Hi there! Does anyone have advice on which tri club is better - SF Tri club or Golden Gate Tri club? I live in SF and am looking to join a club before next season. I’ve looked at both websites, and like the SF Tri club site better because it is a bit more user-friendly and more up-to-date. However, I realize there is more to the choice than that!
Well, I am biased, but since you asked… In reality, both clubs are very good. They are also rather different. I was a GGTCer (on the board there too) and am now 100% SF Tri (and on the board there for the past two years). The best way I have heard the difference described is SF Tri Club is like Mac and GGTC is like PC. The best advice is to check them both out and see who you like the best! (BTW, our year end party is 11/18, you chould check us out!).
Tilden
A lot depends on (a) what you’re training for, and (b) where exactly you live.
Check out Pac West Athletics also.
I have heard the difference described is SF Tri Club is like Mac and GGTC is like PC.
Soooo…that means…
SF Tri is overpriced, slow and self-conscious, and
GGTC is prone to crashing and getting sick, but otherwise wins all the races?
I was a member of SFTC for several years when I lived further up the peninsula, now that I am in South Bay I have quit and joined Silicon Valley Triathlon Club.
SFTC is a fun bunch, and I had a good time. It seems to be comprised of much younger (on average) folks than SVTC. Yeah, I agree with Tilden on the Mac vs. PC analogy. People in GGTC wear pocket protectors and horn-rimmed glasses. People in SFTC tend to wear black turtle-neck sweaters and denim jeans.
Done a little “visitor” training with both and found them to be nice people.
GGTC was very helpful in getting me an opportunity to swim in the Bay with some folks…to the point of scheduling a group swim just for my time convenience!
What I think you might consider…actually ALL of us should consider when joining a running or tri club.
Convenience(time) of group workouts with your availablity.
Locations of workouts with respect to your location.
Intensity of workouts with respect to your abilities.
Access to gyms and discounts that might interest you.
I have seen alot of GGTC and SFTC at some of the half and full Ironman distances I’ve done…they seem to be well represented and friendly. One guy helped me alot during the run at Lake Placid one year…kept me moving and talking while we ran together.
Try ONE or Both!!!
I’m a very long time member (and past long time board member) of GGTC. Best club, IMO.
There is also the YMCA tri club, during season, if you belong to the Y. I belong to and train with both.
Can’t tell you much about SFTri except that many people belong to both clubs. More workout opportunities.
clm
Another thing: Most of the clubs will let you show up for a “test drive” to check out a workout or two. And/or you can email the coaches with questions about their training style.
I found the GGTC uniforms to be very itchy so I quit.
I think I witnessed Tilden back his car into a parking spot at the GGTC Wildflower training weekend and trash his bike. How many Tildens can there be?
This is off-topic if you live in San Francisco or Silicon Valley, but anyway…
It would be great to have a tri club in the Oakland/Berkeley/Hayward area.
I have a ton of tri friends who are a little “homeless” right now as far as clubs/teams go…I think they would jump at the chance.
I’ll do anything for attention… 
Yes, we are very open to drop ins, member or non, and I believe GGTC is as well.
I’ve been a member of SF Tri for 4 years. Great club. I’ve made some life long friends. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
I vote for GGTC. Have been members in both clubs but GGTC works better for me.
Thanks, everyone, for the great advice! So, I live in SF, and I have been training alone for the Treasure Island triathlon (Olympic distance originally, but switched to Sprint at the last minute because I didn’t do enough swimming ; (). I definitely think it would be fun to train and race with others - and will prob. check out SF Tri Club first to see if I like it.
If East Bay folks are looking for a good tri club you should check out Forward Motion Race Club. It’s the race team affiliated with Forward Motion Sports in Walnut Creek and Danville - www.forwardmotionraceclub.com
If East Bay folks are looking for a good tri club you should check out Forward Motion Race Club. It’s the race team affiliated with Forward Motion Sports in Walnut Creek and Danville -
That still leaves a big gap for those of us who live on the West side of the East Bay - Oakland, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Hayward, etc.
Most of us work either near our homes or in San Francisco. If we BART to San Francisco for work, we don’t join the tri clubs in San Francisco because their workouts are mostly nowhere near downtown. We would have to get to Aquatic Park, Crissy Field, Kezar Stadium, etc. and THEN back to BART and back home. A big hassle.
Commuting over to Danville or Walnut Creek on a weeknight is an equal hassle. Voluntarily getting into a car and battling rush hour traffic through the Caldecott Tunnel, after work, is not gonna happen. BART does take us to Walnut Creek but that still adds a lot of commute time back and forth - assuming the workout in question is somewhere walkable from BART.
If anyone out there is listening…
There is a big niche available for somebody who wants to start a tri club in, say, Oakland. There are some great places to run together on weeknights, and if the group could rent out some lanes in one of the city’s MANY pools for one weeknight a week - even better.
Thanks for listening.
If anyone out there is listening…
There is a big niche available for somebody who wants to start a tri club in, say, Oakland. There are some great places to run together on weeknights, and if the group could rent out some lanes in one of the city’s MANY pools for one weeknight a week - even better. <<
There used to be one, but it fell by the wayside when Krag closed up the store (Transition Sports).
clm
I don’t know anything about them other than they exists but Lombari Sports on Polk St. seems to have a team. 
just trying to help. http://www.lombardisports.com/teams/triteam_index.htm