Just getting back into it

Hey All

I've been in the UK now for about 4 years, originally from South Africa. About 13 years back I was
big into cycling (competitive) but haven't actually done any riding whatsoever for about 10 years or
so. Recently a friend of mine who just went back to South Africa sold me his Bianchi for 250 quid.
I've started doing a bit of riding on weekends and when I can squeeze it in during the week (not
much in winter) but its pretty boring riding by yourself the whole time. I accept that when training
you should actually ride by yourself but I'm not competitive and don't think I ever will be again
because of the time and effort you need to put in..just don't have it.

One of the big differences I have noticed about Cycling in South Africa and cycling over here, if
you join a club here...its all geared towards competition (at least the ones I've seen), strict
training and hard rides. There doesn't seem to be any sort of informal cycle clubs...the "we'll just
get together on a Sunday morning and go do an easy 70K's" type clubs. Its all very organised and
competitive.

The second thing I have noticed is that there aren't many fun rides, In South Africa...there were 2
or 3 fun rides (charity rides...London to Brighton type rides) every weekend. At each ride you had
different classes...the pro's, the amateurs...the club riders and then the rest of the bunch that
just wanted to go for a ride with a bunch of people. The start was staggered by class with the pro's
heading off first. The rides with the bigger prize money attracted better teams and because there
were so many of these on the weekend you could pick and choose which rides you wanted to do. An
excellent place to train in a semi competitive environment and have a good ride if you just wanted
to take it easy.

A friend of mine at work just got himself a half decent Trek 1200, at least now I'll have someone to
go riding with...he is fitter than me which is a good thing. He'll push me. Still going to check out
the Audax rides...haven't been on one yet.

Jose

Alex wrote:

> One of the big differences I have noticed about Cycling in South Africa and cycling over here, if
> you join a club here...its all geared towards competition (at least the ones I've seen), strict
> training and hard rides. There doesn't seem to be any sort of informal cycle clubs...the "we'll
> just get together on a Sunday morning and go do an easy 70K's" type clubs. Its all very organised
> and competitive.

Some clubs have 'club runs' but even then they sometimes are not very socialable. I don't like
cycling clubs in the UK, they tend to be very clique-y, lots of snobbery about equipment and lots of
in jokes. (Train spotters on bikes)

> The second thing I have noticed is that there aren't many fun rides, In South Africa...there were
> 2 or 3 fun rides (charity rides...London to Brighton type rides) every weekend. At each ride you
> had different classes...the pro's, the amateurs...the club riders and then the rest of the bunch
> that just wanted to go for a ride with a bunch of people. The start was staggered by class with
> the pro's heading off first. The rides with the bigger prize money attracted better teams and
> because there were so many of these on the weekend you could pick and choose which rides you
> wanted to do. An excellent place to train in a semi competitive environment and have a good ride
> if you just wanted to take it easy.

There is quite a lot of these rides in the summer months, google for the Bike Events web site and
see what they do. One will not have the choice of two or three each weekend unless you are prepared
to travel or live in London. There tends to be annual favorites like L2B or Manchester/Norwich 100s,
Wetherby-Scarborough, Morecambe-Scarborough. Most are one way which creates logistics problems and
puts people off - like me whose wife does not drive, hence they are not as popular as maybe they
should be. Personally I do most miles on my own, got used to it now and enjoy the solitude.

> Still going to check out the Audax rides...haven't been on one yet.

Thats something I have been saying I'll do

> Jose

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On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 21:06:34 +0000, Alex wrote:

> One of the big differences I have noticed about Cycling in South Africa and cycling over here, if
> you join a club here...its all geared towards competition (at least the ones I've seen), strict
> training and hard rides. There doesn't seem to be any sort of informal cycle clubs...the "we'll
> just get together on a Sunday morning and go do an easy 70K's" type clubs. Its all very organised
> and competitive.

Well, check out any London Cycling Campaign local group ride. Definitely at the social ride end of
the scale.

