5 Reasons You Should be Cycling in a Group

There is no doubt that a couple of hours alone in the saddle can be pure bliss! Some time alone, with just the road for company, is a welcome escape from the stresses of daily life. Having said that, it really does pay to ride in a group every once in a while. Not only can you ride faster for longer with a group, but the knowledge you’ll pick up along the way is invaluable. Add to that the camaraderie, motivation and energy that you get in a group, and you’ve got a winning formula. Also, it’s just nice to have someone to high-five after those gruelling climbs!

1. It will make you a better cyclist.

No matter how much you ride alone, having a group to feed off, and compete against, will make you a better cyclist. Riding in a peloton allows you and your mates to help each other out by sharing turns on the front of the group, encouraging each other when the going gets tough, and celebrating those hard won climbs. Think of your group as a team. Any good team is only as strong as the weakest member, so it is the responsibility of the group as a whole to make sure that everyone improves

2. Making new cycling friends!

Cycling can be a lonely sport at times, but it doesn’t have to be. There are loads of cycling groups very close to you, and they are crying out for you to join them on a ride. It’s a great way to meet like minded people in your area to ride with, trade tips and routes, and spend many an hour with in coffee shops, talking about expensive upgrades! Joining a cycling group opens you up to a whole host of new possibilities and cycling opportunities.

3. It’s good practise for sportives and road racing.

If you have ever entered a sportive or road race, then you will knowthat it can get quite crowded at times. Having practised in a group will stand you in really good stead for the times that it gets bunched up. Whether its descending, climbing or sprinting, being more aware of your surroundings, and the other cyclists around you, is a key skill to have. Hand signals and calls that you learn on a group ride will make you a safer cyclist, and will help the cyclists around you in a sportive environment. This is particularly true if you’re entering a really big event like Prudential Ride London; it’s a great ride, but there are so many people on the road, having prior experience of group riding will really benefit you on the day.

4. Discovering new routes and places to ride

There are so many good routes out there, so why do we always end up riding the same loop over and over again? It’s because the unknown can be scary, and because you want to make sure that the few precious hours you have to get out on the bike aren’t spent getting lost, riding on pot hole filled roads or being directed down dirt tracks! You want to make sure the route is good before setting off, and riding in a group is great for this. Exposing yourself to new riders will mean cycling new routes, where one of the group (at least) has been before, so you can explore a new area safe in the knowledge that others know where they’re going. Over time your own internal database of routes will increase to the point where you’re a font of route knowledge in your area, and will be confident in exploring new routes and pushing your cycling boundaries.

5. Coffee and cake with friends!

Let’s all be honest; coffee and cake are about 86% of the reason we cycle in the first place! Knowing that your ride leads you to a welcoming coffee house that serves excellent cake is more than enough motivation to spur you on. If you’re ride is a slightly longer one, then a halfway stop is an absolute must! A chance to fill your water bottles, have a wee (very important), discuss how the first half of the ride went and re-fuel on espresso and cake should never be missed! However, the much needed mid and end of ride coffee stops are made infinitely better by having friends to enjoy them with. And If you’re riding in a new group on a new route, it’s a great way (excuse) to try out new coffee stops, and sample new cakes!

So continue to ride alone as much as you can, and never let not having a buddy or two to ride with stop you from going out. But also search for a cycling group in your area and head along to one of the many weekly group rides. You’ll make new friends, learn an awful lot, and improve your cycling in so many different ways.

Dirty Wknd runs group rides in and around London every weekend. Join up today — www.dirtywknd.com