---json
{
  "title": "Trying out a cycling club",
  "date": "2024-06-03T07:22:26.701Z",
  "tags": [
    "cycling"
  ],
  "excerpt": "I went for a trial ride with a local cycling club yesterday, after pretty much exclusively riding alone for the last two years"
}
---

For the last two years or so I've been cycling on my own, with a couple of small exceptions, like joining ad-hoc groups during events. When I _have_ joined those groups, I've had a great time and really enjoyed it, and yet for some reason have held off from joining a cycling club.

I think a part of it has been a touch of anxiety, that little voice that worries that I'm not going to be a good enough cyclist, or that it'll be elitist and I'll be judged on the quality of my bike or gear[^1]. But, after hearing about them from a friend of my mother-in-laws who rides with them every week, I decided to give [Salford Cycling Club](https://www.salfordcycling.club/) a try, as they give potential members three rides before needing to join properly.

I'm so glad I did, none of the things that I worried about came to fruition. The pace was ideal for me: not too strenuous, but still fun, and the ride leaders were very aware of things like keeping the group together and checking that the pace was manageable. I had loads of fun, and really enjoyed the experience. I'll be back there for sure, and given membership is about £15 a year I'll probably just join up immediately.

[^1]: This has literally never happened to me as a cyclist, and yet I still worry about it