Your local bike store should be your first visit when hunting for a cycling squad. Typically, shops will either know about local groups and clubs or will even host group rides from various locations. Make sure the shop knows your skill level and that you are as honest as possible so that the employees can assist you to connect with the right people.
If you want something more informal than traditional cycling clubs, there are many riding groups to be discovered on sites like MeetUp. Meetup.com has over 1,000 groups worldwide with over 400,000 people that list “bicycling” as one of their topics.
Most large towns have a bike advocacy club that works relentlessly to unite the local riding community around their common causes, such as better bike lanes and other infrastructure. They’ve made connections with everyone in the neighborhood who rides a bike or even has a remote interest in riding and can guide you in the right direction.
Check out Instagram and click on locations you’re already riding to see who else is riding there.
You may also search for Facebook pages or groups in your area—most towns have at least one or two dedicated cycling pages where you can make arrangements or join in on group rides. They usually have imaginative names like “name of place> road cycling club,” where refers to the town or area in which they are based. Or sometimes they call themselves ‘ wheelers’
Strava also has local groups and clubs to join, which can be a great way to meet cyclists who ride at a similar pace and on the same schedule as you.
If a group isn’t the right fit for you, there’s no shame in walking away and trying something else.
Switch things up and try a different group or type of ride if a ride isn’t working out for you or you’re not having fun. It’s also fine if your buddy drops out of the group ride or the cool fast guy stops showing up, and you don’t feel like going. A good cycling companion isn’t something that should feel forced.
Finding the right cycling club or group for you can take some time and effort, but it will be well worth it if you find the “sweet spot.” Best of luck!
