Machka 

First, let me clarify that I never said I found anything offensive in those two descriptions ... just that if I moved into the area looking for a club, I would read those descriptions, cross those clubs off my list, and move on to a club that suited me better.

As for the ride above ... it's OK, I guess. It doesn't particularly appeal to me as a large group ride ... but it might be something I'd do solo or with a small group.

Bines

Strava says I average 8 mph. I am not pushing it. Just out riding for a little fun exercise.

GovernorSilver

Well, if you moved to this area, there are all kinds of cycling groups that cater to various types of cyclists.

Every group was started because some demand/need was not met by the other ones previously in existence.

I prefer to go on group rides with a casual riding group because, well, it's a casual group. I would say though that if you eliminate cycling groups because they do one or two rides out of an entire month's schedule of rides that don't cater specifically to you, or you disagree with what constitutes "medium level" riding, you will soon run out of groups to ride with. It's better to actually talk to the people involved instead of just jumping to unfounded conclusions.

Remember who started this thread. He might have different desires/needs from cycling than you do. He's had some misconceptions about group riding that have hopefully been cleared up. If not, there are enough of us here who will happily help him along.

Machka 

Yes, that's good ... I have no problem with that at all.



And that's OK too. Sometimes I am a member of a club ... sometimes not. Depends what's available and what I want at the time. If you're a cyclist, you don't have to be a member of a club. Sometimes it is better to ride on your own.

As for my impressions of a club ... I've moved a fair amount and so I have looked for cycling clubs in various areas. I don't have time to go to each club and ask questions ... some of them have been located 100 or 150 km from where I live. So I go online and look for their websites. I go by whatever I find there. If there is anything at all on the site that appeals to me, I will fire off an email with a list of questions. If I don't get a response back (that has happened about half the time), they are off the list. If they don't meet my requirements in their answers ... off the list. I'm not that desperate to join a club ... and if I do, it needs to be one that fits me well.


Happily, there have been randonneuring/audax clubs somewhere near me (within 150 km) everywhere I've lived so far.

T Stew

I've been curious about this as well so thanks for bringing it up. I just got into biking last year a little, and this year more seriously. Im in my 30's and about 150 lbs. I'm mainly a runner though, so biking is just on my off days - I'll likely never cycle as much as a serious rider. I'm also a much stronger runner than I am cyclist it seems. I've never done a century yet, but have broke the 50mi mark once, but most of my rides are 10-20 miles. My bikes are 80's steel, my rec-class LeTour (1 1/8" Pasela TG's) and my nicer high end Prologue (aero bars, 23mm Veloflex Masters), but my speeds are very similar with them (perhaps 1-2 mph difference is all). My rides are out and backs on rail-trails, or sometimes loops including 5-10 miles of country roads from my house to the trail (minimal amount of stopping or distractions). My average speed is 15-16 mph. However if you look at the 'out' then 'back' even on a day with very light wind there is nearly a 4mph difference... like 18mph out, and 14mph back. So wind seems to make a bigger difference than anything else (its all pretty flat here). On the flat, I've only been able to hold 20+mph for about a mile or so, so far. I do want to get into duathlon racing so I need to work more on speed. But I am very happy cruising around mid teens with medium to occasional medium-hard effort.

I have yet to bike with another person but would love to try a group ride sometime, but completely unfamiliar with any that may be around. Might be tough to fit into my busy schedule, especially considering my shift work and that I don't have many weekends off. I tend to just squeeze a ride in whenever, sometimes completely on the fly, and usually have to hurry back to get to work on something.

GovernorSilver

Yeah, but this thread is more about DBrown how he wants to become a better rider. Riding with a club is one way do it and has been suggested to beginning riders like him by multiple people, not just me. Why not contribute some advice to him if you have better ideas for helping him become a more confident rider?

Ok, this sounds like a more reasonable attitude than what was shown yesterday.

BTW, I looked closer at the Meetup pages/websites of three other cycling clubs in my area and they all have ride levels. I don't think a single one of these clubs divide rides into beginner, intermediate, etc. levels just to make you feel unwelcome - I'm sure each and every single one will explain why the levels are organized as they are if you take the time to ask.

I am roughly guessing each club was started because somebody felt the pace of the other clubs was too fast or too slow. I'm also guessing somebody tried to start a "no level" club (if that is the kind you really want - hard to tell as your posts kind of meandered) then realized that this was not possible for whatever reason.

Machka 

Ride solo. Build a base.



I'm puzzled why it seems that you took offense to what I said?? It wasn't an insult to you or your club. Yet you keep going on with strange comments like "just to make you feel unwelcome" ... I can't imagine that any club would post ride levels just to make me feel unwelcome. In fact, I believe I said that I was glad they posted ride levels. I really think that's an excellent idea. It helps riders determine whether or not the club is a fit for them ... or not.

And back to providing advice ... my advice is ... look at the club websites, get an impression of the club from their website, check out their ride descriptions ... and if anything doesn't sit well with you, move on to the next club. If there are no clubs in your area that seem to suit your needs, that's OK too. Nothing wrong with riding solo.

