London’s biking community offers an action-packed alternative that serves everyone from novices to seasoned professionals.
From an active way to get to and from the office to a leisurely weekend pursuit with friends, cycling has become a favourite activity in London.
In fact, on most weekends, you’ll often come across members of a cycling club grabbing a pre- or post-ride coffee and pastry at a cafe around town.
Thanks to pay-as-you-go options including Santander Cycles and Lime, lots of city-dwellers can’t get enough of riding around town right now, but those who have developed an active interest may be looking for something more serious — albeit not too serious.
Enter: cycling clubs, a great way to combine a bike ride with meeting new people. In London, there’s one for every person and ability — from novice riders to seasoned cyclists.
Here’s our top picks, and who they suit.
5 best cycling clubs in London
BellaVelo
Best for a weekday ride
With over 300 members on its books, BellaVelo is one of the largest women-only road cycling clubs in southwest London.
It hosts park laps every Thursday and Saturday club rides, which are split by speed to deliver an experience that finds a middle ground between comfort and challenge. In the summer, expect interval sessions before work and social laps after.
Read more: The best new gyms and exercise classes to try in London
British Cycling x Breeze
Best for beginners
If you’re a total novice when it comes to road cycling, this a great place to start. Sessions are run by friendly Breeze volunteers, who ensure that the ride goes at the speed of the slowest rider, so nobody is left behind. Some rides are also open to kids, as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.
Since its launch in 2011, Breeze has supported more than 300,000 female riders.
Find out more at British Cycling
Read more: London’s niche social club scene, and the best to join
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Cycle Club London
Best for longer rides
Some fitness clubs are specifically for experienced riders, but CCL bills itself as “a cycling club for all”.
Its members enjoy the club’s inclusive, friendly atmosphere, and it’s a great place to start for eager cyclists that want to join a club without the pressure of being pro-level.
The weekend rides start from a variety of locations, including East Finchley and Whetstone and are up to around 60 miles of cycling
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Cycle Sisters
Best for women-only rides
This award-winning charity prides itself on creating safe cycling spaces for women from ethnically diverse communities. It was started in 2016, when founder Sarah Javaid set up a Muslim women’s community cycle group in Waltham Forest.
Cycle Sisters also offers free cycling lessons for adults, either on a group or one-to-one basis.
Join the movement at Cycle Sisters
Read more: The best free walking clubs near London
Moloko
Best for social rides
Moloko is a cycling community that offers a full calendar of London-based rides and events, from social rides followed by a drink to long rides from London to surrounding cities.
These rides are ticketed and free of charge, but Moloko does ask that riders are self-sufficient as some are unguided and will involve riding in close proximity to others — meaning they do require an existing level of confidence.
If cycling is already your thing, this is a great option for meeting others with the same interest.
See the full calendar at Moloko
Feature images: Pexels
