Group rides from the shop, Bow E3
Aztecs Cycling Club in East London
Free group rides that leave from our Bow workshop and come back to it, open to every level. Rides are posted in our Strava club and our WhatsApp group.
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Free to join, all levels welcome
Most rides leave from 4 Corsican Square, Bow E3
Rides that start and finish at the shop
Most rides leave from the workshop at 4 Corsican Square, one minute from Devons Road DLR, and come back to the same place. That means somewhere to leave a bag while you ride, and a floor pump before you set off.
Not every ride, though. Some start somewhere else entirely, and when they do we say so in the WhatsApp group rather than on this page. Have a look there before you leave the house.
Who it is for
The club is deliberately mixed: commuters, casual riders and a few people who race. If you can ride a bike, there is a ride for you.
Commuters
If your riding is currently Monday to Friday to the office, a ride with other people at the weekend is the quickest way to make it something you enjoy rather than something you get through.
Casual riders
You do not need club kit, a racing licence or any idea what your FTP is. Turn up on the bike you already own and ride at the back if you want to.
Solo riders
If you already ride but always on your own, this is the low commitment way to change that. Nothing to sign, no subs, and no obligation to be there every week.
The short version
No fee, no application and no kit requirement.
- Free No membership fee and no joining fee. Turn up and ride.
- 100+ Riders already in the Aztecs Strava club
- Bow, E3 Most rides leave from 4 Corsican Square, one minute from Devons Road DLR
Ride times go up in the WhatsApp group
We are still settling the regular calendar, so rather than print times here that go out of date, every ride is posted in the group and in the Strava club. The group is also where a change of start point or a wet Sunday gets announced.
How to join
Three steps, and the first two take about a minute.
Join the club
Join the Strava club, the WhatsApp group, or both. Both are free and there is nothing to fill in.
See what is coming up
Every ride is posted in both places with the day, the time and the start point. WhatsApp is where the last minute changes land.
Turn up on the day
Come a few minutes early. There is a floor pump if you need one, and somewhere to leave a bag while you ride.
Never ridden in a group before?
Most people who join have not. The first ride is the only awkward one, and it is less awkward than you expect, because everyone there was new to it once.
If you are not sure whether a particular ride suits you, ask in the group, or message the shop directly if you would rather not ask in front of everyone. We would rather tell you honestly that one is too fast than have you turn up and spend the morning off the back.
And if your bike has not moved since last summer, book it in first. A group ride is a bad place to discover that your brakes have had it.
What to bring
One rule before anything else: no helmet, no ride. The rest is common sense, and if you are missing something on the day, we are a bike shop and we will sort you out.
- A helmet. No helmet, no ride. There is no exception to this one.
- A bike in working order, whatever kind it is
- Tyre levers and a spare tube that fit your wheels
- A hand pump or CO2 inflator to go with them
- Something to drink, and something to eat on a longer ride
- Lights, all year round in London
- A charged phone
- Money or a card, in case we stop
- A rain jacket between October and April
- Nothing else. Club kit is not required.
Club questions
Cost, pace, helmets, bikes and what actually happens on a ride.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The club is free to join and free to ride with. We run it because we would rather East London had more people out on bikes, and because a shop with riders outside it is a better shop. The shop in Bow is open six days a week if you want to see what we do the rest of the time.
When are the rides?
Every ride is posted in our Strava club and in our WhatsApp group, with the day, the time and the start point. The regular calendar is still settling, so those are the places to look rather than this page.
Where do the rides start?
Usually at the shop, 4 Corsican Square, Bow E3 3XS, one minute from Devons Road DLR, and most rides finish there too. Some start somewhere else, so check the WhatsApp group before you set off rather than assuming.
Do I have to wear a helmet?
Yes. No helmet, no ride. It is the one rule we do not bend, for you and for everyone riding near you. If you do not own one, come into the shop before the ride and we will sort you out. We keep helmets and protective kit in stock.
Do I need to be fast?
No. The club is open to every level, from people who only ride to work to riders who race. If you are unsure about the pace of a particular ride, ask in the WhatsApp group beforehand and somebody will tell you straight rather than let you have a miserable morning. You can also message the shop if you would rather ask us quietly.
What sort of bike do I need?
The one you own. Road, gravel, hybrid or electric, as long as it is safe to ride. If you are not sure that it is, book it into the workshop before the ride rather than finding out halfway round.
What happens if I puncture or something breaks?
We stop. Nobody gets left at the side of the road. Bring a spare tube, levers that fit your wheels and a pump, and between the group there will be someone who has done it before. If the bike is beyond a roadside fix, we will help you work out how to get it home. Anything that needs a bench can come into the Bow workshop afterwards, and plenty of riders in the club cover their bikes with Laka.
Do I have to buy anything from the shop?
No, and nobody will ask you to. Plenty of people in the club ride bikes they bought somewhere else, and that is entirely fine. If you ever do want one from us, our bike range is here.
Come and ride with us
Free, open to every level, and it usually leaves from our door in Bow. Join the WhatsApp group to see what is coming up, and the Strava club if you want the routes afterwards.