UnfilteredDregs

Jeeze...

All that drafting makes things so much easier...60 miles went by like nothing!

Fun.

berner

I don't usually ride in tight pace lines but at the beginning of club rides when the group is still fairly closely bunched up, I usually find myself riding several miles per hour faster than my usual pace. The bad part for me is I then try to maintain the pace longer than I actually can. You're right:it sure is fun to speed along at a good clip.

FLvector

Much more fun riding in a steady paceline while sharing some of the work up front. The miles go by so quickly.

inspclouseau

Still working up the nerve just to get in on a club ride. Being a bit new, I still see big gains, and confidence soars - so soon enough!

OldTryGuy

Congratulations!!!

Depending on intensity and abilities, paceline riding can be invigorating or nerve racking.

I joined in on a group ride today as a first timer. Started in the rear and came up as rotation progressed. Got the feel of the group and the riders ahead so second time around was with some knowledge of the other riders abilities. By assessing the speed of the group's riders, I could determine how my efforts would effectively be applied for the continued smooth flow of the line.

Spending too much time pulling can slow things down and result in not being able to catch back on after your turn. Nothing wrong with taking short pulls.

Sticking with a fast group can quickly increase your strength. Have fun.......

EnsitMike

Life is too short. Go for it the next opportunity you have, because the worst possible situation is you get dropped, which just means you're on a solo ride that you wold have been on anyways

Homebrew01

Good that you figured this out early. Not everyone does.

surgeonstone

That's why I cycle alone- I like the work.

OldTryGuy

The work/effort in a paceline can far exceed your individual abilities.

lsberrios1 

You are officially ready for your first cat 4/5 criterium. You will be amazed at how much easier it is to blast at 25mph for 30 minutes with a mass crash every 10 minutes usually at 30+mph.

clausen

If your not working in a group your either sand bagging or you need to find a faster group.

Jakedatc

Yep.. but Surgeon likes to put his nose in every group ride thread to remind us he still won't do it.

had a ton of fun with the shop ride today.

krobinson103

Pace lines are ok. Still, I hate havng other bikes that close ij front/behind. If you lke it great.

Jakedatc

why do people drive fast cars? cuz going fast can be fun. also, if the miles are going by faster then you can do more of them.

jbenkert111

If riding is fun, what's the fun in them going by quickly?

lsberrios1 

There is an exception to this. I love to grind up mountains at 8mph. Best feeling ever.

Jakedatc

well i'm a skinny guy that likes to go uphill too but i try to do it fast we don't have mountains here so it's all short steep jam fests.

FLvector

I don't like to ride slow, therefore the miles go by quickly. Its not that complicated.

UnfilteredDregs

It's a different kind of work. A lot of focus, safety, coordination, teamwork.

Good stuff.

Esprit de corps.

UnfilteredDregs

I definitely need to get the basics down... I did pretty good. I understand your point about pulling to long... We were rotating turns every 30 seconds.

UnfilteredDregs

Im quite good at crashing by myself, thanks though!!!

surgeonstone

Actually I am not immune to it's charms, there is really nothing quite like it.
Me commenting otherwise is really just me showing my envy that at my age, it's increasingly difficult to keep up the necessary speeds to join one.

Jakedatc

that is what is nice about my sunday club ride.. all levels are welcome and accounted for.. you can ride 20avg or 12 and be able to find a group to ride with. we even have a few tandems and recumbents.. a few rides have had a wounded warrior group with hand cycles join in too.

surgeonstone

Rhode Island huh? Pretty state. I go each summer to the border of MA and RI near Tiverton 4 corners. Beautiful riding area. Look forward to it each year.

rangerdavid

group and pace line riding just adds another aspect of fun to cycling, imho. Enjoy the ride!!