As a newb, I’m curious. How many people belong to a Tri Club vs, those who did/do their tri training on their own? Comments?
There’s pretty much no downside to joining a club. Our club is only $65 / year, and you more than make that up with sponsor discounts. The coaching, track workouts, group rides, etc, are all icing on the cake. You can always train on your own whenever you like, or take up the club workouts. All good stuff.
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This summer was my first extended period of time away from my club.
…I’m really out of shape. Very excited to go back home and train with them again in a couple weeks.
I’m a Lone Wolf…
Did all my training solo for about 6 years before joining a club this year. For me it was always a matter of time and timing. Still don’t make many group rides as it is! But I’m not doing much with the sport these days, so it’s easy to miss workouts 
If you’re ok on your own, still a great sport. If you want some social interaction think about a club or mixing the two.
There is no substitute for having training partners, and I feel that this is the biggest benefit of joining a club. But don’t forget the social aspect - I count my teammates as my friends. I wouldn’t assume they do the same, but it may be the case.
If you can find a tri club in your area, tag along a couple of times and see if you like them!
I own my own retail business and train at odd times. I have no time for clubs. Besides, tri has always seemed like a solo sport to me.
Solo, I deal with enough people at work, kids events etc.
No Tri’Club here. my schedule would never coincide with a club’s calendar.
Mostly solo training but I do enjoy it when one of my running buddies joins me. And my biking is a mix of solo ‘practices’, or 3-4 friends from the hood or 1 of 2 of my favorite group rides.
Basically, I’m good with solo, but if a group time happens to work out, I’ll take the fellowship.
I would join a club if there was one that really fit me near by. as it is I swim with a masters club (a must for me) and do about 30% of my riding with others. I always run alone.
I used to do all my training alone but more and more I find it’s just more fun with others.
Most of the time I have a buddy along for longer rides. The biggest problem I have with group rides, running groups, etc. is the schedule and time. It’s much easier not having to drive to the location for the ride/run. I’m busy enough, I don’t have time to waste in a car traveling to locations when I can better use that time training on the road.
I went several years without joining a club and then a year or two without hanging out with the people in the club that I joined. Last year is the first year that I spent any time racing and spending social time with my club and I had the best time last year. It was nice to have people to train with, travel with, race with and drink a beer or two after the race with. It just made events a lot more fun to be part of a club.
Just about all solo… Once in awhile I’ll drop in w/ someone at the pool, but that’s about it. Had a few seasons where I had a regular buddy to ride with, but they never lasted more than a year or so before they finished skool and moved away, or got married/had a kid and pretty much gave up riding, or something. It can be nice, especially for longer rides and/or sharing gas to out-of-town ventures, but at least this way I’m not dependent on anyone else’s training schedule/habits. I’ve know a few folks who end up using their training partners as a crutch and can’t get it going on their own if their buddy(ies) can’t make a workout for whatever reason.
I’m in a tri club, but do 100% of my training alone.
My schedule isn’t flexible, so I train when I am able to get away, not when a group is getting together.
Tri club, definitely. The best thing about triathlon is the people.
Also you can get discounts on stuff through a club.
Im with Indigodog. I train when i can. And i have never really seen this sport as a team sport. I play soccer for that.
I design my own program and train on my own for most of my workouts. I usually do at least one ride and swim with some friends and almost always do my long run with some fellow trigeeks/marathoners but none of us belong to a club. Lately, my 13 year old, fishlike daughter has been swimming with me which is awesome since she is a competitive swimmer and I’m getting stroke tips from her during workouts.
Member but pretty much train on my own…we have “club” workouts which is basically our Tuesday Night Ride and Thursday Hills… that I go to, but would be doin’ them anyhoo…
Love the people and was on the board for a year, but its part of my game plan…not solely one way or the other. Schedule dictates so much and so many people have such different schedules.
edit to add: I do swim with a Master’s program that isn’t part of the club, but probably 85% of the people are members of our local club. My running is with people who are mostly “runners” and some triathletes and biking is pretty much with all triathletes b/c we’re the only nutty ones who have to ride 60-90 miles THEN run or swim!
I think Tri Clubs are great. I agree with Mike that there’s not really a downside. For most clubs the dues are less than it cost to enter one sprint race and with the activities and discounts I find it a great bargain…
One of the great things is just the networking part. Getting to meet other triathletes, because in most clubs there are members of all all speeds & experience level
so you can hook up with people to train with and get tips, etc. Also I know in my club we have members in all types of professions & lines of business, so I actually end up using them
along with the businesses that advertise with the club. I like to support my fellow triathletes! The parties and social events I think are really nice, because you have people
there who are actually interested in the same things (triathlons, running, swimming, cycling, fitness, etc.) that you can talk with. In fact a lot of my friends I now have in the area I actually
met through the Triathlon Club. I don’t always train with the group, but I know I can or can call on some of the members I have me.
you can’t go wrong with joining as you always have the option of training with them when time permits.