(I do realise that you may be in any part of the UK)

Alex wrote:

> One of the big differences I have noticed about Cycling in South Africa and cycling over here, if
> you join a club here...its all geared towards competition (at least the ones I've seen), strict
> training and hard rides. There doesn't seem to be any sort of informal cycle clubs...

The CTC is more of a national organisation than an informal cycle club, but local CTC groups may
well do what you're looking for. In Tayside they have local informal rides split between short
family and longer "experienced rider" sessions. You *won't* be left behind, there are stops while
waiting up for folk and for snacks and a pub lunch. Only real problem is they're only once a month
here, but other local groups may well be more active.

> A friend of mine at work just got himself a half decent Trek 1200, at least now I'll have someone
> to go riding with...h

Most of my day tours are just with pals. It's easy enough and works well enough that I've never felt
the need to look into a club, but I'm lucky enough to have quite a few cycling friends and easy
access to country lanes...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Alex wrote:

> Hey All
>
> I've been in the UK now for about 4 years, originally from South Africa. About 13 years back I was
> big into cycling (competitive) but haven't actually done any riding whatsoever for about 10 years
> or so. Recently a friend of mine who just went back to South Africa sold me his Bianchi for 250
> quid. I've started doing a bit of riding on weekends and when I can squeeze it in during the week
> (not much in winter) but its pretty boring riding by yourself the whole time. I accept that when
> training you should actually ride by yourself but I'm not competitive and don't think I ever will
> be again because of the time and effort you need to put in..just don't have it.
>
> One of the big differences I have noticed about Cycling in South Africa and cycling over here, if
> you join a club here...its all geared towards competition (at least the ones I've seen), strict
> training and hard rides. There doesn't seem to be any sort of informal cycle clubs...the "we'll
> just get together on a Sunday morning and go do an easy 70K's" type clubs. Its all very organised
> and competitive.
>
> The second thing I have noticed is that there aren't many fun rides, In South Africa...there were
> 2 or 3 fun rides (charity rides...London to Brighton type rides) every weekend. At each ride you
> had different classes...the pro's, the amateurs...the club riders and then the rest of the bunch
> that just wanted to go for a ride with a bunch of people. The start was staggered by class with
> the pro's heading off first. The rides with the bigger prize money attracted better teams and
> because there were so many of these on the weekend you could pick and choose which rides you
> wanted to do. An excellent place to train in a semi competitive environment and have a good ride
> if you just wanted to take it easy.
>
> A friend of mine at work just got himself a half decent Trek 1200, at least now I'll have someone
> to go riding with...he is fitter than me which is a good thing. He'll push me. Still going to
> check out the Audax rides...haven't been on one yet.

Try your local CTC group. Warning - they are *not* fast but they ride huge distances.

"MSeries" <skankmartin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bnqj0c$14k71p$1@ID-207671.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> Some clubs have 'club runs' but even then they sometimes are not very socialable. I don't like
> cycling clubs in the UK, they tend to be very clique-y, lots of snobbery about equipment and lots
> of in jokes. (Train spotters on bikes)

Find another club.

T

Tony W wrote:

> Find another club.
>
> T

I shall not be doing that, I have no desire to be a member of a club these days.

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"MSeries" <skankmartin@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bnqoft$14fltu$1@ID-207671.news.uni-berlin.de...

>
> I shall not be doing that, I have no desire to be a member of a club these days.

Then don't slag off clubs if you apply the Marx principle to joining (I wouldn't want to be a member
of any club that would accept me).

T

Tony W wrote:

> Then don't slag off clubs if you apply the Marx principle to joining (I wouldn't want to be a
> member of any club that would accept me).

OK, sorry. I assume you are a club rider who feels offended by my statements earlier. Please
accept my apologies and they go out to all other club riders. Of course I was generalising and
have not ridden with every club in the UK, I was simply offering my opinion on the ones I have met
whilst on the road.

Good job I didn't post what I first typed :-) ! Over to you McCourt


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