jamesvb

Okay... so I joined the Food Park ride out of Irvine two weeks ago. They split into two group after a few miles and I jumped in the wrong group. I was dropped on the first climb. Last week I went the "easier" route and just managed to hang after everyone regrouped. Newport Coast climb separated a few groups and I finished with the slower guys.

So here's my question. Who has ridden with all of local groups and how would you rate them for difficulty? I would like to join a group that is faster than me so I can improve but it's won't help if I get dropped in the first 15 minutes.

Is Como St. Sunday faster than Food Park Saturday? I was told not to try to ride with the Tuesday Market Ride until I can stay with the Thursday group.
So is there a logically progression to this list?

Here is a link to a lot of training rides. Can anyone rate them?

https://www.socalcycling.com/Group%20...grouprides.htm

CritEastwood

They're all great for egomaniacs.

jamesvb

I just realized there are a lot of club rides not on the list. OCRR, BCI, OCW, San Clemente Renegades etc... as well as weekly shop rides.
I doubt anyone has ridden all of them but if you have ridden with several, please comment.

This is to help find training partners/groups.

John R

Como usually starts out easy, 15 to 17 mph then ramps up to a full out attack up El Toro and is very fast all the way back to Tustin Market place.

GP

Is that the ride that starts off at the giant red shopping center on Sunday? One of the guys on that ride made fun of my floor pump last year.

VanceMac

Egomaniacs in cycling? Crazy talk.

oc_rider

Hey James, I think that I met you on you're first Food Park outing. I got dropped too and rode with someone who was new to this group ride. My name is Choosak, I rode the Giant.

As to Como, if you have a hard time keeping up with the 'slow' group on Food Park, you will be dropped on Como. I usually have no problem hanging in with the slower Food Park guys but I always find myself out the back on Como!

Don't get too discouraged with the Food Park ride. Just keep at it and you will get stronger! In the meantime, just get acquainted with the OTB guys like me! LOL!!

sdgrannygear

In my experience the rides in order of difficulty starting with the hardest have been Simi, como(although some say como is harder because there are more big guns on this ride), tie between sdbc and montrose, food park.

jamesvb

Choosak... yep I remember you. I believe a saw you one day later leading a group on SART.

Anyway, I plan to keep training solo and join a group once a week too. I'll try all of the local rides and find where I fit best. It's usually about timing anyway.

jamesvb

Agreed... When I rode with them the group split into three on the first climb. I rode with the middle group until the end.

CritEastwood

fixed it for ya

John R

If you want to get faster, you need to ride with fast people. Keep showing up, make it your goal to hang with the peleton longer each ride. Soon you will be able to hang the whole ride.

CritEastwood

fixed it for ya

Pamestique 

James - Club Riding is very personal - but at your level try BCI or OCRR - they each have a way variance of skilled riders and you should be able to find a group within those clubs that suits you. Once the fast groups of either club seem slow then move on to Como and other groups. But just know BCI and OCRR both have fast, long hard riders....

brianstalnaker

A rather newly formed, yet very personable and challenging ride to check out might be the shop ride from A Road Bike 4U leaving Sunday mornings at 9 for a 3hr loop that typically averages 20-21mph and features many employees of the shop and local enthusiasts and racers alike.

John R

My favorite ride is the Canyon Velo training ride that leaves from Santa Ana Cyn Rd and Noel Ranch Rd. The ride is every Saturday at 730 am. It is a take no prisoner balls to the wall ride.

CritEastwood

Nohl Ranch Road?

John R

Noel Ranch Road is the same as Lincoln Ave. There is a store and gas station just south of Noel Ranch, thats where the group starts from.

John R

Excuse my spelling, I guess its Nohl Ranch...

tFUnK

I tried out the Food Park Ride this morning and my experience is similar. I was near the back of the pack after the 405 overpass on Irvine Center Dr. When the group split at Tesla, a 5s gap had formed between me and the Tesla group. I followed them instead of the rest of the pack that went straight on Moulton. I made the mistake of trying to save my matches for the climb that was coming up instead of chasing the group right at Tesla. Well, the pack gradually disappeared and although I managed to get within visual contact with another rider who was OTB, I made a right turn onto Santa Maria instead of a left and I was good as done. I did catch up with some stragglers (who were in the group that went straight onto Moulton) on El Toro but they pulled off near PCH and I was by myself the rest of the way. Fun ride, would try again.

jamesvb

I'm training for the Palm Springs Century for the next two weeks but I'll try Food Park soon after. I'm trying to get my training up to 10 hours a week... although I don't know if that will be enough to stay with the Food Park pack.

CritEastwood

what's "training"?

John R

I train my dog!!

jamesvb

Ask your mom.

CritEastwood

how very clever of you