Club Highlight: How Peloton Cycling Club Built a Community for Everyone
When traditional cycling clubs didn’t meet their needs, a group of friends in Pretoria decided to create their own. Two years later, Peloton Cycling Club has grown from a handful of riders into a thriving community that proves inclusiveness and understanding can transform a cycling club.
As friends who struggled to find a club where the dynamics worked for them, the founders of Peloton recognized something important: there were plenty of other riders out there who felt the same way.
“We realized that there was a need for a club where people fit in where they don’t fit in at other clubs,” the club explains. What began as casual rides among friends has evolved into a social club that welcomes everyone from weekend warriors to serious competitors.
The Secret to Success: Know Your Riders
Peloton Cycling Club’s approach to membership growth is straightforward. They get to know their members. The club asks important questions about each rider: Who’s just getting out of the house? Who’s chasing podiums? Who needs a gentler pace on the climbs?
This understanding translates into action. Peloton created subgroups within the club for different disciplines and abilities. Road bikes, MTB, trails and gravel riders all have their place. The key, they say, is inclusiveness.
“Understand the need and try to accommodate as such. Inclusiveness is key,” JP Ronquest, Co-Founder of Peleton CC mentions.
One policy that stands out is their “no drop rule.” They never leave slower riders behind, which has created an unexpected benefit: it motivates newer riders to improve while teaching experienced cyclists compassion. The result is a community where everyone celebrates each other’s achievements.
Tackling the Communication Chaos
Like many clubs, Peloton Cycling Club faced a modern problem: too many WhatsApp groups. With hundreds of messages flying around, many of them ride photos that not everyone wanted to see, members began muting groups. The unintended consequence? They’d miss important information about upcoming rides, events, and workshops.
“If I did not join your social ride, I did not want 70 photos of the ride, so I mute the group, but then missed all other info,” the club shares.
As one of the first active clubs in South Africa to start working with Cyql, and one of the first on the entire African continent, Peloton found a solution. The Pretoria-based club moved their communication to Cyql, where they could post ride details, GPX files, starting point locations, and photos all in one place without the spam. The ability to manage permissions and restrictions has also increased safety by keeping ride information private rather than publicly accessible.
The adoption has been super impactful. By moving away from WhatsApp for ride coordination, Peloton reduced miscommunication and ensured members stay informed about what happens inside the club.
Advice for New Clubs: Listen and Lead
For clubs just starting out, Peloton Cycling Club offers some tips and tricks:
Build relationships with every member. Understanding why each person cycles, what their goals are, and how you can help them is key to creating a strong community.
Set clear rules and enforce them consistently. During rides, those guidelines create safety and structure that everyone can rely on.
Celebrate together. Whether it’s a personal best on a local climb or a podium finish at a race, recognizing achievements strengthens the bonds within your club.
Perhaps most importantly, Peloton mentions that “the club is only as strong as the members are allowed to be.” By listening to feedback, welcoming opinions, and helping each other grow, they’ve created something special. A cycling community where everyone truly has a place.