mustang1

On Sunday I'm gonna do a group ride. Which shall I choose?

My background. The most I've ridden in one go is 20 miles (or 50 miles, but pretty slow, about two years ago). For the last year I've been doing just 11 mile (one-way) rides to work (in 35 minutes then, including all stop lights and traffic) then 11 miles back in the evening.

On Sunday, will I be ok for the 60 mile ride or stick with 30?

EDIT: here's the link
https://www.evanscycles.com/ride-it/w...t-1st-2nd-2009

dejansen

30

khatfull

Depends on the group and the route. A 14mph average is WAY different than 20mph. A hilly route is WAY different than one mostly flat. If flat and slow try the 60, if faster and/or hilly, do the 30. If you're not sure do the 30. Sounds like you want to tackle the 60 though or you wouldn't be asking. If you try it, just be sure you don't have a problem getting dropped by the group and that they're aware you might fall off. Be sure to have some cutoffs from the route in case you need to go short...or have a spouse provide a SAG wagon. Good luck!

sijray21

depends on the pace and the terrain, but i'd probably stick with 30 for now until you do longer rides more consistently.

i regularly do 25-30 mile rides after work at a quick pace and i had a good workout when i did a 70-miler after work last week. the pace and terrain were about the same.

Lucky07

Try the 30 first.

Going out on a longer ride (the 60) that you may not be prepared to do is no fun for you or the group.

Scorer75

30

kayakdiver

My normal group ride is 40 miles.... Feels like 60 more often than not. If the group is competitive it will be full of flat sprints.... hill sprints and chest beating

I would suggest the 30... see how it goes and then if it goes well you have next week for the 60.

island rider

30. If you are still needing a challenge when it is done, thank them for the fun, say your goodbyes, and go do the route again.

johnny99

It's always great to push yourself, but you don't want to endanger or significantly slow down the rest of the group.

umd

Distance isn't necessarily the determining factor for difficulty. There are 30 mile rides in my town that are harder than other rides that are closer to 60. I mean a 30 mile race-pace ride is going to be a hell of a lot harder than a 60 mile casual ride. I'm not saying you should do the 60 but is there any more information about either ride?

coasting 

usually i ride solo 60 miles. on the very odd occasion i ride with someone else, 30 would kill me because he is so fast even if it is his recovery ride.

mustang1

Thanks everyone. I'll try the 30. This isn't a weekly group ride, just a one-off (for me) as it's occuring not too far outside London (40 miles away) and is organized by a chainshop that does group rides up and down the country (Saturdays is mtb, sunday is rb).

It's marked as a rating to climb (1 being easiest, 4 being hardest). For UK guys, it's evanscycles.co.uk. Here's the link which shows elevation.

https://www.evanscycles.com/ride-it/w...t-1st-2nd-2009

redspoke

If you're doing 11-mile rides in 35 minutes (and not feeling dead afterward?) then the only thing that could knock you out on a 60-miler is poor nutrition and hydration. If you fuel sufficiently I'd say you would have no problem hanging on a 60-mile club ride. But like umd said.. this is also assuming it's not a group of Cat-3's, 4000 feet of climbing and it's 90+ degrees outside (wink).

coasting 

very nice riding around there

mustang1

I do feel kind of puffed out but feel I can still keep going because my commute has a few slow runs and a few fast ones - the slow runs give me a chance to get hold of my breath. Having said that, at the end of my commute, I feel like going on for another 6 miles.

I think I'll stick to the 30 mile ride because I have no experience of nutrition/hydration or just in case I get saddle sore.

Bearonabike

Htfu

60

Retro Grouch 

Probably a good choice. It's always better to run out of miles before you run out of fun.

info

+ 30

DScott

30

Always leave them wanting more.

acaurora

As almost everyone said, go with the 30. I have been steadily increasing the distance that I'm riding with each week, and lately have gone from 30 to 45 mile group rides that are in semi-hilly areas. You want to go slow. Slow is good, leads to progress.