How to Join Alto Velo Racing Club

Updated

Alto Velo Racing Club's 2026 registration is open, and the club's website provides a "JOIN HERE" entry point on its homepage. To join, start at altovelo.org, follow the registration link, and review the membership benefits page before signing up. New riders should also note that the club lists a waiver for new riders, which is worth reading before your first group ride.

What Alto Velo Is

Alto Velo Racing Club describes itself as a premier cycling club in Northern California that supports a friendly and inclusive community for cyclists of all levels, disciplines, and backgrounds. The club offers weekly group rides plus training and racing opportunities, and says it aims to provide a safe and nurturing environment for pursuits ranging from building fitness to winning national championships.

That scope matters for joining: you don't need to be a racer to fit in, but the club does run a racing team (AVRT), described on the site as one of the largest and most successful amateur racing teams in the Bay Area.

Steps to Join

  1. Go to altovelo.org. The homepage carries the registration announcement: "2026 Registration is Now Open!"
  2. Use the "JOIN HERE" link. This is the registration entry point shown alongside the announcement.
  3. Read the membership benefits first if you're undecided. The site links to a page explaining the benefits of joining Alto Velo, so you can weigh what you get before committing.
  4. Complete registration. The site does not publish the fee schedule or payment details in the available page content, so confirm cost and any login requirements during the sign-up flow itself rather than assuming the process is free.
  5. Review the new-rider waiver. The site lists a "Waiver for New Riders" — read it before your first ride so you know what you're agreeing to.

Choosing Your First Ride

Joining is only half the decision; picking the right ride determines whether your first weeks go well. The club lists several weekly rides with clearly different demands:

Ride Character
A Ride Most challenging; hard, consistent pace for 3–5 hours
B Ride Challenging no-drop ride climbing local iconic hills such as Old La Honda and Kings Mtn
C Ride More moderate workout; practice group riding skills in a supportive, controlled paceline
Egan Ride / Climbing Ride Hill intervals for riders bored with structured training
Women's Ride Alto Velo Women's Ride
Coffee & Cake Ride Casual ride with a coffee stop
LHR Ride Mid-week "low heart rate" recovery ride

If you're new to group riding, the C Ride is the natural starting point because it explicitly focuses on paceline skills in a controlled setting. The B Ride's no-drop format makes it a reasonable next step once you're comfortable climbing. Reserve the A Ride for when a hard, sustained 3–5 hour effort is what you're after.

Practical Notes Before You Sign Up

  • Check the calendar. The site has an event calendar and news section; scanning recent posts gives you a sense of what the club is actually doing week to week.
  • Look at routes and virtual options. The club links local routes and Zwift rides, useful if weather or scheduling keeps you off the road.
  • Expect a community orientation. The site's framing — inclusive, all levels and disciplines — suggests the club wants newcomers, but the ride descriptions above are the clearest signal of where you'll be comfortable.

The single most reliable next action is to open altovelo.org and follow the "JOIN HERE" link while 2026 registration is open.