swansonj
Guru
That I am entirely comfortable with!
No more group ride for me.
- Thread starter gavroche
- Start date
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
You have to remember the drafting effect, you can easily sit on the back wheel practically freewheeling at speeds you could struggle to do solo .I went on a fast run a few weeks ago and sitting mid pack i was barely pedaling and just getting sucked along a good 2 mph + more than my average would be solo .
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Depends if your up for it and how far up their on behinds the ride leaders are
Seriously though the general rule of thumb i have seen is that as you get used to riding with a group then you will get more confident /fitter and when you feel you are ready to take a turn at the front then the rest of the riders will appreciate it but its not a necessity.
the club run i rode on today there were (eerrrrr) 8-10 riders and only 3 of us did any real pulling but i enjoy riding at the front and helping others .
A chain gang in full steam ahead mode is different kettle of fish i would imagine but i do not most people putting their toes into the pool of group rides are looking at that option yet ?
Mickthemove
Über Member
- Location
- Tatton Park, Rostherne
Got to say I think you are brave to go on a group ride after only 4 weeks! I still wouldn't go and I have been riding for 14 weeks!
Each week you will improve your averages and soon be cruising at 14-16 mph on the flat by the sound of it!
It's just them blooming hills in n wales that will batter your averages, but stick with it and enjoy
When I started I could not climb hills and averaged about 10 mph on the flat, after 14 weeks I average about 15 on the flat and 10-12 when I get some proper hills involved!
Each week you will improve your averages and soon be cruising at 14-16 mph on the flat by the sound of it!
It's just them blooming hills in n wales that will batter your averages, but stick with it and enjoy
When I started I could not climb hills and averaged about 10 mph on the flat, after 14 weeks I average about 15 on the flat and 10-12 when I get some proper hills involved!
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Standard etiquette is usually that weaker riders will do short turns and hang back, or indeed hang back entirely. Standard talk this time of year is turning to lights and mudguards. I've suggested that those who turn up to club runs on wet days without guards, should be made to ride 100m in front single line.Depends if your up for it and how far up their on behinds the ride leaders are
Seriously though the general rule of thumb i have seen is that as you get used to riding with a group then you will get more confident /fitter and when you feel you are ready to take a turn at the front then the rest of the riders will appreciate it but its not a necessity.
the club run i rode on today there were (eerrrrr) 8-10 riders and only 3 of us did any real pulling but i enjoy riding at the front and helping others .
Selfish is not the word!
Not a good idea of course but accidents do happen
I'm still hurting from a crash nearly a month ago and I'm no noob!
Doyleyburger
Veteran
- Location
- NCE West Wales
If they're not willing to help you then it really is not yourself that is the problem! A proper group should have a few nominated persons that are willing to help and motivate the slightly slower guys. Riding solo is fine, but it will be extremely hard to motivate yourself when there is nobody else riding with you.... Perhaps have a chat with the group and explain your issue. Would be a shame to leave the group...... Besides, group/club rides are great when everybody helps each other.
sreten
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Brighton, UK
Hi,
You can't really expect after riding for 4 weeks and never ridden a bike as an adult to be anything
other than very slow. You can expect to get quite a bit faster as you get used to it. IMO It quite
unreasonable to turn up for a group ride and expect them to go at a glacial "old bloke, never
really ridden a bike fast, been riding one month" pace, that is simply not on, at any age.
When I first started (at Christmas) I was so slow *. Headwinds and hills were a killer,
and I didn't realise tootling along on the flat or with a tailwind is not the way it is done.
i.e.I now go much faster when its easy that I did when I started, and minor hills and
headwinds are hardly noticed, they just slow down the pace you are going.
50+ (smoke a lot) but I can now maintain ~ 15 mph into a head wind or up a minor hill,
and zip along on the flat on windless day at ~ 19 mph, for miles. Nothing especially
fast but at least its not especially slow. I think going on a group ride its reasonable
courtesy to be in decent shape if 50+, and capable of going the sort of pace you
can go, once you've got some decent training mileage under your belt.
40 miles is a very long way for anyone who has only been riding one month.
I worked up to about 100 miles a week after 3 months and my longest route
is now ~ 35miles with a couple of stops . 40 miles after one month is a lot.
I've never actually done a group ride. Might give it a go soon.
rgds, sreten.
* In one particularly gruelling early encounter with a strong headwind on
my folder, a triathlete type dude could run as fast as I was cycling ....
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swansonj
Guru
I once slipstreamed behind you for several miles around Dartford on the way to Whitstable. I felt quite guilty about it, but I also figured that you wouldn't appreciate some random bloke making a big macho point of huffing and puffing just to prove that he could keep in front of the female. Just when I was feeling so guilty that I'd decided to offer to go in front for a bit, you seamlessly sped up and disappeared up the road....
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
If you want company on rides but also want to ride at your own pace then Audax might suit you.
Small groups tend to form made up of riders with nothing more in common than they happen to ride at a similar speed.
T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
How do you figure? The group joined was clearly too fast, it's not up to them to slow down, it's up to the individual to find/join a group for your ability.
sreten
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Brighton, UK
Hi, Sorry my mistake, rgds, sreten.
Do they smell or something ?
Hopefully you are all getting my point about club riders, if not let me know and I will try and simplify it even more.
Oops! I see what you mean, please accept my apologies Welsh Dragon.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
No problem ladies and gentlemen.
Skipper
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Hemel Hempstead
If you enjoy going it alone, then stick with it. I always ride alone, mainly because all my friends (not many) are not cyclists. But the other big reason is that I can go as fast or a slow as I like. There's no slowing down to let someone catch up (most frustrating when you're having a good day), and there's no cycling too much in the red zone just to keep up, then feeling depressed about your lack of speed (particularly on bad days).
Call me selfish, but solo rides are great!
Call me selfish, but solo rides are great!
