16 tips for women on choosing the right cycling group

Joining a cycling group is a great way to get more out of your cycling. Whether that’s going further or faster, improving fitness, finding more places to cycle to, learning new skills or trying something new. It might simply be to add a social element to your riding that’s lacking on your solo rides or cycles to work or the shops.

One of the main reasons for joining a club is increased safety. You’ll be riding as part of a group, many of whom will be experienced riders, and there really is safety in numbers. A perceived lack of safety is one of the main reasons women give for not cycling and being part of a group will help address this.

Sadly, harassment from other road users is also a part of women’s cycling lives. This is much less likely to happen when you’ve got 20 other people to back you up.

However, joining a new club, or even moving to a different one, can be intimidating. This is especially true for women where issues of safety and self-confidence come into play.

Women I’ve spoken to talk of a fear of being left behind – or dropped – during a ride as the (mostly male) members of the group speed off. Several women say they have been dropped despite a club claiming a ‘no-drop policy’. Others have been told: “Go home. You’re too slow.”

The advice given here applies to anyone looking to join a cycling group, but I will address it to women because that’s where my experience lies. And to be clear, the vast majority of clubs are friendly, welcoming places; but there is a minority that can be exclusionary.

1. Think about why you want to join a club

The first thing to do is identify what you want to get out of being a club member. Are you looking for the social aspect, or is fitness more your thing? Do you want to improve your speed with a view to racing? Or maybe you want to try something new or learn new skills.

It’s likely that you’ll have several reasons for joining a club, so identify which of these is most important to you and use that as your basis. There are clubs and groups out there covering pretty much everything you can think of and probably some things you can’t, so it will help you choose the right one if you know exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for a women-only club or one that holds women’s rides then keep that in mind when searching for the right club.

2. Assess your skills and ride style

Most clubs will give an average distance of their rides and average speed. This can be daunting if you’ve never joined a club before, but the idea is to help you choose the right club.

Be honest with yourself about your own skill level and ride style – if you prefer a slow social ride through parks and quiet lanes then you’re not going to be happy in a club that concentrates on long-distance speedy road rides. Unless, of course, you’re looking to push yourself.

Women tend to lack confidence in this area, often underestimating our own ability. Several women have told me they can’t join a club because they’re not fast enough/can’t go far enough/don’t know enough (delete as appropriate).

This is wrong on at least two counts. First, whatever level you’re at, there will be a group out there for you. There are some wonderful groups like CycleSisters and JoyRiders that are aimed at women and offer training and even bikes and kit if you lack equipment.

But also, chances are, unless you’re a complete beginner, you’re underselling yourself. It’s likely that you can go further and faster than you think, especially if you cycle regularly, even if that’s only to the shops or work.

Racing ahead of the group is just as frustrating as being dropped off the back – both for you and the rest of the riders. So be honest with yourself and acknowledge what you really can do.

3. Kill those concerns about kit

You can’t join a club until you’ve got the right bike, the right clothing and even the right sunglasses, right? Wrong! The right kit is exactly what you’ve already got so stop letting the idea that you need to buy a whole load of new gear put you off.

It’s true that some clubs might require certain bikes or kit due to the type of riding they do. This will be obvious from their website and other communications. However, most will let you join one ride with what you’ve got, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether you want to join the club – before you start spending money.

The only necessary thing is to make sure that your bike is well maintained and road worthy.

4. Find clubs near you

You’re now ready to start looking for local clubs. There are several ways to do this. Cycling UK has a network of around 1,000 member and affiliate groups across the UK. Use our searchable group listing to find one close to you.

You can also search Facebook, council websites, talk to someone at your local bike shop for advice or even go old school and try the library. Many clubs also put up notices in cafés and pubs.

It is important to find clubs that are located nearby, with rides heading out from locations convenient to you. I once joined a club based in west London. They were a lovely bunch of people but riding the 20-something miles from east London to Richmond Park before every ride and then back again was just too much.

5. Do some research

You should now have a list of prospective groups. Now it’s time to narrow it down to the most likely candidates.

Most clubs will have an online presence, whether that’s a website, Facebook group or Instagram page. Check these out to get a flavour of the club’s ethos. A Facebook group where members have left comments will give you a good insight into the club’s approach, as well as the personality of the members.

