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After thrilling on your couch to the exploits of your favorite cyclists, you discovered what road cycling was and, as a result, you may have been inspired to take the plunge. Even though cycling is basically an individual sport, you may be wondering whether it's better to ride solo or in a club to get started (and progress). We bring you some answers in this article.
Road Bike Training
Whether you ride alone or in a group, road bike training will differ and, as a result, your bike rides will not be the same. Ideally, you should be able to alternate between solo rides to specifically work on certain points and club rides to learn how to ride in a pack.
Joining a club is also an opportunity to go on friendly outings, accompanied by other cycling enthusiasts, to discover new routes and to outdo yourself thanks to the group effect.
If you're a woman, don't worry: the percentage of female cyclists is increasing every year in the clubs. So you probably won't be isolated in the peloton.
For budding cyclists (young people under 18), clubs also offer bike schools to learn the basics of cycling in a fun way, but also to prepare for competition.
How to find a club
If you want to opt for road cycling in a club, then you will need to choose the right club, that is, the one that will suit your practice. But how do you find a club that fits you?
In fact, if you want to ride for pleasure at your own pace you will not join the same club as if you want to tickle the clock in cyclosportive events or races. In the first case, you will have to turn to clubs belonging to the FF Vélo (Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme) while in the second case it will be better to turn to clubs attached to the FFC (Fédération Française de Cyclisme).
Some clubs also offer both road trips and mountain bike trips: ideal if you want to enjoy both disciplines in addition. You can find a list of clubs attached to these federations on their respective websites.
