A New Approach To Finding Cycling Partners?

Out on the bike in the gentle Dales of East Yorkshire over the weekend, one is struck by two things. Firstly, the sheer numbers of cyclists willing to take to two wheels on a darkening January afternoon with a cold rain gently falling. Secondly, that many of these cyclists are braving the elements alone rather than with a partner or in a group. Have all these solo cyclists chosen to head out without company or is it simply the default option, being unaware or oblivious to the opportunities for a more sociable ride? 



The joy of riding alone

Why Ride Alone

Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with riding alone and for many cyclists (including the author of this piece), it is the favoured option. It's a time to be away from the distractions of the everyday: family, work, duties etc. A time for idle reflection or appreciation of the beauty of the landscape. In addition, riding alone is highly flexible: you can go at your own speed, stop when you like, ride on or go home early, take a different route. It really is all up to you.

How to Find a Group

And yet, there are many times when riding when others is just the tonic. Here's a number of ways to do that:

1) Cycling Clubs: Finding a local cycling club will be most people's first port of call for an organised ride. British Cycling's Club Finder (BC Clubfinder) is easy to use and puts dozens of clubs in Yorkshire within easy reach. Don't forget Triathlon clubs will also have weekly training rides as well. Find clubs in Yorkshire at the British Triathlon website.

 

 

 

 

 

2) Skyride (www.goskyride.com) - Skyride have a free service allowing you to search for ride partners, groups or organised rides (Sky Ride Social) in your area. Just put in your postcode and the search engine will do the rest.

 

 

 

 

 

3) Cycle Touring Club (www.ctc.org.uk) - The CTC is one of the foremost charities encouraging people to get out on their bikes. Although a membership organisation, non-members can try out CTC organised rides in their local area, more details of which are on the charity's website, www.ctc.org.uk/local-groups .

 

 

 

 

 

4) Meet Up (www.meetup.com) - This is a neat website which provides a meeting platform for people with similar passions. Sign up to a group and you will be able to see upcoming events run by the group or being attended by its members. This means that if you turn up, you'll know who will be there - useful if you're not overly comfortable with meeting new people. There are thousands of groups on the site, but some examples for cyclists in Yorkshire include Leeds Cyclists, Harrogate Moutain Bikers and 3XTri Triathlon in East Yorkshire.  Anecdotal evidence suggests it's a very user friendly and effective platform.

 

 

5) Find a Buddy Cyclist - There exist a number of sites which can help you find a person to ride with. Some of these include:
Sports Partner (www.uk.sportpartner.com) - This site offers to partner cyclists (and other types of sports), with fellow enthusiasts. Just sign up and try and find a partner. Quick unsubscribe if it doesn't work out or you no longer need the site.

Cycling Buddy (www.cyclingbuddy.com) - Punch in your postcode to see - literally, their photos are on the site - potential cycling buddies who live near to you. For more information on each, you'll need to sign in and then start sending request messages.

Bike Radar (www.training.bikeradar.com/find-a-cycling-buddy) - A similar system where you can insert your postcode and see a list of potential buddies. Numbers of potential buddies in Yorkshire appear somewhat limited though.

 

A New Approach: Find a Route, Not a Group



Join a route not a group?

These are undoubtedly useful resources, but one is sometimes left to wonder whether there is an alternative approach to that of finding someone or a group to ride with. This approach may involve too much effort, uncertainty (what happens if you don't get on with your 'buddy'?), inflexibility - maybe you have to cancel at last minute, letting down your buddy and making you feel guilty.

As an alternative, could you devise a system which centred on common routes in a certain area rather than riders? Is there not a system where, as a rider, you know that every Sunday at a certain time, there will be a group of every changing riders, who do that particular ride?

In that way, you could tag on at a certain point of the ride, chat, ride and have all the other benefits of being sociable, but then peel off when you've had enough or need to return home. Admittedly, the interactions may be more fleeting than a standard group ride, with riders joining and leaving at regular intervals along the way. But there's nothing stopping those people who find themselves getting on with other to carry on riding the route together, while equally for those who find the experience less than satisfying can simply melt away and continue alone. For some people, just having access to a group ride for a limited period is all they want.

What Do You Think?

Would this work? What would happen to riders of different abilities? Who would set the routes? How? And more relevantly, who would coordinate the necessary website and admin support?

 Let us know your thoughts. Are we on to something or is this a case of trying to flex something too near its breaking point?