Is it time to finally join a cycling club, or is solo riding the ultimate way to experience the bike?
In tonight’s video, we tackle some of the toughest climbs up toward Winter Hill during an absolute stunner of a British summer evening. With clear skies offering massive elevated views across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and Lancashire, I try to break down the honest pros and cons of group riding versus going it alone.
Stick around until the end for an incredible sunset looking out past Southport and Blackpool all the way to the Irish Sea.
👇 I need your help deciding: Are you Team Club or Team Solo? Let me know your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
If you enjoyed the climb and the views, make sure to like and subscribe for more UK cycling vlogs!
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18 Comments
Hi Paul, there is a middle ground, which I think you already tread: riding with mates.. We are a bunch of older cyclists and we call ourselves Gorebridge Cycling Club, but we couldn't be further from the club environment you ( pretty accurately) described. We do have a schedule of sorts, 2 evenings, one of which ends in the pub and a weekend ride. Over the last while due to having a social media presence we have added a few "members" who ultimately all become friends! We still get all the pros you describe but none of the cons…perfect!
Solo.
I first joined a club in 84, it was just working class blokes, miners, docks, factories.
Now they seem to be very top heavy with the money people from the legal, academic, architecture and software development brigade, £10k Pinarellos , Rapha galore and the latest £300 white shoes.
I’ve very little in common with these new look clubs, I’m guessing thousands of other cyclists don’t either. I just go at my own pace, and start when I want. The local club to me advertises its ’social’ rides at around 18mph. Thats a training run to me. How does someone new to riding fit in with that?
British Cycling do some good community and guided rides if you fancy some company, they’re advertised on the Let’s Ride website. Free and well organised. CTC used to be good for social runs too.
Good video as always Paul
sounds like you have answered your own question Paul.
To be honest Paul from what I’ve seen the level of skill riding in a group leaves a lot to be desired these days I’d rather stay upright. I had years of racing in bunches and club runs now I like riding alone and sometimes with mates 👍🏻cheers for the video
nice video again Paul.
Hiya Paul. I'm not a club person. I like to do what I like to do. When I like to do it. Don't get me wrong. I like good company in a relaxed atmosphere but not when out cycling. Besides, clubs and club people always want you to do something or vote you onto a committee or maybe become the treasurer or whatever nobody else want to do in the club. No thanks. I'll be sticking to doing my thing, when and where I like to do it. To sum up……. It's all about my freedom. Best regards to his Lordship. Vote Kenneth for President🚴🚴🚴
Good subject. I ride with my local cycle touring club ( mostly, older, retired and slow), a group of friends on Saturday morning and solo a few times a week where I can listen to music and podcasts.
All enjoyable. Pros are you meet people who share your interests and social interaction. Cons are you get roped into committees and the politics too. I'd avoid a club full of young, competitive types who're into Lycra fashion.
I'd create a whatsApp group with all your cycling friends, over time others and friends of friends join in. I now have about 10 people in our group and usually 5 or so come for a Saturday morning ride.
Hi Paul join a club make some friends for life. Have great banter and the miles go past more quickly plus drafting in a group makes rides 30+% easier. Also Learn new routes & cafes. You can still ride solo whenever you want. Lots of local cycling groups on facebook or on the British Cycling website… all the best & regards to Sir Ken 👍
I used to only ride solo for a few years and really enjoyed the solitude. However, I joined a Facebook cycling group, not what you would call a ‘proper’ cycling club, no rules or snobbery, but they do post regular group rides and I’ve been riding with them for about five years now. I still do the occasional solo ride, though.
Hi Paul, nice video showing the rewards for slogging up the hills with those fantastic views!
I was in a cycling club many moons ago mainly because you had to be in one to do time trials. I didn't do many club rides as such but met some nice people and did several weekend trips away. I was then in a triathlon club and found it pretty relaxed and inclusive on the cycling front but like you I've always preferred solo cycling or informal rides with a few friends.
I have no idea what the club scene is like these days but there used to be 'Road clubs' who were more racing focused, CTC clubs for touring and some that were a bit of everything!
Have a look to see what there is in your area and see if any appeal and most importantly what is the club kit like! Just tell them you're a renowned cycling influencer on Youtube and they'll be fighting over you!
