Cyclelab Johannesburg - experiences please!

[Butterbean]

So, I'm tired of doing the long warrior thing, and thinking of joining the Cyclelab joburg club. I've rode with the for sections on cradle rides on the odd occasion, but want to know a few things:

 

1. How is the general vibe within the groups? Would probably look at the 26-30kph groups...

 

2. Is the 1100 worth it? What's the quality of the bibs they give you? Shirts are shirts so not too worried, but what do the race tents do?

 

3. Does joining the jhb club mean I can ride with the fourways and Boksburg guys? I'm in the middle of both but prefer the cradle, but would like to know if I have the option anyway.

 

4. What's their deal with people trying out a ride? Snobby? Or is everyone relatively friendly, even though I'll just be taking a look?

 

Any other experiences, anecdotes, or warnings, please add here!

 

Thanks!

[ryanbritchford]

Cannot wait to see the responses to this. Ide imagine quite a varied response. Good luck.

[TALUS]

I was with the Pretoria group for 2 years. I enjoyed the tents at the 94.7 MTB and road. Free hamburgers and shade. They always promised a bib in my size. Never got it. I dont like shorts - so I seldomly used it. I moved on.

[SimpleDom]

Keen to hear too.... Mountain bike here...

[Pusher]

Always welcome to try out the rides before you join and in fact the club encourages it. Introduce yourself to the announcer of the day and they well show you which group you would like to ride with. Groups are grade by average speed and there is always a vehicle backup behind the last group. Distances range from 70 odd (lion and rhino park) to 90 odd which is the Caves.

Membership includes a free Ride mag every month and free food and drinks at the bigger races. Also free entrance into the bike park at certain time.

Like any club it's what you make of it.

[Spirog]

I joined Cycle Lab in February, just before Argus. I've found it much easier to get in a long ride when I know I have to be at Fourways at 7.00 on a Saturday morning. I feel much safer riding with a group and like the security of a backup vehicle.

 

If you try and ride with a group that's too fast, you will get dropped - it would be dumb to expect anything else. If you're riding in the correct group, you'll get supported by the marshals, but they won't drag you back to the group if they can see that you're put of your depth.

 

Socially, the groups are like elsewhere in life.. say "Hello" and you'll start a conversation. Stare straight ahead and ignore your fellow cyclist - you might as well ride on your own.

 

Give it a bash. If nothing else the coffee afterwards is great!!

[fabs]

Just to emphasize what our two previous friends said .......

 

Spirog - Socially, the groups are like elsewhere in life.. say "Hello" and you'll start a conversation. Stare straight ahead and ignore your fellow cyclist - you might as well ride on your own.

 

Pusher - Like any club it's what you make of it.

 

and to answer some of your questions ...

 

1. This needs to be an average speed you are looking at, this is actually 5 different groups currently.

 

2. I believe the 1100 is worth it? Shirts are included, not the bibs. Consider that rdes are marshalled with back up vehicles ready for the rescue if needed. The race tents are a great opportunity to catch up with your friends after a race, and always something happening.

 

3. Does joining the jhb club mean I can ride with the fourways and Boksburg guys?

Not sure about this, but ask your wife if you can also entertain your girlfriend

 

4. What's their deal with people trying out a ride? Snobby? Or is everyone relatively friendly, even though I'll just be taking a look?

Look at the suggestions of our friends above.

 

Hope this helps, and look forward to showing you around wen you decide to visit.

[Patchelicious]

It is really worth it if you are going to use it.

 

I would really encourage you to join and ride with.

 

Yes you can ride with other groups. Yes its worth the money. I might just suggest you start on 26kph group as the guys who try stick with the 30kph guys first time out tend to suffer.

[Plentipotential]

I joined them for a year a while back when I almost became a serious MTB'er. Good value for money, nice routes and as long as you are prepared to introduce yourself you will be well received. Good way to get going with longer rides if you are starting out, just get into the right group. On the odd occasion the numbers were thin, MTB group, and the pace became a bit of an ego trip for some of the guys but there is generally a leader for the day who makes sure everyone gets home.

[jcza]

Was with Cyclelab but changed around 2 years back. Didn't enjoy the big groups. Too many knobheads.

[norm333]

Always was part of the club for 5 years

 

Changed because it become a "All the gear, no idea" place

 

I do however still join the odd private rides that some of the guys arrange... Fourways to Sun City etc etc

 

1100 to me is a upgrade spend IMO

 

 

[VicanZA]

1100 isn't that much unless u stuck with a bunch of tits! Try it out and find out for yourself, I'm riding in a group of 1 to 5 MTBers and it's great, any bigger and the pace drops off and the amount of stops is unacceptable to me.

[Butterbean]

Thanks for the replies guys... I think I'll try take a ride with them on Saturday, and see what the vibe is like!

 

And 1100 doesn't sound too bad... Fabs, the website says fees are as follows for new members: 800 for shirt only, 1100 for shirt and bibs...

 

Keep the responses coming though! Is definitely interesting!

 

I guess at the end of the day, I'm just looking for no nonsense group riding... Sock of trying to arrange people and their piss poor excuses for not pitching, coming late, etc.... So, ill hopefully see some, of you there this weekend!

[GaryvdM]

Something I did at the beginning of this year is I went and did try-out rides at most of the clubs in my area, which was Cyclelab Fourways, Club 100, Northcliff cycles, Cresta Wheelers, and Complete Cyclist Bryanston. I would highly recommend doing this.

 

The factor that affected my choice the most was the travel distance to the start. You probably want some thing that is less than 10km so that you can ride to the start (packing the bike into the car becomes a schlep.)

 

All the clubs I road with are sociable on rides, i.e. if say hello, a conversation will be struck up.

[LONE TWO]

@GaryvdM out of all those clubs, which one did you think was the best. Sounds like im in the same area as you and also looking for a club.

[GaryvdM]

@GaryvdM out of all those clubs, which one did you think was the best. Sounds like im in the same area as you and also looking for a club.

 

Well, the point of my post was you to encourage you to go checkout the clubs yourself.

 

I ride with Northcliff on a Saturday (warning they only have 1 group that avgs 30km) and I ride with Cresta Wheelers on a Sunday.

 

Both are less than 5kms from my house.

Edited June 27, 2014 by GaryvdM