Originally Posted by
Pinyon
[FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]I think that most people ride alone a vast majority of the time. I agree that motivation can become an issue for me after a while. Even with all of the different routes around here, it can become a challenge.
I usually start riding with a group once per week in late-spring. I like to ride on non-racer group rides. The point is not to race, or to talk while you are riding, but to work together in a paceline to ride faster together than you can alone.
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Try to find a local group that rides at your normal speed or slower the first few times you go out, so that you can get a feel for it, and that has a no-drop policy (nobody left behind). I would also suggest trying a few different groups, to get the "vibe" of the people that show up. There can be a GIANT difference between different groups that are sponsored by the same bicycling club, around here. Find one that works for you.
That has been mostly what I've done as well. I commute daily on a bike and therefore ride 10 times a week solo. I'll also do some longer solo runs on a regular basis, but it can get a bit boring riding around alone. I've done some rides with a co-worker, but her realy like to take his time and rides much slower that what I like to ride. Though fun on occasion, I realy want to feel my blood pumping when I ride.
After some suggesting from a supervisor (whose husband is an active rider) I finally tried out one of the local clubs. I tried it and the folks are all very friendly and I see none of the attitude that you sometimes come accross with hard core road cyclists. The funny thing is that at 38 I am one of the youngest riders. I belong the "reasonably fast" group. They have 4 rides every day of the week. There are 2 daytime and 2 evening rides both in the North towns and Southtowns of the greater Buffalo area. This way there is a ride bound to be somewhat close to where you live at least once every week. The Wednesday ride within 2 miles of my house. There are both longer and short rides each evening, most between 17 to 25 miles. The long ride usually attacts the faster riders. Once the fast group warms up I can't stay with them as they will start to average 21 to 23 MPH, at that time a 2nd group usually form (the "reasonably fast" riders as I like to call us) and we'll average around 20 MPH. There is frequently a 3rd group that will ride slower. The folks on the shorter run will ride anywhere from 13 MPH up to around 19 MPH on average. So far I've found everyone to be very friendly. The evening group tends to ride pretty seriously and I happen to like it. We all rotate through the line so that we can take turns at the front. There is no way I'd find it possible to push myself as hard as I do in a group ride. The nice thing is that when at the front I'll ride right around my upper limmit, when I get a little tired I'll go to the back and enjoy drafting the group to allow for some recovery and then be ready after a while to lead again.
I do like riding solo some of the time, but group riding with a friendly selection of riders that pushes you to the limit is also lots of fun. It can also he humbing to work at at 100% just to keep up with a rider that may be is 30 to 35 years my senior. It also shows that one can enjoy cycling well into your 70's or later.
Happy riding Solo or in a Group,
André