superslomo

In the interest of getting some added motivation and getting some practice with group riding/drafting I was considering doing the B-SIG series of rides with NYCC, which sound good in terms of development and progressive mileage.

It'd be nice to find out some other routes around/near the City as well.

The only bummer is that I'm in Brooklyn and this would involve riding/subway-ing into the city every Saturday for about 10 weeks, but that might be worth it if it's a good experience.

Anyone done these rides?? Any suggestions??

Air

I heard you should start with the slowest and basically get promoted as opposed to trying out something faster than you should have.

I wouldn't mind trying a few out myself.

superslomo

The SIGs are done in a number of ways, from what I've seen:

https://www.nycc.org/rides_sig_b.shtml

These have levels from a cruising pace of 16, 17, or 18 mph, depending on ability. The indication was that the average speed is about 3 mph slower than the pace speed.

Starts with a 30 mile ride, increases in speed and distance over the course of the ten weeks, spitting you out after the option of doing either a 90-mile or century ride on the final day.

There is also a C-SIG and an A-SIG, both of which really don't feel like the right pace... one too cold, one too hot. I'm hoping the B rides are "just right"

slvoid

How fast are the A-sig rides?

slvoid

Where in brooklyn are you? It's only 30 minutes to central park if you ride out there.

timmhaan

fairly moderate up until the lunch stop. then, on the way home, it usually breaks up with the faster riders moving ahead. you could definitely hang with the A riders.

i don't do the nycc rides anymore. they're fun once in a while, but just not my cup of tea anymore. when you consider the time going up to central park to meet, then wait around, then ride over to NJ, get lunch, hang around, then ride home it's like a 6 or 7 hour time block. sometimes longer.

superslomo

I'm in Kensington, and it takes me (with lights and other whatnots) definitely more than a half-hour to get to CP. I'm Southeast of Prospect Park, so it's about 12 miles in, and I definitely cannot make it in that quickly.

FWIW, I believe the A-SIG rides are either A-20 or A-19, so shooting for either a 20 or 19 mph at the end of the 12 rides.

Stacy

Hey Prospect Park has a Boat House, doesn't it? Aren't there any NYCC laders willing to lead a ride out of Brooklyn? If not maybe it's time to enroll Slvoid in their leadership course or start a Brooklyn Cycling Club of your own

timmhaan

some of the rides are really nice. my favorite was going out to Princeton, starting in newark (we took the path train out). hardly anyone showed up because of the train ride, but it wasn't too bad at all. once we got out of newark we were riding along old farm roads and along rivers. it was nice to explore.

because it's a series of rides, i would suggest you contact the ride leader before just jumping in for a ride here and there. a couple of years ago they were having difficulty with members showing up for some rides, not for others, or jumping from the B-sig to the A-sig, etc. it made it hard for them to plan.

superslomo

Well, I just looked through the materials, and they mention that they don't consider you to have completed the series if you miss two or more rides.

Since I'm going to be away for two weekends at the least during that time, I think I might have to reconsider and do this another time. I wouldn't mind having another year of strength and endurance to work with either...

I've got a few cue sheets from the various rides that they have done in the past, so I think I might just use those as new options on where to go on my own solo days.

slvoid

Done! Who's up for it this saturday?

zacster

I signed up for the A19 sig. I've gone along with the B sig a couple of times unofficially and my impression was that it is too slow. At the time too I was keeping a faster pace than I can now, so over all it wasn't for me. I figure that the A19 will be faster, but not so fast that I'll drop out. Also, they teach riding skills so that's a plus.

I'm in Ditmas Park, right across CI Ave from Kensington, but I'm not sure about getting up there. I've gone on my bike to join rides, but then realize I'm already 10 miles into my ride and they're just starting, and have 10 miles more to go after we get back, so the easy 50 miler to Piermont is 70 for me and you.

One problem I have is the lack of time to ride, and having to take the subway eats into the time, but riding it adds garbage miles.

So maybe the answer is to start at the Prospect Park boathouse with our own club. (but it's still 15 miles in any direction to get out of city traffic.)

slvoid

How much was it (if any) to sign up for the ride and when is it?

Usually we start at prospect and it's about 12 miles to get to the gwb, its pretty easy cause we just take the west side path all the way up, consider it a good warm up before you start hammering up to piermont or nyack. I think I usually end up with about 75-80 miles on my odometer every time I go to piermont (don't remember).

Otherwise, we can do laps in the park too.

Lucky07

I considered the b-sig rides, but between the family & going upstate, I'd miss 75% of the rides.

Asig requires paceline skills & like the c & b sig, they expect you to go on most of the rides. Membership to NYCC is 20 bucks or less if you have an Active Advantage card. https://www.nycc.org.

superslomo

slvoid, as per what I've read it's just the cost of nycc membership, and the SIG is free.

I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to all those weekends, and will be away for a couple of weekends so I think I'm out of the picture.

I will plan for it next year... I am down for laps around brooklyn, but am as slow as my handle would suggest Just full disclosure and all that.

I was planning on going for the 9pm tonight in the park with whoever was going, but am completely exhausted and have an early start tomorrow. Maybe next week? (I'll bring an HID as well )

v70cat

Starting Sig today.

v70cat

I did four laps in Central Park and had to stop 34 times for red lights.

It will the last time I ride ride in the park, I guess that is what they wanted.