Road Cycling - Thoughts of a road newbie

So I have been mountain biking for 14+ years but this January I got my first road bike...light, stiff, good components just kind of...generic....anyway (scattante R650)

Did a couple solo rides around the neighborhood then hooked up with a local group 60-80 strong and fast as piss! and 50 miles long

first ride...dropped like a stone on numerous occasions...not getting a good draft, missed shifts, etc....your standard newbie fare. next few rides...droped only on climbs

now 5-6 rides in and I am taking some short pulls and climbing strong....50 miles in about 2 hours with some sustained 30+ mile hour flat sections!

I am told it is one of the fastest group rides in the valley (CAT 1's 2's and a couple pro's) and i am loving it!

I cannot even tell you what it has done for mountain biking....my recovery is like immediate!

To anyone who is going to be in Phoenix and wants to join a hammer fest drop me a line I will set you up nice!

Aw most here are from flat lander states and have winters and rain that keep them off the bike, they would get dropped so quick riding here in AZ.

Man, I might have to bring my bike next time I am forced to visit the inlaws in Chandler... I've been wanting to ride a bit out there, once the weather gets cooler... I have blackout months (may-September)... Whereabouts do you ride from ?

jeff

Man, I might have to bring my bike next time I am forced to visit the inlaws in Chandler... I've been wanting to ride a bit out there, once the weather gets cooler... I have blackout months (may-September)... Whereabouts do you ride from ?

jeff


jeff you are set!

most of the rides take off from awhatukee (36th street and knox) from the Corpus Christi Church

these guys due a tuesday 50mile hurt fest, a thursday hill climb, sunday around south mountain 65miles with a 20-22 group, a 24ish group and then a "fast group" plus they do a bunch of special rides to area lakes on saturdays

Aw most here are from flat lander states and have winters and rain that keep them off the bike, they would get dropped so quick riding here in AZ.


i am sure those boys and girls from the mountain states will come down and show us low landers whats what


do you live in az???

I'm pretty sure I can hang with the 20-22 mile group on Sundays... right now I am averaging around 18-19mph for a 65 mile ride, but that's also with a lot of hills usually

I'll definitely have to keep in touch on this one...

jeff

i am sure those boys and girls from the mountain states will come down and show us low landers whats what


do you live in az???


Yea i live in AZ, do you do any PBAA rides or AZcycling.com races?

Yea i live in AZ, do you do any PBAA rides or AZcycling.com races?


pacesetter i am a really really a newbie...i have probably been on my road bike less than a dozen times!

so no i have not done any pbaa rides or racing yet.

1)where in the valley do you live?
2)do you know of any total beginner rides (my girlfriend just picked up her road bike today and is lurking)
3)when are you and i riding???
4)do you mountain bike aswell?

hit me up my email is jbdmd@cox.net

I'm pretty sure I can hang with the 20-22 mile group on Sundays... right now I am averaging around 18-19mph for a 65 mile ride, but that's also with a lot of hills usually

I'll definitely have to keep in touch on this one...

jeff


sipper if i am spit out of the pelaton then i too am reduced to 18-22's...its a group thing its unbelievable what kind of pace you can carry when 30 people are working together

come on out!