Cycling equivalent of Couch to 5k?

[BrassicaBabe]

Hi
I need to get off my backside. Running isn't for me as it hurts my knees. Is there a cycling equivalent of "Couch to 5k"? I like to have a goal.
TIA

No idea Brassica, although am sure someone else will know. When I started cycling more my aim was to be able to join in our local CTC group rides and keep up without embarrassing myself. Not fast 12-14mph and involve a coffee shop and a lunch stop .

Lovely relaxed people, no egos/nice group - I am by far the youngest at 47!

Where abouts do you live?
Do you already have a bike?

Look up your local cycling clubs and bike shops. One or more of them will run a novice club ride, where an experienced member of the club will take beginners out for a ride a suitable pace, and also teach you group riding skills.
They might also run sessions on basic bike maintenance (fixing a puncture, looking after brakes) as well.

There is a bit more to starting cycling than just getting on and pedalling! But it might also be worth looking up spin classes in your local gym, for when the weather is too grim to get out, or for when you don't have time for a longer ride.

Might be worth reposting on the cycling board OP

you could try looking for Belles rides

There isn't a plan to follow like c25k - partly as the terrain around where you live affects how easy it is to pedal so much.
But there are Breeze (women only) beginner rides around, and other social rides - these will often tell you how far and fast they go, so you could aim to be doing one in x weeks.

Then just keep building up your distance and speed - you can use a phone app to record it

Thanks for the swift replies. I live in the sticks (flat, flat, flat! ) which tends to mean groups and classes are hard to come by and I need something that is on my doorstep rather than the gym as it means I can grab time when the opportunity presents itself (young kids)

There are alot of cyclists round here though. So I will google clubs, breeze etc and see what I can find. Thanks

Brassica, I live in the sticks too (and fairly flat).

Depends on what you want but I like the CTC groups in my county. I have to travel by car if the meet is too far from home but I really enjoy it.

Lots of retired couples in our group, when we met at a pub recently a couple of people were laughing (with not at) because two people had got off and pushed their bikes up a hill .

The first ride I joined I was with two old men, everyone else chose not to carry on because of the rain. They had two pints and a portion of chips in the pub before going home. One of them was in his late 70s and had cycled 80 miles that day from home to coffee to lunch and back (whereas my bike goes on the top of my car to the coffee stop if it is too far).

www.ctc.org.uk/near-me