I ride solo downtown every sat and sunday morning.

i'm looking to find a group to tag along with. I'm a beginner rider and have been cycling since august. I don't care if i get dropped either, just let me tag along for aslong as i can possibly hang on.

eventually i'll be able to keep up

This group goes year round: Toronto Donut Ride

It's not even a group due to legal issues, so you'll get dropped quickly and probably no help... a fairly dangerous ride since a lotta guys are amateur racers.

You're warned, not go have fun and watch for the other guy.

thanks! works for me. i just need to start riding in a group setting.

is the wiki page legit? i've only ever ridden solo but my speeds are nowhere near that. i'll be dropped within 10 mins.

Well, if you're in the peleton taking turns it's a heck of a lot easier to get up to 50km/h on a flats.

In-city speeds are fairly low, but as the pack builds it becomes large enough to essentially ignore traffic signals and settle into a steady mid-30s.

So, if you're gonna stop at lights you'll be dropped. You are warned. There are a lot of amateurs with too much testosterone and not enough experience.

Wiki is more or less bang on... sampling of the donut ride in the Fall (telemetry superimposed):

What's to come in Winter:

well i'll certainly give it a shot this weekend, but i'll get dropped fast...hopefully eventually i'll be able to keep up.

I started riding in April this year (2010). I did the Donut Ride for the first time in September and only got dropped when we reached the hills. Like electrik said it is much easier to maintain those speeds when you're in a group.

You can also try TBN - see www.tbn.ca
many will continue to ride until the roads become slick.
More variety of speeds here so there is almost always a group you can ride with

There are a number of Ontario's top athletes riding the donut. On a summer day 80% of riders get dropped up the first climb and it's as close to a race as your gonna get. Most of the people riding this time of year are racers so you have a opportunity to learn and get faster.

Yea, it' renegade, but safe if you have pack riding skills, keep going out you'll only get faster.

Or you could sit on your trainer.

I don't endorse TBN. I do endorse rides with lots of women, maybe i'm a softy, but I like those instead of some amateurish and macho sausage fest. huh huh huh! Gotta get your priorities straight.

Hey man, your too fast on this forum for me as I edited my post

Anyway, sounds like TBN is the ride for you. Enjoy !

Yes, hugs, milk and cookies after!

TBN is not very friendly and the rides are downright dangerous due to a full abscence of riding skill.

The donut ride is amazingly friendly and people are generally eager to help new riders. Keep humble and everything will work out.

Wow, as a TBN member for about 3 years, I feel I should offer a rebuttal. Firstly, I have found TBN riders to be very friendly and helpful on rides, and there are in fact many non-riding social activities for members. True, many TBN members like me were relatively new to pace-line cycling when we started out, but most of us learned and were guided by veterans, and I have seen very few incidents.

I also ocassionally ride the donut, which certainly requires more skill, attention and anticipation, and offers a very exhilarating ride for those that can keep pace. And, the donut riders are in fact friendlier than its reputation would lead one to believe. As RedWhiteRed said: Keep humble, and everything will work out.

So, your best bet? Ride both and decide for yourself.