Vicelord

Ok, so I've never been on a road group ride. Plenty of mountain rides under the belt, and I feel like I'm a better road rider than I am mountain. I've actually only ridden road with someone one time in over 4,xxx miles and it was two guys who are 60 pounds lighter than me, and work in shops riding all the time. I got crushed, and that was a while ago.

I've only been riding since October and I have been progressing quickly. On a relatively flat road, I can do a 20 mile ride in about an hour or perhaps slightly more if I catch lots of lights red. I don't feel this is slow by any means, but I don't know what to expect on these "no drop" rides.

So my question is, if my cruising speeds are usually 18-22mph, and over a course of a ride that usually is a 16.5mph average after factoring in stops, will I typically keep up with the group? I know you don't know this group, but it's a mountain shop's "no drop road ride."

They say they go slow, but what in your experience are shop rides usually like? I don't want to be that ******* who shows up on a race bike and a full kit looking like a booger when he gets dropped. I also don't want to be that guy who complains we are going too slow and rides out in front of the group. I doubt that will happen though.

Terror_in_pink

they will have regroups probably. The worst is that you get dropped and everyone else is so busy riding their bike that they don't notice you. no big deal.

Vicelord

Well thats the thing, if I'm going to be riding alone, I might as well just.... ride alone.

halfspeed

Our shop rides break into several groups averaging from 12 to 21mph over 20 to 60 miles. It all depends upon who you ride with. If it's no-drop, they can't complain if you struggle. That said, see if you can find out the route beforehand and make sure you can find your way back.

JonnyV

Just try it. You might even like it.

kenji666

Run surveillance on them in your van with darkened windows by following them for a few weeks, noting their speed and which riders seem most aggressive. You should also hack their facebook accounts to see what they are saying about you.

Vicelord

I know the route well, and have even done it a few times as I live right down the street from the shop. It takes me about 1:30 to do the ride and when I ask them how long, they just shrug their shoulders and say they don't know.

I'm intimidated.

bostongarden

Give it a shot and see what it's like. Worst case is you don't like it. Some nerves are fine and normal. Hey, another option is to jump in at a point where you would feel confident given you know the route. Go for it!

datlas 

Don't be such a *****, just go and ride. Worst case is you get dropped. You know the route so no biggie, you can't get lost.

Be humble and it will probably be fine...you will probably enjoy it and might even make some friends.

ps wtf you can't say p ussy?? I guess that means we can't describe some really gross saddle sores, eh??

kenji666

You must be very young, still not comfortable in your own skin. Why do you care what they think about you? Ride with them, and if you get dropped and they don't wait for you or encourage you, then eff them. Keep on riding by yourself and keep getting stronger. The whole point of riding is to have fun, getting in shape, and enjoying the outdoors. Constantly worrying about what a bunch of road nazis think about you is not fun.

damnpoor

Most of the time they're more social and less intense. A group of friendly local riders will probably cruise around 16mph and just talk and ride. It's nothing to worry about.

GP

Show up for the next ride and tell them you're new to riding with a group, you know the route and not to wait if you drop off.

Vicelord

Perhaps I worded my post poorly, or your misinterpreted it. I'm not worried about what the "road nazis" will think of me, but rather I don't want to get up at 5am to go on a shop ride to end up riding alone because I couldn't keep up.

I'd rather get up at 8am and ride alone if I'll be riding alone anyway.

@damnpoor, if that's right, then thanks. I'll have no issues with tiring if we are cruising 16mph.

Also, I didn't mention that these are the same guys I ride mountain with every week. I'm not worried about what they think of me, I'm worried that I won't keep up.

Velo Gator

"No drop" is a lie here.

Dantebfd

I won't ride with the "you don't look fat in those pants" group or the "check is in the mail" club either.

Vicelord

I'm not understanding either of the last two comments...

Velo Gator

Huh? "No drop" is a lie here. Meaning when the shop says it's no drop, they will still drop you. Therefore, "no drop" is a lie.

Vicelord

is that so? My question is kind of based on the assumption that they will drop me if I don't keep up. This is why I wonder if the speeds at which I'm traveling are generally high enough to keep up on a Sunday morning shop ride.

I guess my confusion on your eariler post stemmed from teh fact I always thought "no drop" meant "we don't go fast enough to get into our drops" or something along those lines. Never crossed my mind it meant "we won't drop your slow butt."

ILUVUK

I get dropped on my fastest group ride each week. i keep trying. some weeks I can hang on for 25-30 miles, other weeks i get spit off at 12 miles. i really don't care. worst case scenario is you get up at 5am one time and don't like it. if that's the case, then at least you know. but as someone else said, you might just like it! just do the ride.

halfspeed

You won't find out if you can hang unless you try. If they're too fast for you, good. That gives you a goal. Come back and train harder until you CAN hang. If that kind of challenge doesn't appeal to you, then you should just continue to ride alone.

I'm intimidated all the time and I get my ass handed to me regularly, but I keep coming back because I get better and I like riding with the people I ride with. And, on some rare days, I dish out more punishment than I take.

Road cycling is a constant lesson in how much you suck. The faster you go, the faster you find the other guys are going. It never ends. When you can hang with one group, you'll find people faster still.

If you've never ridden in a group, show up and tell them that. Keep your ego in check, mouth closed, and ears open. Pay attention and learn.

kenji666

There are really only 3 scenarios here: 1. You are faster than them and you will drop them; 2. You are equally matched, and you will all ride together in peace and harmony; 3. You are slower than them and you will get dropped. Is there something else I am missing? If you are not confident that you will be able to keep up, is there another group that more closely matches your fitness level?

Vicelord

No you aren't missing a thing. It really is that simple. All I'd like to know is generally what speeds do these types of rides move at? I'm not asking anyone to be specific but the shop guys can't seem to tell me.

Surely there is someone on this board who has done enough "no drop" rides to give me a general idea, and I can take it from there.

withsriracha

A huge, huge +1 to this. I only started road cycling in February and started riding with faster people right away. I've improved a lot in a short time, and chalk it up to that decision.

Also, even if you do get dropped at some point along the way, it can be nice to have some social time at the beginning of the ride.

VA_Esquire

Go on the ride and if you get dropped...you are now riding alone. Just go ride them....

mvnsnd

You'll never really know if you can do it unless you show up. If you can maintain 20 mph on your own, generally it will be easier to do that in a group. Just let them know you have never ridden in a group. Watch the riders nearby and do not overlap a wheel in front of you. You'll probably really like it.