Originally Posted by
toddtone
Hi, I have done virtually all of my riding solo for the past several years. I'd like to join a club or at least do some group rides to get to know more like minded folks, but I want to make sure that I follow the rules or at least do some basic research before jumping into a group ride with those that have experience.
Interestingly, I haven't been able to find a good answer in the internet for the following and haven't been able to surface anything when I do a forum search. Group rides are typically labeled A, B or C. While I realize that the groups denote different MPH paces (at least I think!?!) and to soem extent fitness.....what are the break points? For example, is the C group for 14 MPH and under?
Ha, what a n00b I am. But everyone needs to start somewhere and you guys are cool.
But I do know the meaning of HTFU and I'm trying to do that.
You should contact the ride leader though and ask them, don't accept a half answer like slow to moderate. Slow to moderate for one person is 5 MPH, slow to moderate for another is 25MPH. Ask about average speed, or distance and riding time, which will allow you to compute the average speed yourself. Also ask if they have a no-drop rule. Some groups will have a sweeper who will hang back with the final rider, others will take off like a bunch of drag racers and your left on your own if your not up to their speed. What I hate the most are collection points, where you get fast riders who go like nuts, then wait for the slower riders to catch up, and as soon as the slowest rider comes into view, they take off again. If your the last guy, you don't get any breaks, been there, done that, quit riding with my brother-in-laws group because they always did that.....