What class rider am I?
08-01-06, 09:24 AM
#1
lurker
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 56
Bikes: 2005 Specialized Allez 24
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What class rider am I?
So I was looking at the classifications on the Patomac Pedalers site and I was trying to figure out what class rider I am. So this question goes out to anyone who is familiar with the various Poolesville rides on that site.
My friends and I generally do the 37 mile version of Around Sugarloaf with an average speed of 17-18 mph according to the computer. It would seem this puts me on the boundary of BB & A, is that right?
I just don't want to show up to a BB ride and go shooting out the back of the peloton.
My friends and I generally do the 37 mile version of Around Sugarloaf with an average speed of 17-18 mph according to the computer. It would seem this puts me on the boundary of BB & A, is that right?
I just don't want to show up to a BB ride and go shooting out the back of the peloton.
08-01-06, 10:10 AM
#2
Know Your Onion!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 2,011
Bikes: Kestrel Talon, Motobecane Le Champion SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If you get dropped, just know your way home. There's no way for me (or anyone else here) to tell you which class you fit in. Try going one level down from where you think you should be, and then you shouldn't be dropped.
08-01-06, 10:27 AM
#3
Geosynchronous Falconeer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,312
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If it's your first group ride, pick the slower one. Most advertised group rides I know of understate their actual speed, sometimes drastically. If you find the ride too slow, you can switch for the next ride.
__________________
Bring the pain.
Bring the pain.
08-01-06, 10:56 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Beantown
Posts: 1,546
Bikes: 2011 Tsunami, 2004 Fuji Team Issue and More!!!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by recursive
If it's your first group ride, pick the slower one. Most advertised group rides I know of understate their actual speed, sometimes drastically. If you find the ride too slow, you can switch for the next ride.
08-01-06, 11:13 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 10,879
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 104 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I agree about riding with the slwoer group your first time out. Group riding is not as easy as it seems, especially at higher speeds. Going full out can be dangerous.
08-01-06, 01:09 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 876
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Should you use your average flatland cruising speed to classify yourself, or actual distance/elapsed time doing a solo ride counting normal traffic stops, breaks, and slowdowns in hills?
08-01-06, 01:15 PM
#7
Meow!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 6,019
Bikes: Trek 2100 Road Bike, Full DA10, Cervelo P2K TT bike, Full DA10, Giant Boulder Steel Commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Even our recriational group is a MPH faster than advertised sometimes, but then we know about averages...
Ride with the slower group then if you can go faster than go to the faster group next time.
Ride with the slower group then if you can go faster than go to the faster group next time.
__________________
Just your average club rider... :)
Just your average club rider... :)
08-01-06, 02:43 PM
#8
Calamari to go
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 3,113
Bikes: Trek 750
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by fryth
I just don't want to show up to a BB ride and go shooting out the back of the peloton.
On PPTC rides I often ride a class up. I'll ride slower than everyone else and will do most of it solo, but I like the more challenging routes.
08-01-06, 03:34 PM
#9
lurker
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 56
Bikes: 2005 Specialized Allez 24
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks to everyone who responded. I think I will go with the slower group. Especially considering the temperatures we have been having of late.
After doing more reading, it has also come to my attention that those B/A riders like to ride a **** long way. I kinda like to hang around 40 mile mark.
After doing more reading, it has also come to my attention that those B/A riders like to ride a **** long way. I kinda like to hang around 40 mile mark.
08-01-06, 04:16 PM
#10
Calamari to go
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 3,113
Bikes: Trek 750
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by fryth
After doing more reading, it has also come to my attention that those B/A riders like to ride a **** long way. I kinda like to hang around 40 mile mark.
PPTC has a good multi-class ride coming this weekend. The Peach-Picker ride out of Stribling Orchard.
A good, hilly choice of rides in very pretty countryside. All but the C cross into the Shenandoah Valley.
I'll probably do the CC ride at 48 miles.
Last edited by cc_rider; 08-01-06 at 04:23 PM.
