There’s loads of benefits to joining a cycle club or riding with mates. It’s not just great for motivation, It’s also pretty magic for mental wellbeing. And guess what? You don’t have to wear a pointy helmet, or own a fancy bike to join one. We spoke with a couple of clubs to hear what riding with a bunch of like-minded bikers can do for your head.
Community cycling clubs are on the rise, no longer just a space for MAMILS (Middle-Aged Men In Lycra), the cycling scene is slowly becoming more inclusive. Over the last couple of years, more and more people are saddling up without expensive kit or lots of experience, making the idea of joining a club a bit less scary.
We spoke with New Forest Off Road Club and GS MOSSA, two bike collectives which are less focussed on how impressive your Strava profile is, or what you pedal and more focused on getting outside and connecting on two wheels.
New Forest Off Road Club
Connecting and empowering people in the great outdoors.
New Forest Off Road Club (NFORC) is all about empowering people on two wheels and increasing representation in the outdoors. They’re derailing the idea that riding in a club means showing up in the right gear or knowing what a spoke nipple is (no, we’re not sure either).
Instead, NFORC is building a community of people who have a great time while riding. These guys are the ultimate biker crew, teaching bicycle maintenance, heading off on bikepacking adventures and hosting weekly rides through the New Forest, no matter what level you ride at. And a fun fact? Our very own ambassador and pro-cyclist Juliet Elliott has ridden with this lot too.