the names of people I see all the time on social networking sites.

I like social media. Besides this blog, I use Twitter every day. I have two accounts — one is work-related and the other is dedicated to bicycling (my most recent Tweets appear in the right column here).  I’m also on Facebook. It doesn’t eat up as much of my time as you might think.

This afternoon, the Tweets started appearing about the time trial. My friend @weiland said he would be there, and @T_Starry replied that he would, too. Then @cyberjunkie21 said he’d join the group. I replied that I’d meet them there as well. We all posted what kind of jerseys we would wear.

I got to the Veloway, where riders check in for the time trial, a little early, and decided to take a lap. Most of the time trial riders had the same idea.

Rider takes a warmup lap on the Veloway before heading out on the time trial. The wildflowers are spectacular this spring. These are Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush.

Tim Starry, aka @T_Starry, aka Old Guy On Two Wheels.

When I got out to the parking lot, I saw @T_Starry right away. His coach from Austin Cycle Camp was explaining how to attach the timing chip. I first met Tim Starry through his blog, An Old Guy On Two Wheels, then met in person back in January at an MS150-Tour de Cure training ride. We follow each other on Twitter, and read and comment on each other’s blogs, but I hadn’t seen him since then.

While we were talking, an attractive woman pulled up on her bike and greeted Tim. She introduced herself as Patti Hill. I stuck out my hand and introduced myself with my real name. Her reply was polite, but lukewarm.

“I’m Bike Noob,” I said.

“Oh, Bike Noob! Hi!” @pattidhill answered with a smile.

Another rider stuck out his hand. “I’m cyberjunkie,” he said.

“Cyberjunkie! That’s terrific!” I exclaimed.

A man standing by laughed. “You guys are a lot more friendly when you use your phony names instead of your real names,” he said.

Maybe. It’s our common ground — a starting point. We joked about our Twitter pictures, talked about rides we’d been on recently. But it was time for them to head out on the time trial course. I resumed my easy laps of the Veloway.

When I finished, I found @T_Starry and @weiland back from their time trial runs. They exchanged stories about how it went. The southeast wind was tough tonight, and smacked riders in the face during a nice downhill when they’re supposed to be making good time. Tonight, it was a struggle.

They’re all great folks, and without social media, I doubt we’d have ever met, even if our paths crossed at various cycling events. Now that I’ve met their real selves, instead of merely their virtual selves, the connection is that much more meaningful.

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Categories // Blogging, Community, Odds 'n ends Tags // Blogging, social media, time trial, Twitter, Veloway

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