There are a few things to consider when doing your research:

• Group size: do you want a small group where you can get to know everyone well, or a bigger one with more members? Larger groups are likely to have more going on but might feel more intimidating initially. A smaller one might focus on exactly what you’re looking for.
• Ride length and intensity: how far and how fast do you want to go? Everything from day-long 100-milers to leisurely cycles to a local café will be on offer, so there’s sure to be something for you.
• The social side: are there events outside of the rides and is this something you’re interested in? Some clubs organise socials and even holidays abroad – where cycling can take up more or less of the itinerary. Bigger clubs mean more people and hopefully more diversity.
• Ride schedule and frequency: when and how often do you want to ride? If you’re looking for a weekly meet-up, a club that only puts on rides on the second Wednesday of the month isn’t going to work. Larger clubs are likely to offer more different types of rides with more frequency.
• Learning opportunities: you’ll learn more just by being in a club. As you meet more people, they’ll share their knowledge and experience, and you’ll improve your skills almost by osmosis. But if you’re looking to learn something in particular, some clubs might host training sessions.

6. Make a shortlist

You should now have a good list of potential clubs to choose from – but if you’ve only found one or two you skip this bit! Armed with your research and reasons why you want to join a club, you can narrow this list down to a few preferred options.

Choose a few – two to four is probably ideal. If you’re lucky enough to have a long list, be ruthless. You want a sufficient amount to be sure that you’ll find a club that’s right for you, but not so many that you spend too much time going on test runs with different clubs.

Look for ones that closely align with your goals and are local to you and run rides that are easy for you get to. The latter is important, especially if the social aspect of a club is one of your reasons for joining. Enthusiasm for going to social events will soon wane if you’ve got miles to travel home afterwards.

7. Contact the club secretary

Get in touch with the secretaries of your shortlisted clubs – email is probably best. You should be able to find an email address on the club’s website or Facebook page. This is your chance to ask any questions you might have and to put any fears to rest.

Let the secretary know what you want to gain from joining the club and tell them about your cycling experience and skill level. Again, be honest and don’t talk yourself down. They’ll be able to advise you on whether this is club for you and which rides would suit you.

Ask how information about rides is communicated. You might need to join an email or WhatsApp group. If it’s all via Facebook, then you’ll need to be on that platform. It’s easy to assume everyone is these days but that’s not necessarily the case.

You’ll need to know about ride updates, changes to the route or schedule or cancellations, so a means of communication that you’re comfortable with is important.

You can find out what you need to take with you on rides. Will you need a device that can open GPX files in order to access the route? You can even ask about what sort of people usually attend the rides. Ask any questions that will end those nagging doubts that have put you off joining a club so far!

8. Get a good understanding of what rides are on offer

Part of the anxiety around joining a new club comes from not knowing what to expect from the rides. Find out as much as you can. Ask about the average length and speed of the rides, their frequency and days and times.

You can also ask about the other riders – how many attend the rides? What’s the gender split? And the age range? These things might not matter to you, but for some people they’re indicative of how ‘at home’ they’ll feel in the group.

Find out about the types of rides on offer, too. Larger clubs often run several rides for differing abilities. The A group, for example, will go for longer, faster rides, a B group might do the same route but at a slower pace. The social group will be at a much more leisurely pace with a shorter distance and almost always a café stop.

Get down to the specifics – your idea of a social ride might be different from someone else’s, so ask about the distance and speed of some recent rides. If the routes are on apps such as Komoot or Strava, you can even ask for a link.

This is also your chance to find out about women’s specific rides if that’s something you’re interested in.

With all this information, you can confidently choose the right ride for you.

9. Fees and membership requirements

Most clubs will have membership fees. These are to cover things like group ride insurance and admin costs. These are usually modest – clubs aren’t out to make a profit. However, you should find out in advance what they are to ensure they’re within your budget.

There may be other financial commitments, such as event registration, kit or equipment. Again, these are unlikely to be high, but investing in a particular bike or club kit might be more than you’re willing to pay.

There may be other requirements to joining too, so make sure you ask about these. If you’re looking to race, for example, you’ll need to be a member of British Cycling, which comes with further financial outlays.

10. Familiarise yourself with the group ride guidelines

If you’re new to group riding, there’s some general etiquette you should know about. This is mostly common sense, but it’s a good idea to read our advice in advance.

