Fifty Plus (50+) - Alone again (naturally)

Bottom line: group rides make you stronger if they don't kill you.

Today I joined a group ride, most of the members being B+ level roadies. Everytime I join a group ride I have trouble hanging. Last time I went I got dropped after about 5 miles and had to suck the wheel of a straggler to finish the route.

This time I sought out the Venerable Fred, a 60+er classic white cotton sock Cambelbak wearing beater-bike riding Fred who can fly like the wind. I tell him my plan is to "stick with you until I puke, then aim the other direction". He seemed to understand.

I hung tough until we hit a series of hills. When I ride at LSD speeds I have no trouble going up these things, but at speed I felt like I was being fired out the back like a retrorocket. For ten miles I settled into a pattern: get dropped on the hills, then work like crazy to close the gap, taking advantage of my affinity for the Earth (meaning I'm overweight) and that I have a great bike that rolls well.

This time I hung for 16 miles until I pulled over to check my cue sheet. My heart rate had been pegged out at 160 so I just didn't have enough to try to close any gaps at that point. I rode the rest of the route forlorn and forgotten.

Depressed over my adverse power to weight ratio, I scarfed down a Starbuck apple fritter and some coffee. Life seemed to make more sense at that point.

And that is how I spent my day.

The End.

Bottom line: group rides make you stronger if they don't kill you.

Today I joined a group ride, most of the members being B+ level roadies. Everytime I join a group ride I have trouble hanging. Last time I went I got dropped after about 5 miles and had to suck the wheel of a straggler to finish the route.

This time I sought out the Venerable Fred, a 60+er classic white cotton sock Cambelbak wearing beater-bike riding Fred who can fly like the wind. I tell him my plan is to "stick with you until I puke, then aim the other direction". He seemed to understand.

I hung tough until we hit a series of hills. When I ride at LSD speeds I have no trouble going up these things, but at speed I felt like I was being fired out the back like a retrorocket. For ten miles I settled into a pattern: get dropped on the hills, then work like crazy to close the gap, taking advantage of my affinity for the Earth (meaning I'm overweight) and that I have a great bike that rolls well.

This time I hung for 16 miles until I pulled over to check my cue sheet. My heart rate had been pegged out at 160 so I just didn't have enough to try to close any gaps at that point. I rode the rest of the route forlorn and forgotten.

Depressed over my adverse power to weight ratio, I scarfed down a Starbuck apple fritter and some coffee. Life seemed to make more sense at that point.

And that is how I spent my day.

The End.

You can always ride with me WL................I like Starbucks.

I suspect that we could add Tom and a few others for a more laid back "tour de escargot"

Hey-you made progress!! Hang in there. You'll get to the level you prefer. "If it doesn't kill you it's supposed to be good for you."

Man, you ride just like I do.:D

I couldn't hang with TWL, he would bury me.

ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)

Aint that a song?:innocent::D

I enjoy an aggressive pace line up to a point. But I usually look for the weaker riders and let them know I'm ready to drop back with them whenever they've had enough. I'd much rather enjoy the scenery and chat a little bit than suck wind and stare at somebody's wheel all day. And you burn the same calories going the same distance anyway. It's just a more enjoyable burn.

One of the reasons I ride on my own is that I cannot keep to the same pace as any group I ride with. I used to ride with a few very good friends and it was social riding. If one of us was struggling- you only had to ask to take 1 mph out and the group did stay together. If someone struggled up a hill- then another rider would shield him for a while.

So we probably had 5 riders- all with varying speeds at some point on the ride- but we all used to finish a 50 miler at the same time- and all in comfort.

I tried riding with a local group of older riders and did not enjoy it. Started out at 12mph on the flat. Came the slopes and it was 12 mph- Came to the hills and it was 12mph. And come to the downhills and it was 12mph. On the flat they were too slow- On the hills and I wanted a bit less heavy breathing and downhill I wanted to enjoy myself.

Future rides are planned for me and in a group that I enjoy. Only one person to worry about- only one person to keep up with and only one person to slow down for. Unless Staus Quo come on the I Pod up the steeper hills.

I always get dropped from the fast group here. Still fun to start with them, and finish when I finish. I've also begun a 'comfortable riding group', and that's growing every weekend. And beginners are now getting faster and further, and some of the faster group are coming to ride with us for a more sociable outing.

I introduced the idea of 'Rotating Pace Line' (RPL) riding, to keep everyone together - seems to work well. So much so that these rides are attracting more members. The riders of the alternate gender now talk about the "VPL" rides.

I guess they mean 'Virtual Pace Line", but what do I know?

Bottom line: group rides make you stronger if they don't kill you.

You need to find a slower group! It was fun though, no? :thumb:

... Brad

Bottom line: group rides make you stronger if they don't kill you.

That is a popular BFism and promoted by bike club members and some racers who participate in group rides with the objective of getting "better". I have yet to meet a coach who agrees. Many coaches ban group rides. Coaches and athletes agree on one thing...group rides make you tired.:thumb:

I'm open to input.

There seem to be times in cycling when you a) become a cyclist b) become an avid cyclist c) become a competitive cyclist d) become totally addicted and get weird about the whole thing. I may have the order confused.

