Riding to get from A to B is usually not a group activity. However, if you want to get out and ride for leisure, and fancy making your cycling more sociable, joining a club or riding with a group is a great way to meet like minded people to share the road with.
Here’s a look at some of the popular London clubs, organisations, and riding opportunities available:
Sporting and Racing clubs
These are all clubs dedicated to racing – but you’ll always find they are keen to encourage and nurture new riders. If you’re interested in joining, it’s often worth getting in touch, before heading out on a ride.
Kingston Wheelers – South London
I see a lot of Kingston Wheelers on the racing scene, and they are a very active club with some inspirational riders.
It is expected that you would become a member of the club if you wanted to ride regularly, but you can test the water with a Sunday club run. Rides leave from here in Surbiton at 9am. Generally, you need to be able to ride around 40 mile rides at 15-16mph, or be able to complete three laps of Richmond Park in under 80 minutes to join a club ride.
London Dynamo – Central London
The London Dynamo is a diverse club with members who ride road races, sportives, time trials, and off-road. The club host rides on Saturday’s, Sunday’s and in the week, too. Potential new members are encouraged to try out the Saturday ride in Richmond Park, which starts at 9am in Dec-March, and 8.30am the rest of the year. As long as you are happy riding 4 laps of the park at a gentle pace, they say you’ll be just fine – so find out more if you’re interested.
Twickenham CC – West London
Twickenham members ride sportives, road races, time trials, on the track and cyclocross. The club has a varied membership, hosting a Girls Ride every third Sunday of the month, and they also have a Youth Squad for riders aged 12-16.
The Twickenham CC club house is at All Hollows Church Hall, Twickenham (TW11DA), and if you’re interested in joining, you are encourage to pop down for a chat at 8.30pm on a Tuesday.
If you want to find more London cycling clubs, try the British Cycling club finder.
Leisure Rides
These are groups and organisations that hold regular rides for people who want to enjoy riding in a group..
Central London Cycle Touring Club
The CTC represent touring cyclists, and the London division organise a range of rides on a regular basis. Generally, riders meet at a central London train station, and head out by train to the suburbs for a ride in the countryside. Every route is marked with 1 to 5 stats – one being at a pottering, easy pace, and less than 30 miles, and 5 being a harder ride of 65m+, over hilly terrain, averaging 25kph (15mph). The group promises always to ride at the pace of the slowest rider, and everyone will be looked after.
You can see all the rides on the Central London CTC website, or follow them on Facebook for updates.
London Cycling Campaign Ride Listings
The LCC are dedicated to working towards improved provision for cyclists in town. However, they also organise some social rides, as well as listing rides by other organisations. Most of the rides are categorised with the difficulty as “easy” and contact details are provided, so you can get in touch in advance to find out if the ride is for you.
You can see the list of upcoming rides here, and many of those taking place in the next few weeks are hosted by the Kingston Cycling Campaign.
Try the track
This might sound daunting, but it needn’t be. Herne Hill Velodrome host inductions sessions especially for people who have never ridden on a track before, and you can hire a track bike to use. You don’t need to book a session, but are advised to turn up around 30 minutes before it starts, at 12pm on a Saturday.
Riding on the track is extremely fun, and there are sessions for everyone, from novices to serious racers. If the idea of riding fixed with no brakes worries you, once summer is in full swing you can also attend the road bike session organised by Crystal Palace Triathletes – this starts from 1st April and takes place each Tuesday from 6.15pm.
There will certainly be groups and clubs we haven’t mentioned. Do you ride in a group? Tell us about them, and use the comments as an opportunity to tell other readers about your group..
I’m still dismayed that there’s no North London or NW road club given the proximity to regents park etc.
I totally agree, why are they no cycling clubs in North West London.
Is Willesden CC no good for you?
http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.uk/
Sorry, I see that Ian Why has posted below.
A quick Google turned up a list of clubs that may be worth perusing, to at least give you some leads to make enquiries:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100923121640AAX054q
For anyone east you tend to go out into Essex so I’d highly recommend Lea Valley CC. They do different rides depending on ability and there is an increasing racing scene.
http://www.leavalleycc.co.uk/index.html
There are plenty of long established cycling clubs in North and North West London. Check out the British Cycling web site.
I can recommend the Willesden Cycling Club but then I’m a bit biased, being a life member and Chairman.
Check our web site http://www.willesdencyclingclub.co.uk
Thanks for the tip Ian. Unfortunately i’m looking for something that meets in North London too.
Lewis – try http://www.islington.cc
Islington are a new North London club with 170 members Super friendly, lots of rides midweek and on weekends. Come along and try out a ride with us!
Ian, Where do your Sunday club rides usually leave from (and at what time)?
We meet at Shane’s Nurseries on the A40 at Denham. Rides leave at about 9:30.
There is plenty of parking in the area if you arrive by car.
I’ve started doing a bit of riding with the guys over at the new cycle cafe “G!RO” in Esher – http://girocycles.com. They do a cafe ride out on Sundays at 8.30am from the cafe, usually 2.5 hours and pace depends on who turns up. Its a great social ride, and generally a good mix of ability. They have also started a couple of ladies rides, and there is something for everyone. They also do fantastic coffee and the apple and toffee flapjacks are worth the effort!
Surprised at no mention of Dulwich Paragon for the South East, they have a decent following and are one of the larger London clubs. They too are very active at HHV and organise the Crystal Palace Crit series amongst other things.
The whole article is a bit light really. I’m sure a lot of your readers could have written a better guest article, Andreas.
In what way do you mean Matt? We can only give a taste of a few of the clubs, there’s literally 100’s!
