shelbyfv

Sounds as if OP needs to find a more appropriate group.

LarrySellerz

I like having fast guys to chase, something to work towards you know. This is the fastest group in my part of the bay area

Eric F 

One of the ways I have found to get better at riding with fast guys is by riding with fast guys. It sucks for a while, and may put significant dings in one's ego, but it's effective training.

Eric F 

Fixed it for ya.

10 Wheels

Took me Six Months riding w a Faster Group. At that point I became the Fast rider.

Eric F 

In my experience, the progression of adapting to a group faster than your current capabilities...
1. Get dropped quick
2. Get dropped less quick
3. Hang on until the end
4. Ride comfortably with the group
5. Participate in driving the pace and finishing with the top riders in the "spicy" segments.

caloso

This is the way.

aplcr0331

1. Get dropped quick
2. Join a slower group
3. Get dropped again
4. Join a "No-Drop" Group
5. Dropped? Yes, please
6. Eight reasons why riding alone is better than riding in a group

colnago62

The goal is to stay in your zone 5 for the interval. It is not possible to stay in that zone for 15 minutes. You can absolutely go longer than 3:00 minutes as long as you stay in zone 5

KenCT

I ride with a small subset of riders from a group that does weekly shop rides. We set aside one night a week to work on hills instead of distance and really do not concern ourselves with speed. For example, our ride last night was 17 miles and 2,100 feet of climbing with 3 really good hills. Our ages range from around 50 to 65 and we typically ride in a C paced group. Riders are encouraged by others in the group and our rides are no drop. That style riding may not be for everyone, but it works for us.

Those who have participated in Hill Camp (that's what we call it) have had noticeable improvements in climbing over the season.

big john

I understand this. I started riding with a road club in 1989 when I was over 220 pounds and pretty lean. I rode with the fast group for years, some years I rode 12,000 miles. I could not do long climbs with fast riders who were 50 or 70 pounds lighter, ever.
I love climbing and I loved the long, fast rides so I did what I could to enjoy it. I had good endurance and if one of those climbers was having a bad day they got to see me and if I could drop them I made sure to say something (in fun).
I also did well on the flats and I could make some of them hurt a bit if they lost the draft. I made a lot of friends and when I got older it sucked even more to not be able to keep up.

Some people use a fixed gear bike as a training tool and a few actually ride a fixed gear everywhere, but it's not an advantage over a road bike. I would highly recommend a road bike with the right gearing. You (or I ) can't go for the extreme lightweight stuff because of durability. Just get a comfortable, reasonably light bike with a low enough gear for your hardest climbs. And chase fast people, it's fun and it will make you faster.

LarrySellerz

On monday it was the "slow" day and I was feeling kind of spicy, so I attacked hard and made it to the front. Someone shouted "Take that field!" at me as I attacked, but when I got to the front I was gassed and immediately slowed down and instantly got dropped altogether. Attack to get dropped, the classic combo. Felt extra stupid lol

MinnMan

Um, unless this is an unusual little corner of the Bay Area, I think not. There are hella fast riders in those parts. Maybe the local fast groups aren't so easy to find.

big john

I used to be known for this type of shenanigans.

LarrySellerz

Noon ride at page mill and old page mill. Those mother****ers are fast. I dont think its as fast as spectrum but I think its close, people say its the fastest ride in my immediate area

MinnMan

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Well then, that's a fast ride indeed. If you're still with them after the first mile then you've got potential. I do wonder what they think about the hybrid, though.

downtube42

To hang with those guys, you need more wattage and less cottage. A lighter bike will get you 1% of the way there.

LarrySellerz

I think I’m actually a bit too slow and weak to safely ride with the pack, I did something kind of hairy and I really don’t want a reputation as an unsafe rider. Today I was dropped pretty much the entire ride and just followed their path as fast I could. Even without the draft having a target in front of me (catch up to noon ride) was very beneficial.

Im planning on doing kings mountain daily to train for the ride and cut back on my attempts in chasing them. Maybe fill my bike basket with rocks on my old hybrid going up kings

johnnyace 

Wait, you're riding a hybrid AND it has a basket? Hmm...

terrymorse 

The Noon Ride can be very fast, depending on the day of the week and who shows up. When Chris Horner was there and in the mood, he’d take one of the climbs at 27 mph or so. Best I could ever manage full gas was 24, with a tailwind.

LarrySellerz

My old hybrid has a basket, my racing hybrid is brand new. Here’s a pic of my bikes, aerobars removed for the group ride https://imgur.com/gallery/KvS2FjH

LarrySellerz

Wow those guys don't mess around. I legit thought I was kind of fast until I ran into them

caloso

Horner is a legend in NorCal. About 10 years ago he was based in the foothills training for Worlds, and one Saturday morning he rode down the hill to Sacramento, destroyed the River Ride, and rode back up.

SoSmellyAir

Are those "aerobars" made from a small diameter bent copper pipe? They look dangerous.

LarrySellerz

1/4 inch tubing for both bikes, TBH I prefer the copper to the steel. Im not going to claim that these things are "safe" but they arent quite as dangerous as they look. In any case, I took them off for the group ride to be more sociable. It would take a horrific accident for them to hurt somebody but its still something I have to consider.