Sick of always riding alone? While the occasional solo sufferfest can be fulfilling in that “you versus the road” kind of way, there’s a lot to be gained from riding with a group.
Pedalling with a crew can prep you for racing, or just help you develop fitness and mental toughness. (After all, it’s easier to hammer up a hill when you have people to chase.)
But finding the right group can be hard. Maybe the first group ride you tried ended in tears, or with you getting unceremoniously dropped. Maybe you were too fast for the beginner-friendly, no-drop ride and ended up feeling bored.
Don’t give up: It’s worth doing some homework to find or create your own cycling squad. We asked some expert ride co-ordinators, coaches, and local legends for their top tips on forming a ride crew to keep things fun – and keep you riding hard.
Check Your Local Bike Shop
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The first stop when hunting for a cycling squad should be your local bike shop. Typically, shops will either know about local groups and clubs, or will even host group rides from various locations. Make sure you let the shop know your skill level, and be as honest as possible so that the employees there can help hook you up with the right people.
“You really need to fit in with the group for it to work in the long term,” says mountain biking coach Carl Roe. That means looking for a group that will push you to be better – but won’t be so advanced that you can’t keep up enough to work on your skills. “We found you can’t concentrate on technique while you’re coughing up a lung,” Roe adds.
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