Anyone else feel this way on their weekend rides?
08-11-19, 02:44 PM
#1
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Anyone else feel this way on their weekend rides?
after commuting year round for several years, I feel like my friends can’t keep up with me, but I get dropped easily during the local group rides out of the nearby LBS. weird spot to be for sure
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08-11-19, 05:29 PM
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That's pretty much why I'm a solo rider. I'm faster than casual recreational riders, but I'm slower than just about anyone that does a weekend morning LBS ride. 
08-11-19, 06:39 PM
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If you want to get faster, ride with the faster group.
OTOH, there will always be a faster group.
OTOH, there will always be a faster group.
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08-11-19, 06:45 PM
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You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.
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08-11-19, 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.
Full disclosure: I don’t care about being fast I just wanna have fun on my weekend rides lol!
thinking of buying a trainer....
08-11-19, 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by downtube42
If you want to get faster, ride with the faster group.
OTOH, there will always be a faster group.
OTOH, there will always be a faster group.
08-11-19, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by davei1980
This is quite Zen
08-12-19, 12:03 AM
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I'm 6'4 230 pounds and 73 years old. I never get dropped because I ride alone. The past 3 years I've lost 65 watts to age and disease. On the flats and more so on climbs I seldom pass anyone. OTOH on 30-45 second seated sprints on the flats and on non-technical descents it is a different game.
08-12-19, 04:15 AM
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Originally Posted by caloso
You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.
08-12-19, 04:17 AM
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Anyone else feel this way on their weekend rides?
See this thread, “Commuting as Training.”
Originally Posted by davei1980
after commuting year round for several years, I feel like my friends can’t keep up with me, but I get dropped easily during the local group rides out of the nearby LBS. weird spot to be for sure
Originally Posted by caloso
You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.
Originally Posted by davei1980
^ nailed it.
Full disclosure: I don’t care about being fast I just wanna have fun on my weekend rides lol!
thinking of buying a trainer....
Full disclosure: I don’t care about being fast I just wanna have fun on my weekend rides lol!
thinking of buying a trainer....
Originally Posted by nomadmax
What he said ^^^^. It's the speed/intensity surges that are getting you. Some interval training and a little pack savvy (where to be protected) will have you yucking it up on Saturday mornings in no time.
Originally Posted by caloso
I literally started commuting because I was training for a triathlon. I was frustrated because I was blowing off a lot of my bike workouts that I had scheduled for the evening. I'd ride the bus home and sit on the couch and never make it back outside.
I had this genius idea that if I had my bike with me at the end of the work day I'd be forced to ride it and I might as well do the workout I had planned.
I had this genius idea that if I had my bike with me at the end of the work day I'd be forced to ride it and I might as well do the workout I had planned.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I'm fortunate to be a daily year-round cycling commuter early in the morning, with a pleasant, minimal one-way distance of 14 miles, easily lengthened during the nice weather. My commute is really my only chance to train.
I had long rejected the idea of intervals because getting on the Road early is a challenge itself, and I didn't want to lose my enthusiasm by punishing myself too much....
Intervals on the road during a defined commute are more variable than what one can do on a trainer. I have quickly learned that I must watch out for traffic and not pay too much attention to the stopwatch on my cycle computer. Sometimes the stopwatch times out during an interval and I have to reset.
Often the terrain is out of synch with the interval, e.g. downhills on the intensity interval, uphill on the rest interval, with stoplights interspersed.
As mentioned above I just use “Rating of Perceived Exertion” (RPE) as my monitor (see subsequent post)…
I had long rejected the idea of intervals because getting on the Road early is a challenge itself, and I didn't want to lose my enthusiasm by punishing myself too much....
Intervals on the road during a defined commute are more variable than what one can do on a trainer. I have quickly learned that I must watch out for traffic and not pay too much attention to the stopwatch on my cycle computer. Sometimes the stopwatch times out during an interval and I have to reset.
Often the terrain is out of synch with the interval, e.g. downhills on the intensity interval, uphill on the rest interval, with stoplights interspersed.