Cheers
Another great video Paul. I agree with you about riding solo, for pretty much the same reasons as yourself. I like my own company on some rides. As for riding with a club, I live between Llangollen & Wrexham, so the obvious club to join would have been Wrexham Fibrax. But at the time that I was ready to join a club, 2011, Wrexham seemed to have a bit of a reputation for, if you have a puncture or mechanical, then you sort it yourself and they continue with their ride, That's what I heard it was anyway. I was already riding over the border into Cheshire on a Saturday, to ride out on a shop ride. Very social and relaxed group, combining a few varying riding standards. Everyone rode to the least experienced riders level. Chester RC had their main club rides on a Sunday. Various groups with different riding abilities. I began with the Inters rides, very chatty, no 'heads up their own backsides' attitudes, and everyone helped and encouraged new and less experienced riders in the group. Perfect for me. Covid came and distanced me from club riding, and I never seemed to be motivated to getting back. The plus sides for me in riding with a club are. once you find the group in the club that suits all of your requirements. 1. Helpfull advice on bike problems. 2. There's always someone selling 2nd hand parts that you may need. 3. Clubs tend to benfit from a discount scheme offered by a local bike shop who supports the club. 4. There are usually offshoot groups that have midweek rides or evening rides during the lighter nights or for riders who work nightshifts etc. 5. On club rides I quite often found myself on roads that I hadn't ridden before. Then I used to think ' I could add these lanes to one of my solo rides to make an interesting deviation. 6. I used to find that the Inters rides tended to veer away from the busy main roads, and choose quieter roads or lanes. As for 'stopping at cafe halts', to be honest, they tended to be in the last quater of the rides, so a lot of the time I used to say my farewells and carry on. Usually 2 or 3 others used to do the same. I tended not to stop at cafes if I was riding solo anyway. I think that it's a case of finding a club that suits your own needs, and just ignore the 'elite, stuck up their own backsides' riders in that club. It can be very beneficial if you find the right club for you. But whatever decision you make, it's got to be right for you. p.s. sorry it's a bit long winded, but trust me, I could go on. My wife and close friends say that I would get a gold medal in talking for wales. 😂
Why not both
Enjoyed the vlog
That sky is amazing
Keep doing what you are doing. We joined a club when we first started cycling just because we thought it’d be nice to have people to cycle with. As we worked for ourselves we could go out at times others couldn’t, as well as club rides. When we invited friends we’d made out with us we were made to open the rides up to the whole club!!!! Needless to say, it didn’t end well, we were forced out by the constant nastiness and jealousy of others. The people that were our ‘friends’ decided to keep away from us and we now wish we’d never got involved.
Hi Paul. Beautiful scenery on your evening ride. You are obviously self motivated so don’t need to belong to a club to make yourself get out. Only pro for me would be gaining knowledge from other club members.
HI Paul, They're all to fast for me, in fact everyone rides faster than me! I can't seem to get above 9mph average pace according to Strava. Most clubs are averaging 16mph so I just ride on my own at my leisurely pace. If you're enjoying yourself just stay as you are. Happy Cycling and I hope you and Ken enjoy the rest of the summer.
Hello again sir , winter hill so I’ve don’t it twice but from the other side from foxholes it’s shorter but it’s very steep early on ! The road from montecliffe house to the mast I think the sign is more of a deterrent as many have been up there according to Strava , when I was up there weirdly there was NO wind ! Very strange but peaceful great views all round though . As for clubs my self it would be pointless as I work weekends , my weekends are Tuesday/ Wednesday & no clubs really exist for those days . I would say just try it once in a club & see what happens as Theres a chance you may just enjoy it , never know I till it’s tried .
I am in the cycling club I have made some great friends and it gets me out
Hi Paul. A mix of both works for me. Clubs are great for knowledge of routes, cafes and bike related information. I really enjoy solo riding as there's no time restrictions and the freedom of stopping to admire the scenery and setting the pace 😅. Definitely have a look at British Cyclings Lets Ride website. Might be something of interest for you and Ken. Breeze rides are for ladies only so might be something for Lorraine? Another great video, interesting subject 👍