travbikeman

A few weeks ago I went on my first group ride for beginners hosted by Performance Bikes. Everyone else had the road bikes, where as I had the hybrid with suspension, (locked since we were road riding). Do any of you or other people whom have hybrids go on group rides? I felt very out of place being the only hybrid rider.

But am thinking of buying a second bike so I can go on group rides starting in the spring. But also had thoughts of selling my Crosstrail and getting a Sirrus instead.

a1penguin

Most of the group rides I see advertise the range of speed they will ride at. It's not about the bike, it's about the engine :-) If the group ride has some steep climbs, a heavier hybrid with heavy wheels might slow you down.

sail

I wouldn't feel out of place as long as your keeping up. If your slowing them down not so good, find some your own speed regardless of what they ride.

axxman

yeah, I am slow so I ride alone, I do have a friend who rides the BWI trail with me, there are a couple sections where I can go off road and short cut him, it kind of evens things out. That is what I like about the DS, it has just enough MTB in it to have fun. You have a nice bike, change the group you ride with.

yashinon

@axxman, I am with you! Although riding alone sometimes gets boring. I participated in a group ride this summer in which everyone had expensive road bikes. Needless to say they blew me out of the water. Did not care too much, I took my time and ran into another MTB/hybrid rider who ended up riding the 25 miles with me.

funbikerchick

I have seen a few rides advertised where they came right out and said road bikes recommended or even preferred. I don't like the position of road bikes, but I must admit they are lighter than my hybrid. I wonder if a more expensive, high end, hybrid would be able to keep up in group rides with road bikes.

TheLibrarian

Yea, if you can keep up no problem. I dont find the lockout to make any difference unless you really drope the hamer at 400kw. I thought i was slow too untill I took some non bike riders out.

yashinon

Depends on your own motor! It's not the bike but the rider.

funbikerchick

Yashinon, I think you are probably right, but I do know there seems to be a bias among road bike riders against those on hybrids riding with them.

MRT2

Probably not any meaningful performance difference. Though it is hard to say for sure, I would say couple of pounds off the bike might result in a few seconds to at most a minute or two difference over the course of say 50 miles. And you should be able to make that up and more with better diet and training riding your current bike.

rm -rf

I think it's more complicated than "bias". Most of the local group rides are 13,14,15 mph averages or higher. And the distances are 25, 30, 35 miles or more. Those speeds and distances probably keep most hybrid riders from trying the rides. The casual pace "at the speed of the slowest rider" rides do attract all types of bikes and riders.

If a hybrid rider showed up for one of the medium speed rides, I'd be concerned that it might be too fast for them, not that they don't deserve to ride with road bikes.

Strong riders on mountain bikes have done some of our rides. They usually blast by everyone on the climbs, just hang on at the flat parts, and get passed on the downhills. Their wind resistance is a lot higher. Hybrids would have similar problems.

yashinon

Oh definitely a bias....sometimes an arrogance! Even with road bike riders, there are very serious riders and those who got a road bike for the sake of having one. The local bike advocacy group has created a community ride called "slow roll", modeled after the ride in Detroit. Its a 9 mile ride and very enjoyable. It is good for me! I tend to slow down here, speed up there...just a fitness rider!

ciderguy

I take my hybrid (no suspension) out to group rides. I tend to go on shorter rides, because I ride 15 miles to the start of the ride and 15 miles home after the ride. My average on ride speed is probably around 14mph with lots of hills. My experience has been that I lag on the climbs, hang on flats, and fly by people on downhills. I often only seem to make it out in bad weather, so the downhills may have more to do with my confidence that I can stop quickly with discs and the others are intentionally going slow. I don't really know.

It is all about the engine. In the spring, I plan to step up to longer group rides. I think my constant fall and winter training will give me an edge over people who took the colder season off.

travbikeman

I think I'm going to agree with you all. Need to build up my engine first and will worry about second or replacement bikes later. For now I'm just going to keep having fun with my hybrid and the many trails I go to. I really don't want to get so serious about speed that I miss out on what I really enjoy - the adventure!

yashinon

Excellent!

funbikerchick

I have no problem at all with the distances. I might have with the speed, I really am not sure what my average speed is. However, it isn't a factor of the bike I ride but of my experience and fitness level. So, what does the fact that I have a hybrid have to do with your judgment about whether or not I might not be able to keep up? Mind you, I am not saying I could, but I am saying, I wouldn't be any more able to keep up if I rode a road bike.

MRT2

I have a friend, an older gentleman, who can ride for hours but can only average 11 mph, which is, frankly, too slow for most of the local clubs. Figuring out your average speed as about the easiest thing to do these days. Buy a bike computer or use smart phone app like Strava. It isn't a big deal either way but if you are doing group a ride that averages 16 mph, or 13 mph for that matter, it helps to know if you are averaging 11, 13, or 16 mph.

