Group ride noob
 

I've never been on a group ride before. In fact, I've only ridden with another person once before. If my schedule works out this afternoon I'm going to the shop to ride with them. What kind of first timer things do I need to know?

Don't overreact to situations, be fluid, no sudden braking or swerving. Be sure to inform the group your riding with that you're a noob.

Enjoy yourself.

This is really all you can get here. All the other info will have to come from the group you're riding with. Not all groups are alike. Tell them you're new to the group, and new to group riding. They will help you. If they don't, find a new group.

Shut your mouth, open your ears and leave your ego at home.

^^ And this.

they're going to yell at you... jk, hopefully they'll instruct, not yell.

as said above.... no sudden swerves, no hard braking when in the line. Also, don't ramp up the speed if you end up on the front, just keep it steady with what others were doing.

1+

Watch and learn. Be observant; you know absolutely nothing.

General rules besides that have been stated: be fluid; don't overreact to anything; don't suddenly brake or swerve; ride through the fk'n potholes (unless you see it early enough to gradually adjust your position). Sudden swerving is the absolute worst thing you can possibly do. You can cause a really back crash by swerving and taking out someone's front wheel. Sudden braking is the second worse thing you can do. People will draft you closely, and you will have a very tough time at it unless you can also draft closely.

OTOH, it could be a C group that doesn't ride close in which case none of this advice is any use.

Don't overlap wheels with the person in front of you. That will fix 90% the problem noted above about sudden swerving.

The first sentence is good. The second sentence is of little use to anyone. Don't swerve in a group!

All this applies moreso on C group rides than anywhere else. They have so little practice riding "close", yet there are times it happens anyways. Don't swerve. Don't stop suddenly. Ride through potholes that come up suddenly. Your tire is not worth someone's face.

i would do 2 things. first, make sure you tell everyone else on the ride that it's your first group ride, so they know what they're getting themselves into. second, be the sweeper of the group, meaning be the last person in the group and observe the other riders. if it's not a really fast group, they'll will most likely slow down and wait up for you if you drop back, because most group rides don't drop riders. if you're not sure about this, than ask them if they drop riders. lastly, you can be about a foot off the wheel of the rider in front of you and still use his draft to your advantage, meaning don't get too close to the person in front of you and don't overlap wheels. bottom line, enjoy the ride, and as you get more experience you'll know what to do and what not to do...

I've never seen a C group ride close enough together for any of this to matter. 'Round here nobody thinks about pacelines until they get to the Bs.

but now is the time to get into signaling and make it habit. as he improves and move up in speeds then it will be easier to integrate. also, my weekly B/C ride end up in packs of riders, so signals are still important

Ask the ride leaders in advance about the ride. By this time of year, a ride labeled "16 mph" might be a lot faster, since all the regular riders have been riding all summer.

Start with a ride that sounds "too easy" and see how you fit in.

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About "C" groups / social rides / casual pace rides:
Here's a "16-17 mph on the flat roads" group ride. And the average speed for the whole ride is probably around 14 mph, due to hill climbing and slowing for stop lights.

These slower groups tend to leave more room between riders, since the draft isn't as critical. But riders still get bunched up at times. So holding your line, and riding as if someone is always 6 inches from your back wheel is always a good idea.

(Some of these riders have been riding for years, and can maintain the 16-17 pace all day. New riders sometimes don't have enough practice with longer rides to keep going more than a half hour or so.)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...o/IMG_6379.jpg


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I do two types of group rides.

Easier pace, longer distance, scenic rides with a good group of riders. There's so many good routes that the local cyclists have refined over the years, and passed down from one rider to the next.

and

Rides that are just a little too fast for me, hanging on in the draft. It's a blast. I can't motivate myself to work this hard when I'm riding solo. I'm sometimes one of the last up the climbs, but not by more than 10 or 15 seconds. I don't like being "that guy" that everyone keeps waiting for.

Also, don't get discouraged if you get dropped (if, it is in fact a drop ride.) Keep on riding until you no longer get dropped; you'll become a much stronger, faster rider.

Well that was a freaking disaster. Got dropped at a stop sign as I was the only one that didnt make it through before the car. Lost the group around a turn and never found them. Ran into a first class d bag back at the shop. Not nearly as fun as I had anticipated.

Sorry to hear, man. Do you have other group rides in your area? You might want to try checking all of them out to get a feel for dynamics. I'm sure you're bound to find one that fits you well. Also, see my post above. Don't get discouraged.

^^ Don't let it get you down. You need to find another group, preferably a no-drop group that will give you the guidance you're looking for. Sounds like the group you tried tonight didn't want to interrupt their regular ride to accommodate your needs.

There is another shop that has group rides, but I think the same guys ride there some too. It's almost as if they were pushing harder because there was a new guy. I was hanging on the back and one guy got on the front and really picked up the pace. I fell back a little and was coming back to the group when they hit the stop sign. I was a few lengths back and had to stop for a car that they didn't. I hate the way it all worked out.

Guess I just need to practice more.

go back again.... and again.... and again. won't be long before you're not off the back and then you'll even be leading some.

don't get discouraged... though they do seem a bit annoying in that nobody waited to make sure you made the turns.... assuming it was a no drop ride....

Yep - most will get dropped on their first bunch ride - it is no biggie - unless they themselves make it that. Go back and try again and again and watch as your riding improves in general, your fitness improves and you keep up for longer and longer until you make it all the way around, then you find the ride becoming easy.....then it is time to find another, quicker ride, or get into racing...

Good luck - perseverance is key.

cheers

learn some hand signals

9 Hand Signals Every Cyclist Should Know | Bicycling

sounds like there's only one hand signal you need to know for that group... leaving you at a stop sign and not sweeping to see that you make the turn is just kind of ... weak. I'll say weak.
try the other ride.

"you know absolutely nothing"

That is why I do not do "Group Rides" or most other types of "Organized" rides. Too much "Elitism" and waaay too much spandex. Life is too short for cr_p like that. I do just fine without the spandex, funny shoes, PIA helmets and "childish" attitudes. BTDT and then some. (Haze gray and under way).