London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

Is anyone here a member of a road club in London? Which ones are best? I'm looking to join one based in South London next year and would like to hear peoples opinions of them

Hippy is, isn't he?

there are quite a few. i'm not a member but i think VCL, Addiscombe and dulwich paragon all seem to have a nice attitude. unless you are super competitive and a bit of a cock then london dynamo probably isn't for you.(my opinion not a fact)
there is rollapaluza.cc nice people but there seem to be very few club runs and they seem to go from the east

Yeah I'm in Willesden CC and Rollapaluza CC.
Willesden is kinda NW London so you might wanna lookat at Dulwich Paragon, VCL, Rollapaluza um and othe south London clubs of which I cannot think of any since I never cross the river for fear of trolls.

Cheers, had looked at Rollapalluza but really wanted to join the club for the runs and had noticed they didn't seem to do much. Also had similar feeling to some of the Dynamo guys I've seen out as you Mr Smith! Think I'll try Dulwich Paragon, need to get out on loads of rides if I'm to make all the sportives I've entered for next year.

Let us know what you've entered on the sportive thread (search for it).

I'm a member of Cycling Club Hackney:

http://www.cyclingclubhackney.co.uk/

We started last year. As we're supported by Hackney Council and the Learning Trust, we do a lot of youth development work. Club run (almost) every Sunday (waits for everyone). Winter turbo training on Wednesdays. Hoping to start entering road races this coming season. It's not in daccordi's area but if anyone else is interested, join us!

how far south is south? theres a kingston club
http://www.kingstonwheelers.com/

well there were club runs, but the bloke who led them gave up cycling for some croquet thing and they were from the east anyway.

the rest of us like going round in circles, or are (like hippy) roadies who belong to another club.

I'd like to give the going round in circles a try but need to do more club runs for this year. I've seen you all a few times in Richmond Park on Saturday mornings.

Look at British cycling for a full list.

London Phoenix, San Fairy Anne, numerous others.

London Dynamo is the largest and is thought to be less friendly than the smaller clubs but it will depend on your own perception.

Rollapaluza is by far and away the jolliest, has the nicest kit and is the most relaxed. Although formal club runs are a rareity, join and organise one.

Not all of us, no more than half a dozen each week so far. Do say hello next time.

I've had a year with London Dynamo, my first foray into cycling with a club. I enjoyed it at first mainly because it was a new experience, but haven't found it to be as friendly as I had hoped. That said I have met some decent people through it and the club is very well organised and has a lot of runs mid week Saturdays and Sundays.

Notwithstanding that I won't be renewing my membership next year. At races and through forums the guys at both Dulwich Paragon and Kingston Wheelers seem like a good bunch.

will do, was going in the oposite direction than you last time so couldn't really stop for a chat

Littigator, you know that Rollapaluza is actually the club for you. Do the decent thing and join.

daccordi, I was the fat slow one. Ride anti clockwise and you will catch me. I am normally too out of breath for a chat but you can do the talking ;o)

I thought Addiscombe CC was the largest?

...Only if you're basing that on cumulative age.


VCLs good and very social - mainly focused on kids and track though.

Dulwich are more into road stuff - all seem pretty friendly too and do loads of different club-runs on different days and time.

Not another one! Will this croquet madness never end?

There has been talk of South and East Rollapaluza runs...I'd be happy to lead some if I were fitter and had time!! so we're hoping the members get organised even if it means tagging on to the Brixton / VCL / Dulwich runs which go from the Cafe St Germain on Sunday mornings.....having said that these three clubs don't mind newcomers joining their runs as long as you are honest about your abilities.

Rollapaluza is certainly the most relaxed about racing, but oddly we've had a lot of success too with Jos, Andrew, Daave and Rhys all doing well this season, with plenty of racing from others.

We do have the nicest kit (thanks Wayne) and friendliest members.

It's looking likely that our East club runs may even start from Tour de Ville, London Fields....as they have a cafe there as well.

I joined Dynamo same time as liitigator, though I haven't met him. I live near Richmond Park which was the reason I joined. I've enjoyed a few things, I met pigfarmer and introduced him to fixed, and the club rides are good, especially in summer. I got a lift to the Dragon ride and members are supportive. Not nearly as social as lfgss, and have a bad reputation on the outside. Despite the cons I will renew my membership next year, as Dulwich is a bit too far..
Forgot to add I got my Nagasawa through Dynamo too.

http://www.hounslowanddistrictwheelers.co.uk/

As I'm sure you know, this is my club.

We are not exactly a South London club, but we have become much more 'District' than Hounslow so far as our address list is concerned, with members coming from the West of England on one side, to France on the other. Ideally you need to be able to get to Staines Bridge on Sunday mornings - the use of cars or trains is not unusual.

We are a traditional cycling club with a programme of club and open events. We have a club run every Sunday, Winter and Summer, when we are not promoting races. These are well supported and it is usually necessary to split the run into two groups. There are currently one or two fixed wheel riders on these outings and others have expressed interest, so there is an embryo fixed wheel group within the club.
We are planning a series of Sunday training runs from mid January onwards.
There is also a range of social events.

Our website (see link above) will give a fuller picture of our activities.

The club would welcome interest from lfgss members.

No one has met Littigator. I doubt that he is real. I suspect that he is a syndicate of individuals who share a user name and password on here, the BikeRadar commuting forum and the Dynamo forum.

50/14, you are clearly ideal for Rollapaluza CC (as is Littigator).

I ride with the Dynamos. Would say that they are more suited to the "racing" roadie than the "leisure" roadie. Kingston Wheelers are imo a much better bet if you are doing it to go on a decent Sunday club run in the Surrey Hills. Both meet near Hampton Court Bridge, so litte difference.

