Originally Posted by jhan
I finally took the plunge today and tried to join my first group ride, the 10:00 Rock Creek Park Ride in DC. ...
You picked out one of the toughest rides in DC area to be your first group ride? No wonder. Most of those guys are super strong. And do you know that most of them usually do another fast ride at 7:10 in the morning, then get back to the park and get on the 10:00 ride? Yup, that's how strong they are.
You should try the Bicycle place ride if you like fast paceline and such. They do start near Rock Creek park, and have slower groups.
Originally Posted by Doctor Who
In my experience in both racing and on fast 'A-rides', it's usually the guys on a beat-to-hell steel Pinarello running old 9-speed Campy, and on some Mavic Open-Pro wheels, that are the riders absolutely slaughtering everyone else
And that guy won't be doing any sould crushing in the race nowaday. Unless he is a CAT 2 racing in a CAT 5. I dont see anyone racing on steel bike and slaughtering everyone else.