However, individual groups are likely to have their own rules and guidelines and you should be familiar with these too. You should be able to find them on the group’s website or Facebook page. If not, ask the secretary.

A good ride leader will run through the guidelines with new riders before setting off, but this isn’t necessarily the best time to take in or retain new information, especially if the guidelines require you to bring something that you’ve left at home. Some clubs might require you to wear a helmet for their insurance.

Knowing exactly what’s expected of you take the anxiety out of joining the ride and make things much more pleasant for you.

11. Join a ride

You’re now ready for the exciting bit – joining a ride and meeting the rest of the group!

Cycling UK members can join as many member groups’ rides as they want to while non-members can join up to three rides. Other clubs will have different rules, so be sure to find out. But most clubs will let non-members come along to at least one ride.

Prepare everything you need the night before so that you’re not scrabbling around looking for things on the day of the ride. The basics to take with you are spare innertube or puncture repair kit, mini-pump, sufficient water and snacks for the duration of the ride and cash and card for any café stops.

It’s a good idea to check the weather, too, and bring a waterproof or warmer jacket if the conditions require it.

Let the ride leader know you’re coming so that they know to look out for you. A good ride leader will make you feel welcome and ensure smooth coordination, route planning and communication among members.

The ride leader of that south-west London club I joined was brilliant. Friendly, welcoming, ran through the route and guidelines and kept everyone together. No drop really meant no drop.

If you can’t make it to the ride, again, let the ride leader know – otherwise they might hold up the group waiting for you to arrive.

It’s a good idea to get a route description or GPX file. This is mostly for peace of mind – it’s a good way of managing any ride anxiety. You’ll be familiar with the route in advance of riding it and you’ll be able to find your way if you get left behind.

The truth is that it’s highly unlikely that this will happen, but it’s comforting to know that you won’t get lost in the middle of nowhere if the worst does happen.

It will also mean you can identify leave points if you don’t like it or can’t keep up. If you do choose to leave the ride, though, let the ride leader know first.

12. Tell someone that you’re going on the ride

You wouldn’t go on a blind date without informing a friend; treat your trial club ride in the same way. Tell someone your whereabouts, where you’re meeting, about the route and when you expect to be back.

Telling a friend also provides a bit of accountability. It’s harder to back out if you know someone is going to ask you how it all went.

If you’re really nervous, have a friend come with you to the start point and meet you at the end. Even better, persuade a friend to go with you.

13. Find the group that fits

Don’t be afraid to shop around. You should try out more than one club before making your decision on which one to join. Don’t feel like you have to stay with a group if you’re not happy.

You should feel welcome and included. How this shows up will depend on the type of ride. If it’s a racy group, members aren’t going to want to hang around to chat. But they should still be friendly and you should feel comfortable.

Remember, you’re probably going to spend a lot of time with these people, so you want to be sure you get on with them. If you don’t, or you have any doubts, move on and try another club.

14. Go for it!

You’ve found a group you like; other members are your kind of people. The rides are on the right days, at the right times and the exact right speed and distance. It’s got everything you’re looking for and all at an affordable cost.

So go for it – join the club. You’ve got nothing to lose and plenty to gain!

15. Give something back

You’ve found your club and been a regular member for a while. Along the way you’ve learnt loads, made new friends and got more out of your cycling. You can say thanks by volunteering.

Maybe the club secretary is standing down after years of service. You could apply for the position. The next time someone sends an enquiring email asking about the club’s ethos, you’ll be the one giving them the information they need and encouraging them to come along to a ride.

Or maybe you’ve seen a gap in the rides on offer and think you know how to fill it. The club might even support you to undertake ride leader training so you can safely lead your own group rides.

Volunteering is a great way to give something back to a club that made you feel welcome. It also improves wellbeing and helps you learn new skills.

16. Can’t find the club for you? Set up your own

If you’ve tried all this and still can’t find the right club, you could always try starting your own. Cycling groups don’t need to be well-oiled organisations – especially at the beginning. Setting one up can be as easy as a few shoutouts on social media and then a commitment to riding together regularly until it grows into something bigger.

You can be as specific as you like in what you’re doing to ensure the new group sets off in the right direction. Read our advice on starting your own group for more information. As numbers increase you make the group more formal and even consider affiliating to Cycling UK.

Joining a cycling club is a great way to get more out of cycling, and armed with our advice you’ll be able to find the right one for you.