Many join the Dynamos for the Saturday RP lap-fest - essentially going round in groups of 8 learning to ride a quasi "team time trial formation". Gets a little boring after a bit in my opinion, but far more people turn up for this than the Sunday run.

I exist, last time I could be bothered to look.

Ah, thank you. I was always wondering how I should describe my roadieness, and it's not the former kind ...

I ride with the Catford CC and at 45 I'm one of the youngsters :)

I know a few of the Dulwich Paragon guy's who ride my Grimpeur event in March and they are all right we often see them riding the opposite direction on our club run.
http://www.dulwichparagon.com/

Addiscombe CC have a massive club and various rides split for abilities
http://www.addiscombe.org/

Old Portlians are another group we see about based between Bromley and Croyden.
http://www.oldportlianscc.co.uk/

others in the South East I know of;
http://www.gemini-bc.org.uk/

http://www.woolwichcyclingclub.org.uk/

http://www.vcelan.com/ Gary Birch and Phil Bull are VC elan riders and fast as fuck.

Plus there is a list with links here at Cycle London Sport
http://www.cyclesportlondon.com/clubs

Twickenham CC?

Ved, Dancing James and Gizmond are amongst the recent forum members to join Rollapaluza CC, taking our membership to 66.

Our Richmond Park and SW runs are becoming more frequent (thanks CliveO and RPM) plus the NE run looks likely to return with Tour de Ville as a possible meeting place, before heading out to Essex and Epping Forest.

Well I can say with absolute confidence that I most certainly do not exist. After not joining this forum (after months of not practice posting on Dynamo and Bike Radar) I overreacted to a snip from Chris Crash and disappeared up on own non-existent arse....since then I have split into 5 quasi-beings who enjoy formation racing and synchronised spinning classes.

On the Tweed Run I may appear as any one of my alter-egos or I may not appear at all

Yrs

Scarlet (Littigator) Pistanel

I think the bad rep the dynamo gets is a bit unfair. Its probably less friendly just because its bigger so not everyone knows each other. sat morning ride can be grumpy... but these are often the city boy... all the kit ride like shit/all the gear no idea types. If anything the fast guys and old hands are the most friendly. I dont have the legs for the 1sts but 2nds pretty cool and amiable... the lower down you go tho it seems the more likely you are to get shouted at by some grumpy kn*b with a team discovery jersey on over his fat belly.. whilst on a pair of tubular zipps

When I first started training I was completely out of my depth and hit the bonk bad on a hills ride. The guys I was riding with were really friendly... actually taking it in turns to push me rather than drop me. It was touching/humiliating

Clearly you should drop the Dynamos and join Rollapaluza CC

I ride with Dulwich, though often only on the track! They are largely road based, and have an increasingly successful group of racers. Also lots of social/training rides - Saturday morning rides are the place to start. Most rides go out to Kent, from Crystal Palace.

i have just noticed that it's free for the first year if you want to join Dulwich paragon.
i may try one of the club runs from crystal palace when this icy weather abates.

I went out on the Saturday Paragon ride a few times last summer - a couple of hard(ish) climbs towards the end (Cudham Lane and Annerly Hill), but really ridiculously nice people. If it wasn't for the fact that my ex rides with them I'd join this year.

train like a nutter then drop him on the climbs. FTW

Rollapaluza is damn cheap if not quite free, the £45 includes Jersey and cap...which probably has a value of more than £45...if you want to join without clothing we ask for a fiver for admin costs.

We've got a pretty active forum that is more "focused" than this here one, especially if you're thinking about sportives, track, long rides etc.

www.rollapaluza.cc
www.rollapaluza.cc/forum

Waste of time, he lives for climbing. Anyway, I hear it's all about track in the '09...

I only have one bike and it's fixed. Are there any clubs out there that will take me under their wing/not call me a prick behind my back? I'm worried (probably too strong a word -- you know what I mean though) that my lack of gears/leg power for climbing hills will leave me struggling for choice when it comes to finding suitable clubs/rides.

where do you live? no point in joining a club if they don't do any riding near where you live.

East London.

well rollawatsit do their club runs round essex way it's just depends if you can put up with dale hippy and RPM.

I don't think that would necessarily be a problem. I imagine they'd be somewhere up near the front leading the pack while I'd be at the back feeling close to death and thinking "why did I sign up for this torture?". I'll check to see if they do any rides that don't require a road bike with gears.

Thank you MrSmith. Helpful as ever.

I'm in the same boat, only on the opposite side of London, anyone got any suggestions for a good West London CC?

there's the MCC, in St. Johns Wood

wools, there absolutely no problem doing the Rolla club runs fixed, has been done before, many times

I've found it's more a problem going down hills on a fixed when riding with a group of geared riders. While they're either freewheeling or pushing a big gear, i'm on the brake and putting back pressure on trying to keep my cadence managable

Anyone know much about Eagle RC? I met a guy while riding around Regents Park who was a member and said they were east London based.

go to hillingdon http://www.hillingdoncyclecircuit.org.uk/ on a saturday round 1-2pm, you'll find loads of people to help and probably just as many unhelpful people

How often does Rollapaluza ride? I'm very tempted.

Come along to a CC Hackney club run sometime, wools. Easy, friendly and informal and definitely no pressure. 10am Lee Valley Ice Centre on Lea Bridge Road every Sunday. And fixed is fine, of course. There will most probably be some recumbent riders along, too. :)

http://www.cyclingclubhackney.co.uk/