Do most shop rides cost $ ?

[Jo-n-NY]

Around here, shops do not charge for shop/club rides. Our LBS just asks that all riders sign a waiver and has refreshments after the Sunday rides. If anyone buys the jersey it entitles them to 10%discount on all purchases and invites to events, sales and holiday party at the end of the year. The regular bikes clubs usually charge $20.00 or $25 for family a year. They are non-profit so the money goes for events & snacks at the club meetings.

[nuliajuk]

If they're requiring provincial registration, it could be an insurance requirement. Here in Saskatchewan a person has to join the provincial association, whether they race or not, if they want to belong to a club and do club rides. Everyone who goes on a ride is then covered by the provincial insurance, whether it's a touring or racing club.
I think the licence referred to must be a racing licence, which is needed to compete in sanctioned events. This must be a fairly competitive club.

[Velocivixen]

I live in the Portland, Oregon area where we have something like 80+ bike shops in the metro area. Not all of them offer group rides and of the ones who do none cost money.

[smilingcat]

shops offer group rides to attract customers. So unless the owner is really greedy, they do not charge you a fee. Even a seriously competitive shops don't charge you a fee for a group ride.

Now if the group ride is a training ride for their racing team/club, you will be paying a fee to join their club. And they normally would insist that you wear their racing gear (kit) Jersey and pants.

Sounds like you stumbled on a racing team training ride.

[Koronin]

Although I've only done one group ride (sort of) with one of our LBSs neither one charge for group rides. We had a Greenway ride this past Sunday. It was more of a let's show the city that there really are a lot people who enjoy biking and show the town we like having the infrustructer for bikes. Had a local politician as part of the ride, Parks and Recs had 2 rest stops set up, and the police were there to stop traffic at 2 intersections that had to be crossed. It was pretty cool. We rode from the downtown shop to the main gate of the base and back.