I like to ride in groups because of the social thing. However, I don't like thinking I slow the group down, and there is some satisfaction in being able to hang for longer and longer periods of time.

And I wonder if somewhere deep inside me lurks a Hermes/Velodiva/jppe/Will Dehne type that can push the body to extremes that I hadn't imagined a few years ago.

And then I worry about being found dead in my sleep from possibly not respecting my limitations.

Anyone else out there struggle with this?

I have yet to meet a coach who agrees. Many coaches ban group rides.

Huh? Really? Nah.

... Brad

One of the reasons I ride on my own is that I cannot keep to the same pace as any group I ride with.

I wouldn't ride with any group that I can keep up with.

The End.

The end? Did you say "the end'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! I want you to scarf down an apple fritter and hit the road. Now.

The end? Did you say "the end'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! I want you to scarf down an apple fritter and hit the road. Now.

The End- There is never an end to a thread like this- It may go off kilter- Just like the Germans Bombing Pearl Harbour - But end NEVER.

And then I worry about being found dead in my sleep from possibly not respecting my limitations.

Anyone else out there struggle with this?

Not since my trip to the cardio last week, no.
But before that? Yeah, a little. Sometimes.

The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

It is according to Bluto in Animal House

[QUOTE=The Weak Link;6712510. . . I rode the rest of the route forlorn and forgotten . . .[/QUOTE]

It sounds like a fine ride except for this perverse bit at the end.

Maybe next time it could end something like, "I rode the rest of the route solo, finished before sundown, and look forward to next time."

I'm open to input.

There seem to be times in cycling when you a) become a cyclist b) become an avid cyclist c) become a competitive cyclist d) become totally addicted and get weird about the whole thing. I may have the order confused.

I like to ride in groups because of the social thing. However, I don't like thinking I slow the group down, and there is some satisfaction in being able to hang for longer and longer periods of time.

And I wonder if somewhere deep inside me lurks a Hermes/Velodiva/jppe/Will Dehne type that can push the body to extremes that I hadn't imagined a few years ago.

And then I worry about being found dead in my sleep from possibly not respecting my limitations.

Anyone else out there struggle with this?

All the time. I live in Boulder, CO which is a bit of a haven for pro-level athletes and those folks go FAST. I thought about signing up for a 50+ cyclecross race but then watched one and realized it's just those same fast guys who are now 50...

I think I could eat more pie than any of them though, so I still have that going for me.

I like to ride with my wife, I make sure she stays within sight of me, and I wait for her at lights, or else.
We have many pleasant rides.

I like to ride with my wife, I make sure she stays within sight of me, and I wait for her at lights, or else.
We have many pleasant rides.

I never get dropped when I ride the tandem with my wife. I can't drop her, either - look back over my shoulder and she's still right there!

Why ?

Why not? I'm confused by your skepticism.

Why ask why?

Drink Bud Dry!

Why ask why?

Drink Bud Dry!

How much does he have?:beer

I go out with a group once in a while, but I enjoy just riding myself. If I want to go fast or slow, I just do what I feel like doing. I think if I kept riding and had a average of 17mph or so, then I would consider group rides more.

but I enjoy just riding myself.
I'd pay money to avoid seeing that. :twitchy::D

Ok..Six years ago when I decided to join a cycling club, I 'knew' I was out of shape.
There are two (well,actually, there are 3 but the 3rd is a premier racing club)clubs in my neck of the woods.
I chose the smaller less prestigeous.
The one with the motto: No Rider Left Behind.
Darned if they wern't true to their word. Every ride there was a sweep who was the last rider.
Four years back, realizing more than a few of the origional members (and some of the new ones as well) were getting 'up in years' the club insttituted B rides.
The idea was: 13 mph and a max. distance of 25 miles
"More the Journey than the Destination"
I began leading those rides. I'd ride into the ride start and home from the ride which gave me additional conditioning and the opportunity to do whatever speed I felt capable of.
By last season the B ride often had twice as many riders as the A.
And...by mid summer, these B riders were clammoring to go farther and pick up the pace a bit (please)
so we were doing 30 milers at 14 mph with some flat terrain sprints up to 15mph!
As some of the B riders progressed, they slid over to the A group and they were ready to ride with that group rather than being thrown to the wolf pack so to speak.
There are days when I'll get A riders looking for a easier paced ride.
There are days when someone else leads the B ride and I get to 'play with the fast crowd'
Maby there's a club with the no rider left behind mindset in your neck of the woods.

forlorn and forgotten...

that has been my last three years, ever since the guys dropped me and I got lost on the way home.
I took a wrong turning and ended up here.

george

Well, I would rather look at scenery than worry about the speed of the person in front of me. So I tend to ride alone.

Thank you, all of you. I feel much better now.

A nagging injury and lack of ability has caused me to drop out of the heavy hitter group in our club. But the "next group down" is just a tad slow and stops to wipe their noses (literally) too much. Three of us have become "tweeners"--riding somewhere between the two groups. We can usually find a way to end up with the slower group for coffee, but have usually done 15 extra miles before the ride started. I long to get back with the Big Boys, but I don't know if it will happen.