Anyone else feel this way on their weekend rides?
 

after commuting year round for several years, I feel like my friends can’t keep up with me, but I get dropped easily during the local group rides out of the nearby LBS. weird spot to be for sure

That's pretty much why I'm a solo rider. I'm faster than casual recreational riders, but I'm slower than just about anyone that does a weekend morning LBS ride. :D

If you want to get faster, ride with the faster group.

OTOH, there will always be a faster group.

You plateau in the mushy middle if you always ride the same intensity, which is easy to do on the commute.

^ nailed it.

Full disclosure: I don’t care about being fast I just wanna have fun on my weekend rides lol!

thinking of buying a trainer....

This is quite Zen

Yup!

I'm 6'4 230 pounds and 73 years old. I never get dropped because I ride alone. The past 3 years I've lost 65 watts to age and disease. On the flats and more so on climbs I seldom pass anyone. OTOH on 30-45 second seated sprints on the flats and on non-technical descents it is a different game.

What he said ^^^^. It's the speed/intensity surges that are getting you. Some interval training and a little pack savvy (where to be protected) will have you yucking it up on Saturday mornings in no time.

Anyone else feel this way on their weekend rides? See this thread, “Commuting as Training.”

In my opinion
 

I feel the same way sometimes. I have noticed that when I commute 4-5 days a week and then go out for the LBS ride I am tired. I think it is because I am riding all week and my body gets tired. I think the people who ride like Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday they can recover a bit more and are fresher.

weekend rides?

do you mean like running errands around the neighborhood or riding with the kiddos to the beach/zoo/pool/playground/etc.?

bike commuting probably constitutes >95% of my annual bike mileage. i haven't been on a "recreational ride" in years. :(

This.

I only ride by myself.

But I finish first every single time!

I'd been riding solo for years but in the back of my mind I knew I'd eventually get to a point when I'd want to ride with a group. I did that this year. I was mostly able to hang with the group of local guys I met through Strava. But I also did longer solo rides on the weekends, so my fitness wasn't confined to the 20-km ride I do Monday to Friday.

And you're tied with the last place guy ! :innocent:

I to like riding alone, sometimes the wife comes along but then mostly on the tandem. :)

Yeah...but you should see how tight the pack is. Exactly one bike length the whole time!

I can practically hear Phil and Bobke breathlessly calling this one a spectacular photo-finish, too close to call !!!!! :D

Ricky Bobby said "If you're not first, you're last"

I don't like to be boxed in like that. I can be both!

I think commutes are most likely shorter than group rides. Any extraordinary ride will leave you hanging behind. Best thing to do is just get used to those long rides and pace yourself for them. Keeping up should then be no problem. I was falling behind on the climbs but would lead the flats. Learned to trail someone in the flats and hit it hard on the climbs. Worked out.

I used to commute to college and, later, a job but in over 50 years of riding a bike, I have never once been on or interested in riding with a group. I prefer riding alone and ride purely for recreation. Cycling for me is like hiking - best pursued and enjoyed alone. My wife doesn't ride, my kids don't ride, and the people I know who do ride are into the racing aspect of it, whether on the road or trails. Zero appeal for me.

Your post reminds me that I don't like being in groups in other methods of transport as well. I used to spend some weekends in my past riding in groups of motorcyclists. It's so restrictive, and it impedes the natural flow of traffic. It might as well be a funeral procession without the police escort.

My favorite size group whether on motorcycle or bicycle was two to four riders and no more.

I like the hiking analogy. I think of my current bike riding like solo canoeing.

For a brief time in the late 80's, I joined a local Alfa Romero club when I'd bought a new Spider Veloce. I enjoyed the club and our social events but what I ended up realizing I didn't like were the rallies. My wife and I would often simply split off and meet up later. These was pre-cellphone days so you couldn't call anyone to say you were separating from the group.

That was a good lesson for me. I do very few group activities although I'm a member of a number of groups. I like my alone time; I see enough people most days to get my fill. ;)

I only want to enjoy my ride, be safe.

A road cyclist gave me the impression that it’s not always fun (going fast, faster) in group. And I guess not everyone wants to be a pro.