Porter20

I am relatively new to cycling. I have had my bike for about 6 months now and since then mainly ride with a group of friends (4-8 people) & by myself. Since our area only has a handful of organized rides during the winter months, I have ridden in groups well over 100 riders (I guess we were our own pelaton at that point) and a couple centuries where I have ridden in some formed pacelines.

Now that spring time is here, all the bike shops are starting their weekly rides dividing into groups: 20 mph, 17-18, 16 & under, etc. Also, a couple planned rides I am doing this summer are asking for avg speed (to roll us off in different groups) Recently, by myself, I am riding 63 miles, avg speed 17.8 w/ 4000 ft of climbing. My question is, how much speed can one expect to pick up riding in groups? Is it reasonable for me to go ride with the 20 mph groups? I also understand that there is always a chance I going to get dropped & like I said, I am fine riding by myself, so if I get left, that's fine too.

EventServices

Tough calculation.
Lots happening in a paceline or group ride situation (and they AREN'T the same thing).

A paceline means that you're rotating to the front at a regular pace.
A group ride means there are a lot of places to hide and you may never see the front. (some riders endeavor to never get to the front so they never put their nose in the wind.)

How much faster? Depends on a lot of things.
Another way to look at it might be faster for a longer period of time since you have time to rest/recover.

Drafting will give you more speed, but so will desire: if everyone around you is flying, you'll find a way to fly, too - at least for as long as you can.

^oZ

Do it. You'll have no choice but to keep up, so you will.

beeballman

Riding in an organized pace line is a good thing. You need also to be used to riding with the cyclists in the paceline so that you know how everyone reacts to certain road cnditions. I would start with a group you are familiar with to get used to paceline riding first. It is a dream when the paceline is moving as one unit. I have been riding with the same group of riders now for several months and I got dropped all the time at first, but that first time you stay with the paceline and take your turn pulling is something you will never forget.

eb314

About 30% energy savings sound about right? Depending on speed obviously.

patentcad

Tell him about the yelling.

ElJamoquio

Speaking of hijacking this thread, Event, I missed out on the your-book preme today. Instead I won a frame pump (oh, the irony).

oilman_15106

You will only pickup as much time as the guy leading the front!

EventServices

OK. I will.

Not all pacelines or groups are created equal. Well, maybe they were created equal, but I'll venture to say that they aren't equal any longer.
There are risks involved that may not be apparent to an inexperienced rider. Be aware that if an experienced rider wishes to prevent an accident or other infraction of etiquette while the wheels are turning, he or she may raise his or her voice. Don't be upset by this. Be thankful that they had the temerity to speak up rather than sketching his explanation on a napkin at Appleby's two hours later.

For example, let's say you find your way to the front of the line while going down a big hill.
You may think, "Hey I'm going fast. I don't need to pedal!"
Listen carefully for someone behind you urging you otherwise. Don't take it personally other than the fact that you're the one who's not pedaling.

Porter20, this is all good natured. There's a history here.

El Jam. Find me. I'll hook you up next week.

scotch

don't forget the shame and humiliation.

mollusk

Lot's of the "racer guy" small group rides (4 to 8 riders) that I have been on have been a lot slower overall than if I had just done the ride myself at a steady pace. It all depends on how cooperative the group is for covering distance versus time as opposed to screwing around attacking, sprinting for green signs, slow pedaling while somebody that took a nature break catches back up, etc.

A large group being cooperative for covering distance efficiently is a whole 'nother story. I'd say that they would be at least 3 mph faster than a solo rider.

carpediemracing 

I rarely train over 17 mph avg solo.
I rarely train over 21 mph in smaller (3-5 rider) groups.
I rarely train under 21 mph in larger (20+)groups.
I rarely race under 25 mph.

cdr

RJBTrek

Last year I was new to riding in a pace line and had the same question. I tried the faster groups and found a 2-3 mph gain. The key for me was distance. The longer the ride the more time I was at the front pushing against wind and the harder it was. I kept up most of the way but was finally dropped. However, by the end of the season, I was being dropped closer to the end of the ride. The thing is if you cannot keep up, signal with your elbow that you are moving out of the line and move to the back. Do this before you create a big gap that someone will have to work hard to bridge. Stay at the bacl letting riders in front of you by opening gap as they move to the back. Do this until you can no longer keep up. Don't worry about other riders thinking you're a wheel sucker. If you were pulling early on, they will know you're tired. If after sitting in the back you can do a pull, keep close to the wheel in front when the other rider comes down the line and take your turn at the front.

Will G

By myself or in a smaller group, somewhere in the 19-20mph average. In a large group, 21-22mph. And that is seemingly never ending hills.

TCR

Looks like you could hang with the 20mph group.