Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

First night in Peloton

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

First night in Peloton

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-02-08, 12:20 PM
  #1  
sax
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
sax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hollywood, CA
Posts: 88

Bikes: Lemond Chambery carbon road bike, Merlin Titanium MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
First night in Peloton



Well I got dropped last night at the Tues night ride. It was my first time riding in a big (over 50 riders) peloton. I think I made some mistakes...I rode off the back but noticed my HR was high (around 165-170bpm) but after getting further up it dropped significantly. I figured being new I should stay off the back but it just seemed harder, and once I fell back about 15yds that wind hit me and I quickly dropped speed.

Would it better to ride deeper in the peloton or try to stay up from the back?
sax is offline  
Old 07-02-08, 12:25 PM
  #2  
more ape than man
 
timmhaan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 8,091
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
sweet bike!

i'd recommend hanging back a little until you feel comfortable riding close to others. that way, if you get spooked or something, you can drop off easily.
timmhaan is offline  
Old 07-02-08, 12:57 PM
  #3  
100% Fred
 
LanceFanBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 843

Bikes: 2005 Trek 1500 - Postal Service Edition

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'd take a lighter bike! haha
LanceFanBoy is offline  
Old 07-02-08, 01:15 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
curiouskid55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SoCal Baby
Posts: 2,137

Bikes: o5 Specilized roubaix Comp, 06 Tequilo

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It takes constant attention to maintain position in the bunch. You need to prevent gaps and control your speed without braking. You need to recognize when it's time to get around that guy in front of you and do it safely. Really hard to do when you are on the verge of cracking just trying to keep up.

The pace should be smoother at the front half than in the back, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be ready to accelerate wth the bunch. Try to find a solid rider who doesn't seem to be manuevering all the time but is still maintaing his position. Stick to his *ss like glue and hang on as long as you can. There are plenty of veterans at the Rose Bowl, you will start to recognize them after a few times.
curiouskid55 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.