Group Cycling
09-01-04, 10:27 PM
#1
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Group Cycling
Hi guys!
What does everyone have to say about group cycling? Has anyone here been on a long group ride with over 30 people (not organised events) before? If so, how do you go about patnering up, and rotating? What system do you find most effective for giving each member of the group a hard ride at the front, and a cruisy ride at the back? I must admit that group riding is a lot more fun, and is a bit easier than single or pair riding (probably the psycological effect).
What does everyone have to say about group cycling? Has anyone here been on a long group ride with over 30 people (not organised events) before? If so, how do you go about patnering up, and rotating? What system do you find most effective for giving each member of the group a hard ride at the front, and a cruisy ride at the back? I must admit that group riding is a lot more fun, and is a bit easier than single or pair riding (probably the psycological effect).
09-01-04, 11:41 PM
#2
hello
Sorry, no positive advice here...
I'm lazy and nowhere near as strong as the same bunch pulling up at the front so I basically sit in the middle to rear of our large pack ride sucking wheel til I drop out along with a bunch of others. At least 3/4 of the riders suck wheel and never attempt to move up to the front.
But if you're among a much smaller pack of riders of similar strength and alility, you've gotta do your share of work up at the front....
I'm lazy and nowhere near as strong as the same bunch pulling up at the front so I basically sit in the middle to rear of our large pack ride sucking wheel til I drop out along with a bunch of others. At least 3/4 of the riders suck wheel and never attempt to move up to the front.
But if you're among a much smaller pack of riders of similar strength and alility, you've gotta do your share of work up at the front....
09-02-04, 08:12 AM
#3
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I lead a ride every Saturday that has 30-40 cyclists. People pair up all by themselves; it doesn't take any forethought. I've found that the stronger riders naturally gravitate to the front of the pack. As the ride leader, I think the toughest part is keeping the pace at the front down so folks aren't gapped off the back. I try to get a strong rider to ride up to the front and set a reasonable tempo. I usually stay near the back to keep an eye on the slower riders and sprint up to the front if the pace picks up too much. It gives me a chance to yell at people if I think they're going too fast for the entire group to hang together. On longer climbs, everyone goes at their own pace and we regroup at the top. Sometimes we try to do an organized paceline but it can be like herding cats!
But group rides are a lot of fun.
But group rides are a lot of fun.
09-02-04, 02:29 PM
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Our Tuesday group is anywhere between 25-60 riders, and I'm usually the lanterne rouge of the group. We all ride together for the first 6 miles as a warm up around 17 mph with two or three retired pros and the LBS owner leading the pace. After the turn onto Marshland Rd., it's everyone for themselves. Sometimes I lead to group out on Marshland up to 20-23 mph as a rabbit, as that is about my top end, then the group passes me. We sort out, and I end up at the back to gather up stragglers and newbes that don't know the route.
Climbing isn't an issue, the island is flat.
Basiclly, I just sit on my own pace and ride with whoever can ride the same. Sometimes I'm dropped to just myself, other times I ride with a few others at my pace, and rarely I keep up with the big dogs.
Climbing isn't an issue, the island is flat.
Basiclly, I just sit on my own pace and ride with whoever can ride the same. Sometimes I'm dropped to just myself, other times I ride with a few others at my pace, and rarely I keep up with the big dogs.
