Northern California - local group rides that will tollerate n00bs

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F4UX3/2
07-23-09, 01:34 AM
I've been riding solo, save for a handful of times with my roommate, for about a year now. On several occasions going through the presidio or over the GG bridge into/out of sausalito I've been mistaken for someone who knows what they're doing and the people around me start giving me hand signs... for all I know they're doing sign language or throwing up gang signs, so I just back way off and give them lots of room.

I'd like to learn to the unwritten rules/etiquette of road cycling in a group, or just in close proximity of other riders, but alas I am a total noob and don't know anyone with such experiences.

Does anyone know of group rides around San Francisco that would be a good starting point for someone in my situation. My abilities are around 16 mph average over 55 miles from SF to Tiburon around the paradise loop, I can only do about 10-11 mph coming out of sausalito up hill, I climb conzelman at about 9-10 mph, but on the flats I can hold about 18-22 depending on the wind.

Ideally I'd like to do a slower ride where I can just get a feel for riding in a group, and a sense for what this mystical hand language/terminology like "two up" or "one back" means, because I have no idea when I see/hear it.

genejockey
07-23-09, 09:43 AM
The Saturday PenVelo ride used to be a good place to learn - it starts out slow, there are regroups, and there should be folks willing to advise. When they start rolling hang out near the back, and you won't have to pull, which is something that should probably wait until you're more experienced.

Don't touch wheels, don't fixate on the wheel in front of you, don't allow big gaps, and do everything gently, especially braking. I tend to feather my rear brake for the slight speed adjustments you need in a pack.

And enjoy yourself! There's nothing like flying down the road at speed in a big pack!
BlastRadius
07-23-09, 12:53 PM
The Saturday PenVelo ride used to be a good place to learn - it starts out slow, there are regroups, and there should be folks willing to advise. When they start rolling hang out near the back, and you won't have to pull, which is something that should probably wait until you're more experienced.

Don't touch wheels, don't fixate on the wheel in front of you, don't allow big gaps, and do everything gently, especially braking. I tend to feather my rear brake for the slight speed adjustments you need in a pack.

And enjoy yourself! There's nothing like flying down the road at speed in a big pack!

+1 I just took a noob on the Pen Velo ride last Saturday. He got dropped 1/3 of the way through but he hung on safely for a while.