As mentioned above I just use “Rating of Perceived Exertion” (RPE) as my monitor (see subsequent post)…
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 08-16-19 at 02:24 AM. Reason: added quote by nomadmax
08-12-19, 06:52 AM
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In my opinion
Originally Posted by davei1980
after commuting year round for several years, I feel like my friends can’t keep up with me, but I get dropped easily during the local group rides out of the nearby LBS. weird spot to be for sure
08-12-19, 08:05 AM
#12
born again cyclist
weekend rides?
do you mean like running errands around the neighborhood or riding with the kiddos to the beach/zoo/pool/playground/etc.?
bike commuting probably constitutes >95% of my annual bike mileage. i haven't been on a "recreational ride" in years.
do you mean like running errands around the neighborhood or riding with the kiddos to the beach/zoo/pool/playground/etc.?
bike commuting probably constitutes >95% of my annual bike mileage. i haven't been on a "recreational ride" in years.
08-12-19, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by FiftySix
That's pretty much why I'm a solo rider. I'm faster than casual recreational riders, but I'm slower than just about anyone that does a weekend morning LBS ride.
I only ride by myself.
But I finish first every single time!
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08-15-19, 06:50 PM
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I'd been riding solo for years but in the back of my mind I knew I'd eventually get to a point when I'd want to ride with a group. I did that this year. I was mostly able to hang with the group of local guys I met through Strava. But I also did longer solo rides on the weekends, so my fitness wasn't confined to the 20-km ride I do Monday to Friday.
08-15-19, 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
This.
I only ride by myself.
But I finish first every single time!
I only ride by myself.
But I finish first every single time!
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08-15-19, 09:29 PM
#16
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I to like riding alone, sometimes the wife comes along but then mostly on the tandem. 
08-16-19, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
This.
I only ride by myself.
But I finish first every single time!
I only ride by myself.
But I finish first every single time!
Originally Posted by Brocephus
And you're tied with the last place guy !
08-16-19, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Skipjacks
Yeah...but you should see how tight the pack is. Exactly one bike length the whole time!
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08-16-19, 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Brocephus
And you're tied with the last place guy !
Originally Posted by Brocephus
I can practically hear Phil and Bobke breathlessly calling this one a spectacular photo-finish, too close to call !!!!!
I don't like to be boxed in like that. I can be both!
08-16-19, 12:12 PM
#20
glorified 5954
Originally Posted by caloso
You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.
08-19-19, 07:30 AM
#21
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I used to commute to college and, later, a job but in over 50 years of riding a bike, I have never once been on or interested in riding with a group. I prefer riding alone and ride purely for recreation. Cycling for me is like hiking - best pursued and enjoyed alone. My wife doesn't ride, my kids don't ride, and the people I know who do ride are into the racing aspect of it, whether on the road or trails. Zero appeal for me.
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08-19-19, 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CSG
I used to commute to college and, later, a job but in over 50 years of riding a bike, I have never once been on or interested in riding with a group. I prefer riding alone and ride purely for recreation. Cycling for me is like hiking - best pursued and enjoyed alone. My wife doesn't ride, my kids don't ride, and the people I know who do ride are into the racing aspect of it, whether on the road or trails. Zero appeal for me.
My favorite size group whether on motorcycle or bicycle was two to four riders and no more.
I like the hiking analogy. I think of my current bike riding like solo canoeing.
Last edited by FiftySix; 08-19-19 at 08:16 PM.
08-20-19, 08:03 AM
#23
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For a brief time in the late 80's, I joined a local Alfa Romero club when I'd bought a new Spider Veloce. I enjoyed the club and our social events but what I ended up realizing I didn't like were the rallies. My wife and I would often simply split off and meet up later. These was pre-cellphone days so you couldn't call anyone to say you were separating from the group.
That was a good lesson for me. I do very few group activities although I'm a member of a number of groups. I like my alone time; I see enough people most days to get my fill.
That was a good lesson for me. I do very few group activities although I'm a member of a number of groups. I like my alone time; I see enough people most days to get my fill.
08-20-19, 01:56 PM
#24
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I only want to enjoy my ride, be safe.
A road cyclist gave me the impression that it’s not always fun (going fast, faster) in group. And I guess not everyone wants to be a pro.
A road cyclist gave me the impression that it’s not always fun (going fast, faster) in group. And I guess not everyone wants to be a pro.
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