Road Cycling - So I went on my first group ride since.......

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smeghead
05-24-04, 07:51 PM
So I went on my first group ride since my race days (12 years ago), well there was only 3 of us but we still rode a pace line. We thought we were riding quite well, 1/2 of the ride into a cross to head wind and 1/2 over hills. We ended up with 18.1 average for the 43 mile ride. However 6 miles before the end we met a mtn biker at a traffic light. As we proceeded he decided to join us, so on the back he jumped. For the next 5 miles I could hear the whirl of his nobblies behind me until he decided to pull a turn :o . We approached the last climb and expected this guy to jump into the basement gears. Well I was the first off the back, legs tired, not enough rides :mad: . However the mtn biker only dropped 1 gear and powered up the hill to drop the other 2 guys :eek: jeez, this guy's an animal. He hit the top of the hill, turned around, waved and headed off our route. That's one way to earn respect!
Our group rode a Reynolds 653/Cannondale R1000/Trek 2100
The mtn biker rode a Trek with a lot of travel.
Despite being blown off the back with my tongue draped over the handle bars, I still had a great time and enjoying riding again but I hope I don't get crushed by a mountain biker on my next ride :D

DnvrFox
05-24-04, 07:59 PM
On Ride the Rockies a few years back, the mtn bikers came in first each day! Go figure.
forum*rider
05-24-04, 08:15 PM
Yes, we mtb'ers rule:D

Sounds like you had fun! Good luck with the group ride thing. I guess I do group rides(two adults + 8-10 little kids = group ride?)

BTW The mtn biker might have had it easier going up the hill than you guys because his gear ratios are smaller.

Grendel
05-24-04, 10:28 PM
BTW The mtn biker might have had it easier going up the hill than you guys because his gear ratios are smaller.
No doubt... MTBs have gears low enough to climb trees with. You'd have to be pretty spent not to smoke a MTB on the flats, though... :)
shimano_cranker
05-25-04, 02:53 PM
Some mountain bikers are in crazy good shape. They are ususally 20 year old guys who are ripped to shreds and can perform. Don't worry about it.
DnvrFox
05-25-04, 03:11 PM
Some mountain bikers are in crazy good shape. They are ususally 20 year old guys who are ripped to shreds and can perform. Don't worry about it.

Yes, those mtn bikers on the RTR looked like Greek Gods!
55/Rad
05-25-04, 03:23 PM
I had a similar situation recently when I got smoked by someone unexpected. But it wasn't a MTB'er, it was a kindly gent on a roadie. I didn't think anything about it until I met up with him at a rest stop and he had his helmet off. I estimated him to be 70+. FWIW, I'm 43 and consider myself darn good for my age....

There's always going to be somebody.

55/Rad
teamawe
05-25-04, 03:56 PM
Just before I switched over to road riding I was putting in crazy miles on my mnt bike on the local bike path. I prided myself that nobody ever passed me. I jumped on a few wheels at 22 - 24 mph to the amazment of the roadie(s). I had trouble pulling at much over 22mph because of gearing, but could draft all day at 24.

Ya, those 2.1" tires make a cool noise when traveling that fast.

.....oh to be that strong now. /grin


Grats Smeghead on your ride, sounds like you had fun.