Finding cycling fan communities has gotten complicated with all the platforms and drama flying around. As someone who has been active in these spaces for years, I learned everything there is to know about where pro cycling fans actually hang out online. Today, I will share it all with you.
Reddit: r/peloton
What it is: The largest English-language cycling discussion community with 400,000+ subscribers.
The vibe: Ranges from knowledgeable analysis to meme content depending on the thread. Race threads during Grand Tours get extremely active with thousands of comments during key stages. Off-season slows down considerably.
Strengths
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Race threads provide a real-time community viewing experience. During mountain stages, refreshing the thread adds a social dimension to watching alone. People share observations, jokes, and analysis as the action unfolds.
Results and race reports get posted within minutes of finishes, often with highlights and key moments identified. If you missed a stage, r/peloton will get you caught up fast.
Long-form analysis posts during off-season can be surprisingly sophisticated. Users create content about team transfers, historical comparisons, and tactical breakdowns that rivals professional journalism.
Weaknesses
Voting dynamics create echo chambers. Unpopular opinions get downvoted into invisibility. Certain riders (and their fans) dominate discussions.
Moderation can be inconsistent. Spoiler policies are enforced strictly, which is good, but some content decisions frustrate users.
Best for: Real-time race discussion, quick news updates, and general cycling community engagement.
Twitter/X: Cycling Twitter
What it is: Not a single community but an ecosystem of journalists, analysts, team accounts, and fans.
The vibe: Fast-moving, opinionated, occasionally toxic. Breaking news appears here first. Hot takes spread rapidly.
Key Accounts to Follow
Journalists: Daniel Friebe, Ciro Scognamiglio, Sadhbh O’Shea, Iain Treloar. These reporters break news and provide credible analysis.
Analysts: Lanterne Rouge (Patrick Fletcher), inrng, Cyclocosm. Data-driven and thoughtful.
Team Accounts: Most WorldTour teams maintain active presences. Some like EF Education excel at fan engagement.
Fan Accounts: Various anonymous accounts provide memes, hot takes, and community character.
Weaknesses
Toxicity during controversial moments can be severe. Rider criticism often crosses into harassment. The algorithm promotes conflict.
The platform’s uncertain future makes building community there feel precarious.
Best for: Breaking news, journalist access, and real-time hot takes during races.
Discord Servers
What it is: Real-time chat communities organized around cycling topics.
Major servers:
That’s what makes the Peloton Discord endearing to us cycling nerds—it hosts active race-day chats and topical channels for different race types, fantasy leagues, and general discussion.
Various team-specific Discords exist, particularly for popular squads like EF and Lidl-Trek.
Podcast-affiliated Discords (Lanterne Rouge, The Cycling Podcast) offer communities built around those shows.
Strengths
Real-time chat during races creates genuine communal viewing. Unlike Reddit threads that require refreshing, Discord flows continuously.
Smaller communities mean you recognize regular users. Inside jokes develop. Friendships form.
Weaknesses
Requires more active participation than lurking-friendly platforms. Conversation moves fast during races.
Server quality varies enormously based on moderation and community culture.
Best for: Active fans who want live discussion and ongoing community relationships.
Facebook Groups
What it is: Private and public groups dedicated to cycling topics.
The vibe: Generally older demographic than Reddit or Discord. More casual discussion, fewer deep-dive analyses.
Notable Groups
Pro Cycling Discussion attracts a mix of casual and serious fans. Quality varies by post.
Race-specific groups emerge during Grand Tours with varying activity levels and discussion quality.
Weaknesses
Facebook’s algorithm makes finding quality content harder than on purpose-built platforms. Comments can devolve quickly.
Best for: Casual fans who already use Facebook, local cycling community connections.
Podcasts and Their Communities
Several podcasts have built engaged listener communities:
The Cycling Podcast: The biggest English-language cycling pod. Their Patreon community gets bonus content and discussion threads.
Lanterne Rouge: Data-focused and thoughtful. The associated Discord is particularly active.
The Move: Lance Armstrong’s podcast brings different perspective and discussion.
Listening to the same podcasts creates shared reference points for conversation in other communities.
Finding Your Fit
Different platforms suit different engagement styles:
Lurkers: Reddit and Twitter work well. You can absorb content without active participation.
Active discussers: Discord provides real-time interaction. Race watching becomes genuinely social.
News junkies: Twitter delivers breaking news fastest, followed by Reddit.
Deep analysts: Reddit’s long-form posts and specific podcasts satisfy detailed discussion needs.
Most serious fans end up using multiple platforms for different purposes. Reddit for news, Discord for race chats, Twitter for journalist access. Find what matches how you want to engage with the sport.
