Riding alone as to riding within a group

[Angelfishsolo]

When you say keep riding to get faster and fitter won't I hit a stage when you just can't go any faster?

Yes but at your age that should be some time away. Also bodies are uniquly individual. You may be suited to ultra long distance or sprint cycling or you may be a joe average club level cyclist. The important thing is to enjoy what you do. I completed my third MTB Marathon and was 10thfrom last (excluding the 30+ who did not finish). The important thing for me was I finished. I am over double your age but that matters not.

 

[Adolf]

Yes but at your age that should be some time away. Also bodies are uniquly individual. You may be suited to ultra long distance or sprint cycling or you may be a joe average club level cyclist. The important thing is to enjoy what you do. I completed my third MTB Marathon and was 10thfrom last (excluding the 30+ who did not finish). The important thing for me was I finished. I am over double your age but that matters not.

Thanks for being very positive, yeah I'm only a young chap got plenty more miles to get under my saddle yet eh?

Should I am to do the whole lot in a day or just a ton?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Thanks for being very positive, yeah I'm only a young chap got plenty more miles to get under my saddle yet eh?

Should I am to do the whole lot in a day or just a ton?

Impossible to answer with a clear conscience. Only you know what you are capable of. All I will say is this. If the though of >100 miles makes you feel uncomfortable if I were you I would listen to that feeling.

 

[Adolf]

Impossible to answer with a clear conscience. Only you know what you are capable of. All I will say is this. If the though of >100 miles makes you feel uncomfortable if I were you I would listen to that feeling.

The thought of doing it doesn't it's just the thought of how to prepare myself and which route to take.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The thought of doing it doesn't it's just the thought of how to prepare myself and which route to take.

Well lots of good advice been given on preparation. Route wise I have only ever been to the North East once (Sunderland and yes I know that is not Georgie country ) so can offer no help at all other than to ask if you have any NCN trails near to you? If so could you do one or a few of those?

This might help you

 

[WychwoodTrev]

Hi ya Adolf I like to ride in a group and on my own you dont have to do one or the outher. There are some groups that meet up and do rides from cycle shops on sat and sunday mornings. The group I have been out with do a brisk 30 miler no stops which fits in with peoples busy lives. I have joined a local club who go out on sat & sun for longer rides with a tea / coffee break at the halfway point, This club has a fare range of age groups from 12yrs up to 88yrs I have not managed to get with them ye rt but hope to do so soon. The main thing is enjoy your riding

 

[Angelfishsolo]

hey I know all about my grandfather taking the mick, he tries to every single time because my first name is Adolf,

You are not Jewish are you. That would be one step beyond!!!

 

[Fletch456]

I think I do need to actually socialise a bit more to be honest, I don't wear helmets I always just wear caps and I wear the gear cause it is comfortable and it's like you wouldn't play golf with a cricket bat, if you get me...

Adolf ..you could try a local cycling club and if needs be, for now at least, try their social group if you feel there pace may be too fast or don't want the risk of feeling like a muppet at the back of the group. At least a couple of clubs near me have what they call social rides where the average speed is 12-15mph.

You can use the British Cycling website to find clubs near to you and check them out - this is the page you need here

Am with you on wearing the gear compared to golf etc and not wearing a helmet - though I bought a better, more expensive comfortable one so that I would wear it we have become a bit of a helmet culture and I sometimes prefer a cap.

And second those that mentioned riding for - motivation, being sociable, chatting and you will go faster and further even if just one or two people. Know that from experience and it just being so but also an experiment at Oxford uni showed that exercising in a group versus alone raises your pain threshold.

 

[Adolf]

You are not Jewish are you. That would be one step beyond!!!

Hell no but we'll keep our political views outside of cycling this isn't the correct place/forum, but lets just say I was given this name for a reason and believe in him, I think you know who I'm on about.

Adolf ..you could try a local cycling club and if needs be, for now at least, try their social group if you feel there pace may be too fast or don't want the risk of feeling like a muppet at the back of the group. At least a couple of clubs near me have what they call social rides where the average speed is 12-15mph.

You can use the British Cycling website to find clubs near to you and check them out - this is the page you need here

Am with you on wearing the gear compared to golf etc and not wearing a helmet - though I bought a better, more expensive comfortable one so that I would wear it we have become a bit of a helmet culture and I sometimes prefer a cap.

And second those that mentioned riding for - motivation, being sociable, chatting and you will go faster and further even if just one or two people. Know that from experience and it just being so but also an experiment at Oxford uni showed that exercising in a group versus alone raises your pain threshold.

Thanks for your kind more detailed information with someone who has had the same experience with helmets and so forth.

I've always been the on-your-own type of a guy when it comes to sports and socialising... for example I used to play on a pool team and whilst all the others would mix and chat I'd generally just sit in the corner, people mistake my shyness for ignorance.


I guess one advantage with another person is the slip stream

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Hell no but we'll keep our political views outside of cycling this isn't the correct place/forum, but lets just say I was given this name for a reason and believe in him, I think you know who I'm on about.

Not so much a political view as a historical reference.

 

[Adolf]

Not so much a political view as a historical reference.

Maybe so but this isn't the place cause it's a cycling forum not political or historical haha, getting back to the thread main purpose.


Groups definitely help with windy days, I bet.

 

[Fletch456]

Groups definitely help with windy days, I bet.

Definitely and we've had more than our fair share of those this not so glorious summer.

 

[Adolf]

Anybody tell me how I get on the chat thing?

 

[Glover Fan]

See, I would have thought because of my age being 19 that not many older folk would really want to ride with me anyways to be honest, we probably will all be chalk and cheese so it might be a bit awkward.

The complete opposite. You will obviously have a common interest (bikes) so chatting will be no issue.

I'm 23, easily the youngest in the group I ride with and i'd regard them as friends in loose terms, I only ever see them on a Sunday, but we always have a laugh and most importantly a decent ride.

I love both, but group riding has most certainly kept my motivation levels high.

 

[Fletch456]

Anybody tell me how I get on the chat thing?

I just clicked "Chat" option between Blogs and Calendar near the top and got straight into it