CommuteCommando

Nearly 60 yo., two cardiac stents, been cycling seriously about eight years. I did a 20k tt at just under 20. This was the slowest time in my age group as the other five riders were at 22-24. My fastest average speed on an after work commute-29mi, +600ft -1200 ft- was just over sixteen. Moderate 20 mile ride 14-15.

GovernorSilver

Well, it wasn't so much taking offense as being surprised by your rather strong reactions, like "feeling discouraged" (your words, not mine).

Anyway, ride however you want to ride. I think the OP is sincere and deserves help.

Machka 

Discouraged? No ... I never said that. That's not my word!

Nor did I express any such thing about ride levels in general.

You're reading a lot into my comment(s) that isn't there.


And I "write off" all sorts of things in life. Don't you? We can't do everything. We can't join every club. We've got to use some criteria to pick and choose what suits us best at a given time.

Machka 

My average speed ranges between about 14 km/h and 20 km/h. It's all good, because what I don't have in speed, I have in tenacity.

GovernorSilver

Ok, you actually said "disheartening" instead of "discouraged". In a quick review of this thread, I never said the word "offense" or "offensive" to you even once - you are the one who brought that up. Maybe someone else call you that.

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...l#post18157981

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...l#post18158009

Look at the first list ... you're expected to remain in beginner or intermediate, doing rides under 20 miles (32 km), until you can ride a minimum of 15 mph (25 km/h). Well how disheartening is that? Because I have rarely held a minimum speed of 25 km/h, I'm not worthy to ride anything more than 32 km. R-I-G-H-T.

Phil_gretz

Switch your odometer to international units. Your numbers will instantly go up!

Machka 

Or did the wink mean you were joking?

But yes, it was CliffordK who first brought up "offensive" for some reason. Not sure why ... there hasn't been anything offensive said here.


And yes, I did say "disheartening". I specifically chose that word rather than "discouraged".

Disheartening means, "making a person less enthusiastic".
disheartening definition and synonyms | Macmillan Dictionary

And that's what I meant. I read the descriptions in those clubs with some enthusiasm ... then realised that neither club would be a fit for me because, in their eyes, I'm too slow to ride the distances I currently ride, have ridden in the past, and aspire to ride. But no biggie. As I said, if they were clubs in my area, I'd simply move on to a club that did suit me. Easy-peasy!

If I haven't mentioned it all ready, that is a good piece of advice for people looking for clubs. Read the descriptions on the website (or in brochures, if clubs still produce those), email questions to the club organisers ... and then decide if the club will be a good fit for you or not.

Machka 

International units? What exactly are they?

Phil_gretz

The metric system measures are also called international units, as opposed to the imperial/english system of miles, pounds, and fortnights.

Machka 

I just looked it up and it says, "IU stands for International Units and is used for the measurement of drugs and vitamins" or "a unit of activity or potency for vitamins, hormones, or other substances, defined individually for each substance in terms of the activity of a standard quantity or preparation."

I bet if a person made use of International Units for ... um ... certain things ... their numbers would instantly go up!!



(I think you're after International System of Units )

Phil_gretz

Hey! I just applied that creme. I had no idea what it contained...

CommuteCommando

I have searched for what I call the "Goldilocks Group". The nearest group ride to me advertises Advanced Intermediate and Beginner rides. The intermediate ride is as fast as the advanced, but about five miles shorter (55 vs 60), and the beginners ride is like 8 mph avg. I finally found a Goldilocks group, then the lady running it had a bad solo crash (not life threatening, but involved broken bones) and quit riding. Now I mostly go solo.

wphamilton

There is no "good" average speed without context. The beginning amateur racer is faster than strong recreational riders. The racer is left in the dust by a mediocre Cat 3, and so on. These are not small differences either.

For a recreational rider who just gets on the bike and starts to work himself into shape, I think that 10-12 miles per hour is a typical average on a flat road. I believe that just about any healthy male starting there can improve that to 15-18 mph, which I gather is a normal range for a C group ride.

Machka 

Machka 

That's a good description ... Goldilocks.




I found mine in Randonneuring/Audax and/or Touring clubs.

GovernorSilver

Correct. It's just forum talk after all.

Dunno why either.

Ok, you win.

Wanderer

Keep at it and it will get better.

I thought you were buying a better bike**********

More miles, and better cadence, usually translates into more/better speed. If you were riding with someone who could share breaking the wind, things would be easier/faster.

If you get faster by yourself, you would be even faster in a group, because of wind sharing duties. No kidding, even at 10-15 MPH. I ride a lot with an older friend (I'm almost 70) and break almost all of the wind for him, and he says his speed is always 3-5 MPH better with me. Our 30 mile rides together are about 12-13MPH. I do 15MPH over 30 miles, alone, with effort.

With a better bike, that fits, with SERIOUS effort, you should be able to do 30 miles in about two hours....... but that would be if you were doing 150-200 miles a week! MHO ---- sooooooo, that means 15MPH avg spd.

Walter Denton

And now for something completely different...I'm 3 weeks in to cycling and my average speed just went up to 9.4 mph. Woo-hoo!