How to join a cycling club

Joining a cycling club can completely transform your cycling experience. It makes cycling more sociable, structured and supportive. Through a cycling club, you can learn the best local routes, get to know local cyclists and become involved with racing.

However, joining a local club isn’t always simple. Turning up for the first time can be intimidating, and it’s not always clear what the etiquette is.

Read more: Group ride etiquette: 8 unwritten rules you need to know

Here’s our guide on how to do it. We’ll talk about how to find local clubs, tips for joining your first ride, and more.

Step 1: Find a club

There are a couple of ways you can find local clubs. Firstly, search online. Most cycling clubs have a website, so a simple search for the place you live plus ‘cycling club’ will probably lead you to them. Try other search terms like ‘cycling groups’ or even ‘wheelers’, a term used by some more traditional cycling clubs. Clubs that don’t have a website will typically have an Instagram or Facebook page, so search there too.

Additionally, keep your eyes peeled for club jerseys when you’re in town or out on the roads. Not every cycling club pops up on an internet search, but you can often find groups of cyclists in club jerseys either sitting in cafes or riding on popular cycling roads in your area. If you see a group like this, either make a note of the club name or say hello and ask about the club.

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Step 2: Find an ‘open’ ride

Most clubs run several rides through the week, but often they nominate one as an ‘open’ ride, where they encourage new riders to come along. This is the best one for you to attend as a new cyclist. It’s probably a social ride, meeting at an easy-to-find location and led by an old-hand from within the club.

In most larger clubs, they run more than one ride on a weekend, catering to different paces and fitness levels. Look at the pacing options, and choose the one you think you’ll be able to ride with comfortably – spending your first ride desperately trying to keep up isn’t going to give you a good representation of what a club ride should feel like.

Read more: How to ride in a group: Eight tips on group riding etiquette

If the open ride doesn’t suit your schedule, drop the club a message or email to ask if you can join one of the other rides. In many cases, they’ll be more than happy for you to join. However, if their other rides are dedicated to certain types of training, or if they are more informally run than the open ride, it might be an odd environment to join as a newcomer.

Step 3: Make contact

Even if you’re on the fence about joining, let the club know that you’re tempted. Often, the tone of their response will tell you a lot about whether this is the kind of club you want to join.

Additionally, some clubs will have outdated information on their website – in many cases, members rely on a Whatsapp group or similar for up-to-date club info. With that in mind, it’s worth checking that the rides are running as scheduled before you turn up.

And let the club know that you’re coming along on their ride. It’ll mean they’re anticipating you, and it’ll probably make that first encounter when you meet in the town square that bit easier. They might point you towards a group that suits your abilities, introduce you to the ride leader, or give more information about the ride.

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There's no need to wear club kit

Step 4: No need for club kit or membership at first

Plenty of people make the mistake of thinking that they need to pay membership or get club kit to attend that first ride.

In reality, that’s not the case. Clubs are always happy to see new people joining their rides, and they would never expect someone to commit to the club before they’ve given the group a try. Just come along in your regular kit, and worry about paying membership once you’ve tried out the club.

Step 5: Be courteous on that first ride

It can be tempting to feel like you need to prove how strong you are on that first ride. That really isn’t the case. Focus instead on being a cooperative part of the group. Ride predictably, and point out obstacles or potholes to others as you ride. Follow the lead of the group, take your turns on the front if it’s that kind of ride, and don’t use the hills to smoke your ride buddies.

This first ride is your chance to get to know the crowd and find out more about how the club works. Ask members about the other rides that take place during the week and any other events the club is involved with. Most town clubs have a racer or two among their ranks, and a fast group of riders to match. Some even host international trips to cycling meccas like Mallorca for members.

Step 6: Before you go again, buy a membership

If you enjoyed the first ride, you might want to go again the following week. Before you do, check the guidance for the club you’re joining. Many request that riders buy membership before they attend more rides. In some cases, they specify that you can attend two or three rides before paying. Usually, membership is affordable – in the UK, £20 is fairly standard for a cycling club annual membership. That’s pretty good value for a year of activities and events.

What else should people consider before joining a cycling club? Let us know in the comments.

For more of the latest from the world of cycling, visit our general cycling news page.