RMWrides

Hi - been discussing the perceived percentage harder it is to ride solo vs. a group ride at a fairly good average pace of say...32-36kmph over a distance of 80-120km.

I thought I read on hear somewhere that someone had a ballpark proposal that riding solo is about 30% harder than in a group.

Admittedly I have only done a few quick searches on Google and BF but was hoping someone might be able to help out. Thanks

rock on

kayakdiver

yes

daxr

If you're talking about the advantage of drafting, 30% sounds about right. Group rides tend to make up for that by holding higher average speeds, though, and by savagely contesting every decent hill and landmark (at least on the rides I go on).

Howzit

Im not sure what exactly your question is;

Is it better to train in a group for intensity, or:
Is it just easier to ride within a group.

It is easier to ride within a group.

You get better intensity from a good group training ride.

agarose2000

I definitely train harder with a group. The competitive spirit cranks everything up 30%+

umd

The drafting benefit can be far greater than 30% as the speeds increase. For example, I've observed using less than half the power sitting in at 30mph vs pulling.

AEO

yeah, people with powertaps were talking about 50% less effort in a draft.

Psimet2001 

I KNEW I was twice as bad as I seemed to be.

gregf83 

My group rides (4-10 riders) are usually more intense and harder than riding solo. Hills are harder because of competition and the flats are basically intervals. Of course, on a group ride you always have the option of sitting in the back all day which would be much easier but not as much fun.

agarose2000

Riding with faster guys will always make you faster. Sure, the drafting makes it easier to go faster, but you'll probably be going so much faster and then working super hard on the hills where drafting is much less significant. Love it.

Phantoj

Solo rides are going to be as hard as you want them to be...

For me, group rides are harder than solo if I'm in over my head with riders who are a bit faster than I am. The group ride I've been attending periodically has become a bit of a cakewalk, however...

asgelle

They should become better experimentalists. https://www.midweekclub.ca/articles/broker98.pdf

umd

You may get different results hiding in a big group than you would in a 4-man pursuit on a track.

recursive

Keep in mind, OP is talking about 32 to 36 kph. That's 20 to 22mph. The crazy numbers everyone else is talking about in the thread apply mostly to higher speeds.

wfrogge

And group rides are as hard as the group want them to be.....

RMWrides

Thanks for the input. I guess my op was a bit confusing.

I was looking for a comparison between percentage energy spent:

32-36 kmph solo vs 32-36 kmph in a group

I think I just need to get a powertap and figure out the difference.

Thanks again though, good stuffs.

cheers

stonecrd

All variables consistent (speed, wind, climb) you are going to always do more work solo than in a group. The percentage will vary based on the size of the group and the time you spend at the front. Stay at the front 100% of the time the work should be close to the same, stay in the middle and you will do a lot less work.