How to meet people to ride with
Meeting a new riding crew can feel awkward. Make the first step small: find a shared interest, ask a specific question and plan a short ride with clear expectations. These steps work across riding categories, with extra preparation for your machine and terrain.
1. Look for a shared starting point
Talk to local clubs, track operators or riding groups, attend an organized event, or introduce yourself in a RydeCrew crew. Ask about newcomer-friendly rides rather than assuming every event suits every skill level. Check schedules and requirements directly with the organizer.
2. Send a useful introduction
Try: “I ride an ADV bike and prefer relaxed paved and easy gravel routes. I'm free Saturday mornings and would like to join a short group ride. What pace and equipment do you expect?” Adapt the machine and terrain to you, whether that means e-bikes, dirt bikes, street bikes, ATVs, UTVs or snowmobiles.
3. Agree on the details
Confirm a public meeting place, start and finish times, distance, pace, stops and who leads. Ask about permits, weather, fuel or battery range and a breakdown plan. Share only the personal details needed to coordinate; do not publicly post your home location.
4. Make the first ride low-pressure
Meet in a public place, tell someone you trust your plan and choose a route within your ability. Wear appropriate protective gear, follow local laws and check conditions. Remote or avalanche terrain needs specialist preparation; an online introduction is not a safety certification.
5. Follow up and build a routine
Thank the group afterward and suggest another ride if it felt like a good fit. Share photos only with permission. If the pace or behavior was not right for you, it is fine to decline the next outing and look for a different crew.
Find your next riding crew
Practical starting points for every kind of ryder.