Northeast - Any Potomac Peddlers Here?

So I am interested in joining the Potomac Peddlers but not sure what to expect. I am some what new to road riding but at the same time would like to ride with a group of people once in awhile. I checked out the site but I wanted to see what current members found it to be like.

1. Is their a large range of riders (such as not everyone is crazy fast but their is a group for everyone?)
2. What are the size of groups on most rides (like 10 or 50 people)
3. How is the social part of it? like I assume everyone is cool but is it more just riding or do people get together for drink and stuff?

PPTC are good people and their rides are fun. They certainly cover the area.

To your questions:
1. Yes. Usual instances of occasional pace inflation on some rides by some riders.
2. Varies. A few may show up, or a much larger group.
3. Depends. There are some social rides and there may be an impromptu gathering for food during or afterwards (depends on the ride, group, weather,...) PPTC also holds social events throughout the year.

There's also an unofficial (not sponsored by PPTC) google group email list of mostly PPTC riders, some quite active. More info at http://groups.google.com/group/pedalers

+1 on the previous poster.

I'm a member (since 2004), and I lead rides (usually A - the fast guys). But I've been on rides of all kinds, and they tend to be a lot of fun, with a lot of fun people from all walks of life.

The upcoming Black Hill Picnic ride on the 14th is one of their best social events, with rides offered in all classes. It's a great first dip into the PPTC pool, if you will.

I just joined this week. I was riding on my own today though, up Blueridge Mountain Rd (Mt. Weather climb) and was nearly to the top when I broke a derailleur cable. "Tom" from the PPTC was with a "B" group that came up behind me, and helped me out with the tool I needed to change the limit setting on my rear derailleur so I could at least have two usable gears. Thanks Tom!

I just joined this week. I was riding on my own today though, up Blueridge Mountain Rd (Mt. Weather climb) and was nearly to the top when I broke a derailleur cable. "Tom" from the PPTC was with a "B" group that came up behind me, and helped me out with the tool I needed to change the limit setting on my rear derailleur so I could at least have two usable gears. Thanks Tom!


What time were you going up? I didn't see any Mt. Weather rides in the schedule today, and I needed one last big ride before Mt. Mitchell, so I left from my house in Herndon, rode out the W&OD, out Snickersville Turnpike, then up to the summit - turned around and came back. Total mileage was 101.1, and (I think) the total climbing was around 6K, but my altimeter went crazy when the thunderstorm hit, and didn't work properly the rest of the ride.

It was raining so hard, I couldn't see, so I rode back to the overpass at the Homeland Security entrance, and waited for about 20 minutes before it was safe(r) to ride down. It rained off and on all the way home.

I just got back in a few minutes ago - my overall speed wasn't that great (13.1 average), but considering the climbing, distance and weather, I'm still pretty happy with the ride. Now I get to start cleaning off the bike. It's a mess.

Cool thanks for the input. Yeah I am definitely considering joining probably do the application and pay sometime this week.

I really want to join because I want more of a social group to ride with, have other people give me some tips on riding, and just to have some fun. I like to ride alone most of the time because I like to keep my own pace but at the saem time it would be nice to ride with others in the area.

hi kokomo. I left about 9:00am I think. It was probably about 10:00am when I hit 601. The other two times I did this route I started from the Rt. 7 side. This time I started from the Rt 50 side. All things considered it was a good thing the cable broke where it did. I just stuck to Rt. 17 on the way back and didn't have any major hillage. A 56 mile ride turned into a 37 mile ride, but all in all it was good timing too. I didn't get stuck out in your thunderstorm!

I haven't looked at the PPTC ride schedules yet. I just got the newsletter on Friday. I'm trying to stay booked up with organized riding events on the weekends (doing Tour de Cure 100 next weekend) but I'd like to hook up with some friendly PPTC rides on the in-betweens.

Good luck with your Mt. Mitchell ride!

I ride with both the PPTC and the Oxon Hill club. Both are good groups.
The D and C rides tend to be more social and are sometimes themed (like the Arlington Green Tour today). With the faster rides it depends on the group, but mostly they are focused on the ride.
Sometimes you'll get a group that is cold or stand-offish. Don't let it bother you. Most the the PPTC people I know are friendly.

I usually ride a fast C / slow CC pace. I like the CC and B rides for the challenge, and can even keep up on the flats but I usually get dropped as soon as we hit any hills. I'm used to doing the club rides solo and don't expect anyone to feel obliged to stay with me (although I sometimes ride slower to keep someone else company.)

Hope to see you out there sometime.

I ride with both the PPTC and the Oxon Hill club. Both are good groups.
The D and C rides tend to be more social and are sometimes themed (like the Arlington Green Tour today). With the faster rides it depends on the group, but mostly they are focused on the ride.
Sometimes you'll get a group that is cold or stand-offish. Don't let it bother you. Most the the PPTC people I know are friendly.

I usually ride a fast C / slow CC pace. I like the CC and B rides for the challenge, and can even keep up on the flats but I usually get dropped as soon as we hit any hills. I'm used to doing the club rides solo and don't expect anyone to feel obliged to stay with me (although I sometimes ride slower to keep someone else company.)

Hope to see you out there sometime.

That is mainly what I am looking for with the social part. I am a pretty social person liking to talk about general things and also biking or what ever activity I am doing. At the same time I like to have rides were its just riding and not really much talking. I would be in the same area of C to CC class right now because I am still working on my endurance, hill climbing, and speed (I can do a 30 mile ride just cant do it at a crazy pace).

The largest part of it is more getting the exp. riding with large groups. Since I want to race next year I need to ride in groups and hopefully work my way up to the B or A class to do pace lines. Its also nice to have some seasoned people talk with you about your riding. I can read all the articles I want on riding but have face to face interaction seems to do better for me.

I am hoping to get singed up sometime this week. How dose the student membership work? I am a student at MC but do I need to do something special or talk to someone in the group first?