GreenKLR

I know it is still February but I was wondering does anyone do specific Clyesdale rides? THe LBSs that I have visited all have orginized rides but those guys all look like they are on the Tour de France.. I am not even imagining riding like that...

CraigB

Lots of us get together to ride on occasion. But it's hard to offer any specific info when we have no idea where you are.

As far as club or shop-sponsored rides, around here they're not delineated by the size of the participant, but by the average speed of the ride. Start with one of the slower groups and see how it goes.

goldfinch

I've noticed some LBS's or local bike clubs sponsor "beginner" or "leisure" rides, with paces stated anywhere from 10/12 mph to up to 14mph. Some are not truly and I would never keep up with them. I am going to be near Iowa City, Iowa in April and I noticed that a local bike club has several Class C rides that month with a pace that might be doable for me, but I am going to call ahead first and quiz them. They seem to do these slower rides in the spring.

Down here in the Valley the local clubs in McAllen and Mission only do rides at a pace I can't even dream of and one does one "family" ride a year, which is extremely slow and really geared for bringing the little kids. Nothing that makes any sense for me. I accidentally ran into four older guys on the local bike trail and they were going at a pace that I can live with, but slow. I ride with them and get great pleasure out of having the company. I adjusted the pace issue by riding my hybrid bike with knobby tires.

Mark Stone

I've not heard of any specific rides for overweight people. However, you have a bike and a will - start one yourself! Why not? I'm thinking about the same thing because my membership in the city's bicycle club is useless because they all think it's a sprint from the start of the race. ER, I mean ride. Wouldn't be hard to organize, I would think.

rec3036

My friends and I ride almost every Friday depending on the weather (has to be over 40 degrees) , we use Facebook to post where we are riding and the approximate start time. We started out with 3 of us riding and now are up to 6-7 people depending on schedules.... it is much more fun to ride in a group!!! This Friday (tomorrow) we are doing the bike trail ride (paved with asphalt) in Allaire State Park.

Sayre Kulp 

The Harrisburg Bike Club has a wide gamut of rides, but they're based on speed, not size. Everything from A Rides averaging over 20 mph for a few hours to the D social rides that average around 7-8 mph for about an hour and include a breakfast stop. Andof course there are lot's of options in between - something for just about everybody.

GreenKLR

Sorry, southern NH or Northern Ma.
Thanks, I was just digging, I have passed a lot of group rides and have not seen 4 or 5 fat guys on bikes( I never thought of it as a fat group or a slow group)... ... it is alway the tour de france group. I think I will see how it goes and then post up and try to set one up once the weather warms up.

RedC

Looking for Clydesdales doesn't always solve the problem. We have riders near my size that I can't keep up with and riders older than me that I can't keep up with. Contact your local club and LBS and find the riders at your pace. Looking like TDF riders doesn't mean much. If being able to afford ASSOS bibs made you fast I would ride with our A group.

youcoming

Ask around most clubs have different level of rides. Also don't assume because they look the part that they are all that. I ride with every level of rider in my area and I sure don't fit in. Sure I have to ride smart on the hills, like getting out front before the big ones so I'm still with the group by the top but I still do it.

goldfinch

Yeah, to illustrate the differences in ability, look at the training ride Sinister posted here a few days ago. His warm-up is faster than I can go when I am pushing it full tilt boogie.

TrojanHorse

I don't want to rain on sinister's parade but that was on a trainer. I have no idea how that would relate to actual riding on the road because I don't have a trainer. You certainly don't have to worry about some *** Scion xB driver almost running you over.

maidenfan

Definately join a local club. Several of the clubs in the Portland, Or area have rides ever day of the week and most will break the packs down by pace, skill level or just the type of ride (casual coffee, etc, etc).