Pollards hill cyclists near Mitcham is a good leisure club
http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk/
Pollards Hill Cyclists were instrumental in helping me take up cycling as an adult!
http://velovoice.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/why-i-cycle-for-transport-part-ii-or.html
There are also social media sites like this:
http://www.wheelsuckers.co.uk/
With a london group starting here:
http://www.wheelsuckers.co.uk/group/london-rouleurs
For longer but purely social rides with a unique selling point: the Fridays (fnrttc.blogspot.co.uk).
Not for rank beginners and there’s no competitive / training element, but it’s a very broad church — well organised, friendly and supportive to all.
And for ladies, there’s the new VeloVixen Rides group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/242623649226933/
I’d be a touch careful of recommending the Dynamo given the reputation for poor and inconsiderate riding, better DP or Twickenham
CC London are based in Bike Boutique opposite Winchmore Hill station. Our Weekend rides start from there at 9am.
We also do laps of Regents Park at 7AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays
check out the website at http://www.cc-london.com/
Kingston Rude Mechanicals for weekend social road cycling: Surrey Hills, Windsor, etc. Shorter ride Saturday, c. 25 miles, longer Sunday, 35-45. Some longer day rides and sportives. Usual meeting point HSBC in centre of Kingston at 08:40. Pace is sub-Wheelers. Also on Facebook and Twitter, @KingstonRMCC.
Website at kingstonrudemechanicals.com gives weekend ride information, not that it ever changes much.
Check out Barnet Cyclists at barnet/cc.jalbum.net/BC/index.htm
We usually go out into Hertfordshire and for around 30 miles, with tea/coffee and lunch stops. Pace is around 10 mph and it is a very sociable friendly group. Meet at North Finchley or High Barnet. Planned and publicised rides once a month plus another ‘turn up and go’.
And then there is a great riding which is not organised by any club, but is a spontaneous event, part of the London tradition and has been hold for more than 20 years now!
It takes place every last Friday of the month (every month). People meet under Waterloo Bridge, south of the River, just next to the river from 6 pm and we leave at 7 pm sharp (well, usually). The route is not previously defined and is being decided as we move through Central London, and then – who knows – to east or south or north or whatever. Normally, Buckingham Palace is part of the route, with a stop by it while the cyclists go round and round inside the central square.
The number of participants varies according to the weather. In summer we have literally thousands of cyclists. The ride takes 3, 4 or more hours, but you are free to leave when and where you like. The nice thing about it is that it is a procession-like, no cars in the middle and traffic lights do not disrupt the march once the head of the course has passed the lights. Some guys bring trolleys with a music box and it is a really a party, a kind of cycling carnival. Being there gives a bit (not completely, of course) the feeling of what London would be without cars, just bikes on the roads.
It is the London critical mass. Around 2002 the police prohibited it alleging that it caused traffic disturbance and that could not be allowed because any organised event in a public place needs previous authorisation from the police. Then, a group of Greenpeace went to the court against the police decision stating that this was not an organised event, but a spontaneous one and already part of London folklore. The court agreed to it and since then it is “officially” part of London tradition. Last April (2014) the ride celebrated its 20th anniversary.
There are some videos of it on youtube under Critical Mass London. Pace is regular and a bit variable, but slower people are always supported and waited for.
Looking forward to meet you there next time, folks 🙂
Be part of the Team of the Brandon Trust on 6 September, 2015
From city to countryside, cycle the 54 miles from Clapham Common through Mitcham, Carshalton, Chipstead, Banstead and Haywards Heath, finally finishing on Brighton Seafront.
No previous experience is required, however preparation for this event is highly recommended. With a bit of training, completing this event should be easily within your capabilities. Why not get your family and friends together and make a team of cyclists.
We ask that you raise £100 in sponsorship, with all monies going into our Dream Fund. This fund helps young people and adults with learning disabilities to have the freedom to achieve their dreams
Contact: 0117 906 2922
http://www.brandontrust.org
I’d recommend the very welcoming guys & gals from Meridian Cycling Club http://www.meridiancyclingclub.co.uk extremely friendly and a very experienced and well disciplined group resulting in no trouble with traffic, warnings and group re-shaping for cars and, importantly, always a great pub stop mid-ride where the different paced (and ride distance) groups would meet up. They tend to meet at Polhill Garden Centre or Shoreham Golf Club. Recommended!
I popped their website in my signature below, so you can click on through easily!
No clubs in North West London? How very dare you!
May I suggest the fine ensemble of The Gregarios Superclub Ciclista.
Meeting every Sunday at Cafe Fellini, Hatch End this gives us easy access to The Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Bucks, and beyond. We’re a friendly club with a great club run every week, lots of people doing Sportives, and a few having a crack at racing. It’s all about the fun, and good times on the bike.
More here: http://www.gregarios.co.uk
Gregario = support rider in an Italian race team, same as French “domestique”.
If your looking for a friendly club with members from across London check out London Clarion Cycle club which is part of the National Clarion Cycling club founded in 1894 http://www.clarioncc.org
A club that does good rides for beginners (20 to 30 miles) is the Central London Outdoor Group.
http://www.clog.org.uk/
Despite the name, they are for anyone living in and around London who enjoys walking, cycling, trips away and other outdoor activities. People of any age are welcome to join but the majority of members are in their late 30s to 50s.
There are typically four to eight events every week. You are welcome to attend three events to try out the group but after that you need to join (subs are £15 for new members)
Are there any off-road cycling clubs for a casual weekend rider? Not a hard core mtbiker…
Thanks
If you are looking for group cycle rides, a really useful resource is:
LCCRider https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/lccrider/conversations/messages
You can get details of all sorts of different cycle rides by subscribing to the above email list