- The ICCC (Ideal Conditions Cycling Club) - as the name suggests, don't ride when it is wet, windy, cold or even vaguely unpleasant. A great group to ride with; speed is moderate, competitiveness (other than the Humphray St Sprint and more on that later) does not really register, nobody is thin and nobody seems that keen on getting tired. I will start posting their ride reports (written by Pepe the super sprinter), most of which is based around success in the Humphray St sprint to the old Fish and Chip shop.
- The Ballarat Yabbie Divers - An ecclectic mix of older, younger, fit and unfit, thin and less so who don't take themselves even vaguely seriously but are hardened enough to ride when it is wet (sometimes) and cold! A great group of conversationalists, who's reputation for disorganisation is well-earned. However, they ride safe, look after each other and rarely ride at warp speed, which is nice!
- The TMB (The Thinking Men's Bunch) - Sundays only and clearly a contradiction in terms, given that it involves men and bicycles. A great post-race group to ride with, enormous diversity in abilities and attitudes but ride very safely and look after group members.
- The Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove group/s - during the holiday periods, these groups are fast and hard, competitive and ruthless (witness "don't worry about them, they know the way home" when someone gets dropped). Great groups to test yourself with; until you get dropped, at which point it looks a less attractive option. These groups ride hard and are chock full of 4-7 rides/week cyclists who race and take no prisoners in training.
- World Series Cycling - This is my regular training group, rather than a riding group. It rides to a training program and has about 10-12 regulars, I am the oldest, least thin and slowest and as it has a number of A Grade club riders. As a consequence, when we do training sessions, I get absolutely smashed, every session along with two or three others. Good training but depressing!
I will start posting regular(ish) ride reports for these groups which might give you something to put you to sleep at night.