There are 3 things that affect your speed out on the road and 1 that helps on long rides. 1. Weight 2. Aerodynamics, 3. Gearing, and 4. Multiple hand positions. The road bike position you say you don't like, particularly riding in the drops, helps with aerodynamics a lot.

But the thing is, if you are stronger than the roadies, maybe you can hang with them on a hybrid. So your bike is a few lbs heavier, you sit a little more upright, or your bike's biggest gear is only 3/4 as big as those of the roadies. You can overcome it if you are strong enough. Or maybe you can't. It isn't really a matter of speculation. I have, on occasion seen a really strong rider on a flat bar bike or even mountain bike hanging with the roadies. If you think you are one of those people, then don't worry about anyone judging you by your handlebars.

rm -rf

Sorry, I only meant that typical hybrid riders might be more casual, shorter distance riders. And maybe don't ride 50 to 100 miles a week in the summer. Putting in regular mileage each week is very helpful to keep up with the medium speed rides.

Some years ago, a new woman rider showed up with a hybrid for one of the local rides that featured a bunch of quite steep climbs. I talked to her briefly before the ride, telling her that the average 15 mph for the ride included 19-20 mph on the flats, and some 10% hill climbs. I didn't want to see her get dropped after a hill or two. But on the first big hill climb, she went flying past me. Oh. a strong rider!

canklecat

Nah, I'm a slowpoke, averaging 10-15 mph. I wouldn't enjoy group rides with this bike (Globe Carmel) and my conditioning, unless they were all slowpokes too. I even struggle to keep up with a friend who's a bit older but in better shape with a lighter Trek hybrid, just toodling around the arts district - and he doesn't ride particularly fast.

Maybe in a year after I'm in better shape I'll consider adding a lighter bike and some local group rides. But even when I was younger and in great shape I preferred the leisurely pace of our workplace's cycling group, over the more competitive and faster local groups. Our main goal was to hit every cantina in Baja, not to finish as quickly as possible. If I can find a likeminded local group I might join with my current bike.

giantcfr1

If you want to participate on a group ride, you must keep the pace and take your turn at the front. Don't think that just because you can keep up, you deserve to be on the ride.
In my experience its not your Hybrid that is the problem. It's your ability to be a contributing member of the group. In my experience, roadies will also frown upon slow road bike riders, and will drop, and leave them behind.
Choose your group ride accordingly, and enjoy the experience.
Also remember that not all rides are social rides. I know here they clearly advise (via Facebook pages) what the pace is. Think about cycling as any other sport. Many people that ride on 'road bike' group rides are licensed with the UCI and insured. If you aren't licensed / insured consider the consequences of an accident you may be involved in.
In my opinion, it's not Hybrid vs Roadie vs MTB vs Tri etc.

practical

I guess it depends on the group of course. You have a lot of good feedback here. I will second the advice to get a speedometer so you know what speed you're going which is valuable feedback. I ride a hybrid and average about 15 mph, maybe a little faster. I ride with roadies who go about the same speed. I don't find the "aerodynamics" or hand position of a flatbar much of a problem; however, I am slower on climbs. I bike 25 miles or more on most rides and completed rides of 100, 80, 75, 66, 50, and many between 25 and 50. I am old and fat so I figure if I can do it, anybody can.

rm -rf

Not all group rides are that competitive.

A lot of the local medium speed rides try hard to be no-drop. Occasionally, the riders get very spread out, and it's hard to be sure everyone has seen the turn. But many rides either count the riders or use a "sweeper" rider that stays with the last rider, and the group waits for the sweeper at each turn. These are rides with flat road speeds from 15 to 20 mph or so.

And just about all of those rides have a smaller set of strong riders that tend to stay at the front. We'd rather have some riders just draft the whole way, instead of pulling and then falling behind. It's no problem at all.

The groups with typical flat road speeds over 20-22 mph are less concerned about dropped riders.
The groups with typical flat roads speeds of 17-21 mph do a lot of drafting, riding a half wheel apart.
The groups with speeds less than that are more spread out and often adjust to riders that are having trouble keeping up.

UCI license and insurance? Why would that apply to non-race group rides?

giantcfr1

In my experience, what I spoke about is correct, but I appreciate that different cities have different situations.
With regards to UCI and Licences, here in Australia they go hand in hand, and if you are on a 'training' ride I believe your insurance covers you for accidents. That is why here, many groups don't want non- insured riders joining. I'll note that I am not part of that group, but I respect their choice. If you don't know someone's ability, why should you allow them to join you. If one is upset with it, why would you want to join in?

chong67

Riding alone is more fun. You get peace n quiet and dont have to wait 4 no one. I keep pushing my limits.

giantcfr1

I agree, and on occations riding with a couple of (not group) like minded friends is more appealing to me.