Everyone who rides a bike competes.

Maybe you compete against others or maybe you compete against yourself. Maybe you compete against the weather or the aging process. It doesn’t matter. On the road, in the mountains or taking on the challenge of multi-sport, there is competition in all of us.

Team Carytown Bicycle Company was founded with the idea that a cycling club needed to be fun. If you win races, great. But bikes are about a lot more than races.

Above all, a cycling club needs to be about the pleasure of riding a bike. If data files and podium places and heart rates and tire pressure are what riding a bike means to you, you should probably stop reading right now.

For us, riding a bike and being part of a club is about fun, community, stewardship, and fitness. Whether or not you race–or for that matter, whether you ride on the road or the trail–means very little.

As a club, we work to give back to the sport. We volunteer at events. We thank other volunteers. We pride ourselves on introducing new riders to the sport and developing young riders. We smile and shake hands (or bump fists) with each other when we show up to group rides. We promote amazing events and keep entry fees low.

Does that mean we don’t want to race? Does that mean we don’t want to win?

Not at all. Since 2008 –our first year of existence–CBC riders knocked it out of the park with numerous wins and podium spots. But what matters is that they had fun doing it.

Club dues are $25 and standard two-piece racing kit is $110. In addition, we have $25 shop branded jerseys for those on a budget and for those who want to pick up some extra training gear. Club membership includes a 15% discount on everything at the shop, along with special team sales on selected products.

In addition to our regular club, Team Carytown Bicycle Club also sponsors an under-23 development team, and we expanding our team and focus this year. The U-23 team focuses on developing young racers into serious competitors within the region. Riders on the team receive the regular club benefits plus some additional support from the shop and club. Bike racing can get expensive, but our goal is to help those enjoy the sport without having to worry about buying a lot of pricey equipment.

If our club seems like a good fit, come join us! We are just as enthusiastic about making new friends as we are about riding bikes.