Some Thoughts on Joining Up

Boots & Spurs ONE RIDER’S (UNSATISFACTORY) EXPERIENCE OF JOINING A CLARION SECTION

Ed – I wouldn’t normally print an anonymous contribution but in this case the contributors name has been omitted for obvious reasons. We can all learn from this.

Ihave been a cyclist from childhood, my degree of seriousness has increased over the past 30 years with mountain biking and a few years ago after deliberation decided to buy a road bike, I have to say that really my decision was a result of much viewing of the racing on Eurosport. I kept below £1,000 as I wasn’t really sure if it would be for me.

The beautiful summer of 2018 gave the opportunity to really put a lot more rides in and increase distances. Then in February 2019 I was made redundant. This now meant a chance to step up the riding even more. But after a few months and spending long periods on my own I realized that maybe riding with a club would be a way to meet people and found my local Clarion.

After a difficult start, I couldn’t seem to get in contact with anyone, membership secretary, committee members, with unanswered phone calls, emails etc - not an ideal baptism for a person like myself. Now to the rides, most of all the clique - maybe a problem for someone with metal health issues but of course many clubs, societies etc operate like this. Arriving at ride starts, well you aren’t really known so hardly anyone will even give you a good morning. Amazing that people who have ridden alongside you on the last ride you went out on don’t remember you and again ask if are going to join the club, this would happen every time without fail. How many rides do you have to go on before recognition? Well maybe if more people stepped outside of their clique to respond to a new member this wouldn’t be the case. The club would occasionally put on Sunday leisure rides open to anyone to join in and encourage new riders. Well is it any wonder most first timers don’t return.

Eventually I received a mention on the club website as a new rider who had joined from the leisure rides. By this time I must have been on around 5 or 6 club rides and been a member for nearly a year. The person who gave me the mention had met me and rode with me on several of my outings.

Okay the cafe stops, well I have seen tables at breaking strain as the clique crams together in one place despite a plethora of empty tables. Well I joined this club to meet people, which I sometimes find a little difficult, so I will just sit on my own, always a good sign. At least rides with no cafe stops are more enjoyable, my latest act of desperation has been to purchase a club shirt so at least it is obvious I have already joined.... hopefully. It’s sad that every ride I approach with “do I really want to go” and not a feeling of enthusiasm.

My membership has recently been paid, another mess up with wrong emails sent to me.... I was uncertain of the merits of rejoining but have to say I do enjoy the actual road riding and thought it worth this alone. Will my membership card ever arrive?