jonny wong

For starting out with, should one ride solo and try to develope his speed, pace as well as his awareness and comfort,....or should he just join in with his local group ride and ride along? I know that this will effect the performance of the whole group everytime there is a new rider joining the group.
Maybe he should do a lil bit of both?
Any recommendation? Thanx for your time.

timmhaan

i would recommend you ride solo first to develop bike handling skills. try to work on things like turning (keeping a good line), balance, and keeping a smooth pace.

khackney

A lot of the answer would also depend on the group you're considering. If they advertise a beginners ride or rides that divide up depending on speed / experience then I would say it would be fine to ride with them. If they're mainly into the racer/racer wannabe then avoid it for now. You could well end up frustrated and dropped or worse in a situation riding over your head with others doing the same. Some clubs are very supportive and welcome beginners others can be snobbish and relish the opportunity to show up the new guy and beat there chest about how fast they are. I have seen both, like the former greatly and despise the latter.

nuovorecord

I'd advise you to find one or two others to ride with at first. Larger group riding requires some skill and knowledge that is easier to pick up by riding with just a couple of people.

If you don't have that opportunity, then as khackney suggests, a beginners ride group is the next best thing. Check your LBS to see if they offer any rides as well.

FriendlyFocus

A riding buddy or two really makes a difference in your enjoyment when you are just starting out.

zotma

I think it may be a matter of preference;
riding with people can be nice for socializing and questioning more experienced riders on issues (or having them help if something goes wrong on your bike)
but then....
there's something to be said for riding alone and having undivided attention on your bike and what you're doing. as folks have said, practicing holding your line, shifting, not dropping your water bottle, being a consistant rider, etc. are important things to do on your own. (don't want to be a dangerous addition to a group)

I re-noobed (after taking a long break from cycling) this season. before, I used to ride with a few other riders that were way more experienced than me. that was good to learn from. this time around I've been riding on my own and I've learned way more about my own riding style and what suits me...not to mention side of the road bike maintenance and things I'd like to know how to do myself anyhow.

I think it comes down to what you're comfortable with and more importantly that you're out riding!

seely

You improve much faster and learn much more by riding with riders above your level... you should get out and ride by yourself though even if you're doing group rides though to practice technique and develop some endurance so you can keep up better.... most group rides have a fast/slow group so I wouldn't worry about holding anyone up or getting dropped.

brunning

group rides are great. even if it's just 6 guys in a pickup ride in the park (where we frequently ride, here in nyc).

we shoot the poop about hardware, training, pros, gripe about the people who let their kids wander blindly across the road, make fun of the wall street types on their new six13s, and the next thing you know, your computer says 50 miles!

jedi_rider

start with bike handling skills and get used to traffic. Then, if your the social type, start with a very small group with similar abilities as yours and get familiar with their habits. This is a big deal when in traffic situations. After some time doing that, then you can get into big bunch rides.

When in big bunches, stay away from knuckleheads that think they're all skillful and forget riders are beside or behind them and don't give space or road hazard warnings.

Happened on today's ride going downhill at 40mph. While in traffic, on a bumpy road, he was fishing for something in his jersey pocket. Not very smart in a bunch. He should have dropped to the rear to do that. He couldn've taken half the pace line with him had he gone down...I don't care how skillful he was...he wasn't a pro trying to win a race.

I've also ridden with knuckleheads who tried to take water bottles out of their cage and drop it in mid-paceline. Save that stuff when you drop to the back.

It's all about safe etiquette when your riding in a bunch.

just my thoughts...can't you tell i was venting?