Wheelmen Bikers Ride in Packs of Fun

Solitary bicyclists, have you ever seen those sleek bands of Lycra-clad cyclists glide by and felt a twinge of envy?

There is an easy way to get with a group, if you’re so inclined. Orange County Wheelmen, the county’s biggest cycling club with about 900 members, has numerous weekly and monthly group rides of different lengths and geared to different performance levels.

The club offers a group ride for beginners on the first Sunday of each month, which falls this weekend. The ride starts at 9 a.m. (but get there earlier) at Foodpark in Irvine, the starting point for many of the club’s weekend rides. Make sure your bike is in good working order, and take a helmet.

Routes vary, but the ride typically covers 15 to 25 flat miles at a slow to moderate pace. It’s an escorted ride, so there’s no danger of being left behind. If your riding has been limited to bike trails, this is a good way to familiarize yourself with riding on surface streets.

As are other club events, the beginners ride is open free to non-members and can serve as an introduction to the pleasures of group riding. In addition to camaraderie, club ride captain Alan Crawford says group rides offer cyclists a support structure that can provide extra incentive to actually get out and ride.

“It’s the fun of getting out with a group of people who have similar interests,” Crawford adds.

Weekly club rides, many of which are fairly fast-paced, are offered Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons. There are tandem rides and mountain bike rides as well.

Special-event rides are often held on holidays. On Saturday, for ambitious riders, a Halloween metric century and half-century will be held at Hart Park in Orange, 701 S. Glassell St. That’s 100 kilometers and 50 kilometers, or 62 miles and 31 miles.

Riders are invited to dress up their bikes and themselves, and there will be a costume contest and other festivities at 8 a.m. The ride begins at 9 a.m.

Membership in Orange County Wheelmen, for those inspired to join, is $24 for an individual and $30 for a family. Membership includes a monthly newsletter with details on all events, in addition to articles on bicycling topics (riding technique and equipment) and issues (bikes trails, etc.).

What: Orange County Wheelmen beginner ride.

When: Sunday, Nov. 1, at 9 a.m. (arrive early).

Where: Foodpark, MacArthur Boulevard and Main Street, Irvine.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (405) Freeway, take MacArthur Boulevard north to Main Street and turn left. Park behind R.L. Cookery.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 956-2453.