Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.spazegun2213
08-19-03, 08:14 PM
alright, so a forum member madcyclist turned me on to some group rides in reston and i figured that I'll tag along and get some experiance (never ridden in a group bigger than 4). The rides were labeled AA, A, BB, B and C, and I signed up for B thinking I'll fit right in. As the time was approaching to get started the leader spouted that there were only A and B rides tonight. we left soon after and there was talk about people being "lazy" and "sandbagging". I didnt really take listen to any of it. One cyclist even jested that he would sprint up all the hills to make up for being in the B ride. the ride started and for the first 5 miles doing 20mph was nice, but a little fast, i soon went from the front of the group to the back :( my goal was then changed to just staying with the group. The pace contiuned and the same people i heard sprinted right up those hills.
I learned a lot, like how hard it is to catch a group alone. Its much easier with another person or two (learned this too). Being in the back, i helped the people with thrown chains rejoin the pack and one person even thanked me. As the ride was finishing up my chain falls off :( and i try to fix it. I look up and the group is gone. I wip out the trusty cue sheet and eventually catch up with some people that had decided to go another route.
throughout I had my computer set for time only and when it was all done, 28.99 miles at a whopping 20.1 mph!!! I have now renamed the people that led the group to the "reston rockets!" All and all, though all the hills, attacking, pack riding, i had a great time and am thinking I'll do it again thursday :)
-Ross
I learned a lot, like how hard it is to catch a group alone. Its much easier with another person or two (learned this too). Being in the back, i helped the people with thrown chains rejoin the pack and one person even thanked me. As the ride was finishing up my chain falls off :( and i try to fix it. I look up and the group is gone. I wip out the trusty cue sheet and eventually catch up with some people that had decided to go another route.
throughout I had my computer set for time only and when it was all done, 28.99 miles at a whopping 20.1 mph!!! I have now renamed the people that led the group to the "reston rockets!" All and all, though all the hills, attacking, pack riding, i had a great time and am thinking I'll do it again thursday :)
-Ross