Mix It Up! Ride with a club or group.
Florida offers so many options for avid cyclists to mix up your ride routine. One of those options is to ride with a cycling club or group. You can find them in every corner of Florida.
You may have a club near you, but as you travel around Florida, take your bike along and arrange to ride with a club or group in another city or county. There are clubs and groups for those who ride a road bike, a mountain bike, gravel or e-bike. Clubs are organized non-profits, while informal groups are cyclists who regularly meet to ride.
Our newly updated list has links to over 60 club and group rides across the state. Breaking up your routine, by joining in on the right group or club ride, can breathe new life into the joy of riding.
Florida Cycling Newsletter does the research to provide you with options, ideas, and resources, including a listing of Florida bicycle clubs and group rides across our state.
Check out the list for a club and group near you.
FloridaCycling.us, our companion website, has a comprehensive list of cycling clubs and regular group rides. The list is searchable by the type of ride and city. Click on the logo for each listing which is a link for more information.
If your club or group is not listed, let us know by emailing editor@Florida Cycling.us so we can consider including it.
A few things to keep in mind
When considering going along for a ride with a club or informal group, here are some suggestions.
Go to the club’s website to find out if they have a group ride that matches your speed and distance. It can be discouraging to join a fast group and get dropped a few miles into the ride. Groups prefer having cyclists that can stay at the pace of the group.
Contact them ahead of time and ask if it would be okay for you to join them for a ride. This is common cycling courtesy, and the ride leader will be more welcoming than if you just show up unannounced.
Some clubs will ask you to sign a waiver form to ride with them.
Don’t overextend the hospitality of the club by riding too often without joining the club. Most clubs are fine with visitors riding with them once or twice.
Annual membership in most clubs is very reasonable from $25-$40. If you find a club that you can ride with, even three or more times a year, join the club by paying the annual membership fee. Become one of them. They offer camaraderie among fellow cyclists.
Joining a club is a good way to support local causes. While clubs provide a fun cycling experience and help develop group-riding skills, most clubs find ways of giving back by participating in charitable cycling events and lending a hand locally.
Cycling club websites and conversing with club or group members is a good source of information about cycling activities in the area. For instance, SORBA Orlando MTB Club lists on their website eight MTB trails in the greater Orlando area. The Miami Bike Scene lists multiple group rides and trails in the south Florida region.
Whether you ride with a club, an informal group or by yourself, the best thing is that you are out there riding. Keep cycling. Stay healthy.
Ride often. Be safe.
Bruce
The Florida Cycling Newsletter is a sponsoring member of the Florida Bicycle Association.