Cycling UK Forum

In the past, the CTC section I rode went away during Easter.

This year, they didn't. The reason was a combination of a lack of younger riders and the difficulty of booking suitable Youth Hostels.

Is this a sign of the times, a decline in community
Activities?

How would we know? CTC ride midweek, so it's not for workers.

mjr wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 1:35pm How would we know? CTC ride midweek, so it's not for workers.

I do not understand your comment.

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 2:47pm

mjr wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 1:35pm How would we know? CTC ride midweek, so it's not for workers.

I do not understand your comment.

Is the cycling group ride dead?

There was a time when group rides weren’t just about speed or Strava segments. They were about belonging, mentorship, and learning the unwritten rules that transformed a bunch of riders into a cohesive peloton. Today, that tradition is fading. Too often, group rides feel chaotic—like a race, not a shared experience.

In the past, experienced riders would pass down their knowledge, teaching newer cyclists the art of holding a steady line, rotating smoothly, and reading subtle signals. It was about creating a safe, respectful environment where every rider contributed to the group’s rhythm. The ride was a school, and the goal was to be part of a collective, not the strongest individual.

But now, we see less mentorship and more riders focused solely on performance. The result? A breakdown in group etiquette—overlapping wheels, inconsistent pacing, endless shouts of “hole!” for minor bumps, and gaps that leave half the group sprinting to catch up.

If you’re an experienced rider, consider taking on a mentorship role. Ride next to someone new, pass down those core skills, and show that cycling is about community as much as competition.

Let’s revive the tradition of group riding as a place to learn and grow, not just to flex fitness or ego.

Next time you’re on a group ride, remember: the goal isn’t to prove you’re the fastest but to ride with skill, respect, and teamwork.

I recorded a full podcast on this today, it's a great one to share with club mates

https://lnkd.in/e87xjGjb

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 4:11pm Is the cycling group ride dead?

There was a time when group rides weren’t just about speed or Strava segments. They were about belonging, mentorship, and learning the unwritten rules that transformed a bunch of riders into a cohesive peloton. Today, that tradition is fading. Too often, group rides feel chaotic—like a race, not a shared experience.

In the past, experienced riders would pass down their knowledge, teaching newer cyclists the art of holding a steady line, rotating smoothly, and reading subtle signals. It was about creating a safe, respectful environment where every rider contributed to the group’s rhythm. The ride was a school, and the goal was to be part of a collective, not the strongest individual.

It's certainly fading away!

My theory for the fading of the "school of the group" is that people now think they can learn everything on the internet. Or course you can train the legs on your own, so if you turn up for a ride a little faster than the slowest rider, why would you need to learn anything on the ride?!?

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 4:11pm

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 2:47pm

mjr wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 1:35pm How would we know? CTC ride midweek, so it's not for workers.

I do not understand your comment.

Is the cycling group ride dead?

Almost certainly. Here's a local Group:

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/372097

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 4:11pm

Philip Benstead wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 2:47pm

mjr wrote: 22 Apr 2025, 1:35pm How would we know? CTC ride midweek, so it's not for workers.

I do not understand your comment.

Is the cycling group ride dead?

No, there are lots of group rides. It's CTC that is for the nearly dead.

Every time this old chestnut comes up, I mention this ..,…

Our local group turns out multiple rides each week, here is this week for instance, and in summer it is busier:
This covers all level of road rides, plus ‘gravel’ and cycle paths (the red one on Tuesday evening), so group rides are very much alive, but this is not erstwhile CTC, they typically do one ride midweek locally, this is “new fangled, deliberately inclusive” group.

There are also weekends away, typically one to IoW, one to Cotswolds each year, and even weeks away in sunnier climes for those with the disposable. [Having looked through the events diary for weekends, there seem to be Peak District, Cotswolds, IoW, Yorkshire Wolds, and a bikepacking excursion through the chilterns starting direct from here.]

I fear that MJR may be correct.

As for “schooling”, it’s compulsory in the group for road rides. When Ypu join, you go on a couple of intro rides in lowest speed category to learn the protocols, then get slotted to a category according to speed, where again you get coached until you’ve settled-in. This is how I found out that I don’t really enjoy group road rides (severe trust issues about riding close behind others and not being able to see the road ahead)!

There’s a “no drop” rule, and ride leaders won’t permit ‘forcing the pace’ to exceed the category average speed.

Nearholmer wrote: 23 Apr 2025, 7:47pm Every time this old chestnut comes up, I mention this ..,…

Our local group turns out multiple rides each week, here is this week for instance, and in summer it is busier:

IMG_3240.jpeg

This covers all level of road rides, plus ‘gravel’ and cycle paths (the red one on Tuesday evening), so group rides are very much alive, but this is not erstwhile CTC, they typically do one ride midweek locally, this is “new fangled, deliberately inclusive” group.

There are also weekends away, typically one to IoW, one to Cotswolds each year, and even weeks away in sunnier climes for those with the disposable. [Having looked through the events diary for weekends, there seem to be Peak District, Cotswolds, IoW, Yorkshire Wolds, and a bikepacking excursion through the chilterns starting direct from here.]

I fear that MJR may be correct.

As for “schooling”, it’s compulsory in the group for road rides. When Ypu join, you go on a couple of intro rides in lowest speed category to learn the protocols, then get slotted to a category according to speed, where again you get coached until you’ve settled-in. This is how I found out that I don’t really enjoy group road rides (severe trust issues about riding close behind others and not being able to see the road ahead)!

There’s a “no drop” rule, and ride leaders won’t permit ‘forcing the pace’ to exceed the category average speed.

What part of the UK is your club?

Milton Keynes (it’s called Broughton Cycling Group).

My local CTC MG hasn't organised any trips for a few years. There used to be a couple of YHA trips a year (MG and DA) group rides to the rallies and festivals (York, Golden Beeches, Meriden, Mildenhall) an annual french holiday and occasional tours. There was no group decision to stop them, it's just the way it evolved, some lost popularity, but I think mainly it's become so much easier to arrange things between friends that there's less need for the group to be involved. The pandemic may have accelerated that, though it was already heading in that direction.
The groups is doing well in other regards, a lot more rides, and riders, than 25 years ago, up to seven rides a week, four of which are accessible to those still working. Those rides have evolved as well, there's a mid week ride that attracts a number of E-bikes, some of the riders would no longer be riding without assistance. The distances are more varied, we still have some long epic rides, but also the popularity of those promising to be back by lunchtime has increased. Organised social events have gone the same way as the trips, there used to be more organised by the group, now it tends to be organised between members.
As with all groups, it's a small percentage of participants who put the work in to make stuff happen, the answer to a group not catering for you is to get involved.

https://ctcdab.uk/