SDBC developmental ride newbie

[flyin tiger]

Hey guys, i'm still very new to cycling. I bought a new bike a month ago (giant tcr 2) and have been rackin up the mileage. A friend and i are planning on checking out the SDBC developmental ride this saturday. I was just wondering how many of you have been on this ride and how you like it. I'm planning on jumping in with the number 3 group i think. But i've never had any coaching and have never been on a ride with a group larger than 3. I'd just like to know what to expect before i show up. Thanks

[efficiency]

Dev 3 is a good place to start. I've done the ride once. It was okay. DaveSANYYZ does these rides pretty regularly.

[DaveSANYYZ]

The rides are pretty good I think. Starts at 8:30am though the dev 3 groups normally don't roll until 8:45 or so. Won't get back to UCC until 12:30-1pm. Be a little careful when going uphill when behind a tight group. Sometimes it can slow down unexpectedly.

[threeflys]

Dave,
What is length/intensity of this ride normally? I've been thinking about this ride as well, but have been hesitant...
Chris

[DaveSANYYZ]

If you don't have trouble climbing up Torrey Pines, you shouldn't have trouble with the dev 3 rides I think. D3 is maybe 40 miles, D2 48 and D1 about 50 miles.

For me, I can't ride at 22mph for more than 20mins on flats, and I can hang with the D1. 9 min up TP will be average on D1. Cruising speed on D3 is probably 17mph or a little lower. There is an extended break at the last 11th mile, where you can always skip and ride back to the start on your own.

SDBC will tell new people to ride in the dev 3 group first, since that's the ride they teach double rotating paceline. D2 and up will expect you to already know how to do it.

[Crash716]

D1 is where it's at....


just kidding...that is where i got thrown into the mix, where i will be going from now on.

Part of me wants to do the D2 ride just so i can see when i am doing it.

There is also the champions ride on thursday nights on Fiesta island...it's really fast but you can get dropped and jump back on as you see fit.

[DaveSANYYZ]

Crash, I think you should be in the A's. I get dropped by B's on flats, but can kind of catch up once in a while. Just a guess, since I still haven't met you yet. :)

[Crash716]

ya know what....is it the A's that leave at 8:30 and come back by 11ish...

if that's the one than yeah...that's what we (Ben/and I, team member) are doing. cause their climbing Torrey in like 6:30-8 minutes.

[DaveSANYYZ]

Yep, that should be the A. The first group that roles out close to 8:30am.

[flyin tiger]

thanks for the input. I haven't made it out to torrey pines yet. I'm in normal heights so my normal hill routine is riding out to mission trails and back. Is torrey pines similar to the hill leading up to mission trails on mission gorge? I'm really excited to ride in a big pack. I'm very interested in getting into racing and have a good feeling this is the right place to start learning.

[Nachoman]

Tomorrow should be hot. Bring lots of water. I think you'll enjoy the D3 ride, as your first group ride. I rode D3 many times over the past few months with my fourteen year old son who is just getting into riding. Depending on who is leading the ride, you can receive some excellent instruction on riding in a paceline.

[jsigone]

iduno how many people are gonna be doing that ride, but the SD century is going tomorrow so there will be ALOT of riders out there on the roads. Be safe and drink fluids today too.

[Nachoman]

iduno how many people are gonna be doing that ride, but the SD century is going tomorrow so there will be ALOT of riders out there on the roads. Be safe and drink fluids today too.

Good call.

[flyin tiger]

I needed both bottles on my hilly 13 mile ride today, i'm sure i will go through that tomorrow. will make sure i have extra water in the truck.

[blue_nose]

cause their climbing Torrey in like 6:30-8 minutes.

On a recovery ride :D

[Nachoman]

So how was the SDBC ride today? And which group did you ride with?

[flyin tiger]

The ride today was a lot of fun. Me and a friend joined the Dev. 3 group. It turned out to be a little slow for us but it was a great ride. We split off the main group after the break at the coffee shop and found a group of some faster riders to take us back to the bike shop. It was warm today but the breeze kept with us most of the day. I will definitely be doing it again.

[Nachoman]

My son and I did the D2 ride today. It was a faster pace than usual. Two women opted out at one of the regroup spots because it was just too fast for them. That left my son as the slowest in the group so I hung back with him and had him draft off me most of the ride so he could keep up. Thankfully he's like me. He likes to suffer.

[flyin tiger]

what's the distance that the D2 ride covers? We went about 38 miles today. Does the D2 ride take a different route? Is it more hilly than the D3? After climbing up torrey pines at the end of the ride i don't know how much more climbing i would be up for! But i do think i would be better off with a group riding at 20mph instead of 16. I'm really looking forward my next trip out. Maybe we'll run into you in the D2 ride, i can keep you guys company in the back.

[Indolent58]

D1 and D2 are about 45 miles. One follows the same route the D3 except it goes further North and hits the coast at Leucadia rather than Cardiff. It's not much hiller than the D3. The other ride is specifically designed to have more hills by winding around in Rancho Santa Fe to hit some extra climbs. I can't remember which is which, but both are faster than the D3 ride.