Riding with Roadies
08-11-11, 11:38 AM
#26
Oh, you know...
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Most of the comments here seem to be addressing "faster" group rides.
Lots of times bike shops and whoever will offer a couple different rides, geared towards different experience levels.
Go try to find a "beginner" ride, and you'll be able to keep up fine, while at the same time learning proper etiquette.
Lots of times bike shops and whoever will offer a couple different rides, geared towards different experience levels.
Go try to find a "beginner" ride, and you'll be able to keep up fine, while at the same time learning proper etiquette.
08-11-11, 12:18 PM
#27
THE STUFFED
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I also forget to mention group riding is not just serious business and trying to maintain a speed/ pace; it's actually much, much more fun than riding alone. You get to socialize much more with fellow riders, meeting many new people who often times become lifelong friends. It's much more entertaining and interesting than listening to an ipod on say a workout grind. You will feel much safer nonetheless, with a group ride I often times find my group occupying entire directions of a street; not to mention there's many more people to assist you in an emergency and many more eyes to keep a look out for one another.
Last edited by Leukybear; 08-11-11 at 12:21 PM.
08-11-11, 12:32 PM
#28
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Great post dsh, I completely totally forgot about the group system, how it is usually set up for organized group rides; avoid the A/ 1st group and triathlon groups where most of the serious riders are, well at first or until you feel confident enough to do so. Stick with the B/ beginner groups until you learn the ropes or feel confident enough. Even for advanced riders, B groups are fun just as well. Just the other month, I overslept and missed the A group ride departing and rode in the B group instead. Even through I stuck out of the group with the only serious business full carbon set up; I had lots of fun learning new people and answering the numerous questions about my set up and pre/post/ riding techniques.
I also forget to mention group riding is not just serious business and trying to maintain a speed/ pace; it's actually much, much more fun than riding alone. You get to socialize much more with fellow riders, meeting many new people who often times become lifelong friends. It's much more entertaining and interesting than listening to an ipod on say a workout grind. You will feel much safer nonetheless, with a group ride I often times find my group occupying entire directions of a street; not to mention there's many more people to assist you in an emergency and many more eyes to keep a look out for one another.
I also forget to mention group riding is not just serious business and trying to maintain a speed/ pace; it's actually much, much more fun than riding alone. You get to socialize much more with fellow riders, meeting many new people who often times become lifelong friends. It's much more entertaining and interesting than listening to an ipod on say a workout grind. You will feel much safer nonetheless, with a group ride I often times find my group occupying entire directions of a street; not to mention there's many more people to assist you in an emergency and many more eyes to keep a look out for one another.
08-11-11, 01:26 PM
#29
Just smang it.
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Just get this guy's gear ratio. You'll keep up with them on the hills and straightaways fa sho
08-11-11, 01:30 PM
#30
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08-11-11, 01:50 PM
#31
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08-11-11, 02:36 PM
#32
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
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double bottles round out the bike
08-11-11, 04:46 PM
#33
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08-11-11, 04:56 PM
#34
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08-11-11, 06:02 PM
#35
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If you showed up to my A ride with a fixed, first I would laugh at you, then I would drop you off the back so fast you would be embarrassed to be alive. I do this with people that ride in my group in their aero bars too. I would have no problem if you joined the group ride with the old people on hybrids though.
08-11-11, 07:19 PM
#36
George Krpan
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If you showed up to my A ride with a fixed, first I would laugh at you, then I would drop you off the back so fast you would be embarrassed to be alive. I do this with people that ride in my group in their aero bars too. I would have no problem if you joined the group ride with the old people on hybrids though.
Obviously, you are all talk and no walk. The best riders totally accept SS/FG riders.
08-11-11, 07:40 PM
#37
Still kicking.
Ok fine. Quick credentials: I am a roadie, I ride with a group on my 40mi commute to work. We sometimes ride fast. I also ride in on my fixed gear with same group of people at around the same speeds.
On to your questions:
Yes you can ride with roadies provided the following:
-DON'T JUST LATCH ONTO A RANDOM GROUP RIDE. Please, this is beyond faux pas. Find a local group ride that allows new people to join and meet up with them.
-Correct gearing. A good rpm:speed target to shoot for is 95rpm:20-22mph. This equals out to abut 75-79 gear inches.
-Brakes (already covered - sounds like you're set)
-Point out obstacles - be vocal about your intentions (ex. "SLOWING!" "STOPPING!" etc)
-Don't overlap your wheels
-Don't overlap your wheels
-No sudden movements - be tranquilo, smooth
-Your fitness is up to snuff.
That's about it. Your drive train doesn't matter, how you ride does.
edit: that should at least get you rolling. Once you can ride in a group, you can start to try out pacelines (aka the best thing... EVER in the cycling world) and such.
On to your questions:
Yes you can ride with roadies provided the following:
-DON'T JUST LATCH ONTO A RANDOM GROUP RIDE. Please, this is beyond faux pas. Find a local group ride that allows new people to join and meet up with them.
-Correct gearing. A good rpm:speed target to shoot for is 95rpm:20-22mph. This equals out to abut 75-79 gear inches.
-Brakes (already covered - sounds like you're set)
-Point out obstacles - be vocal about your intentions (ex. "SLOWING!" "STOPPING!" etc)
-Don't overlap your wheels
-Don't overlap your wheels
-No sudden movements - be tranquilo, smooth
-Your fitness is up to snuff.
That's about it. Your drive train doesn't matter, how you ride does.
edit: that should at least get you rolling. Once you can ride in a group, you can start to try out pacelines (aka the best thing... EVER in the cycling world) and such.
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Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
08-11-11, 08:38 PM
#38
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08-11-11, 09:00 PM
#39
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Not many fixed gear riders here, either, beyond the coffee-shop poseurs, so I do pretty much all of my group riding with roadies. Don't try to ride with the "A" group. You may be able to keep up on the flats but they will drop you on the downhills and not care. I have no problems with the "B" groups here -- I blow past them on the uphills and they catch me on the downhills.
08-11-11, 09:07 PM
#41
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08-11-11, 09:09 PM
#42
Still kicking.
08-11-11, 09:12 PM
#43
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N.B. I do have caliper brakes on my bike but seldom find a need to use them. When I do find that need, I'm darned glad I have them.
08-11-11, 09:16 PM
#44
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08-11-11, 09:35 PM
#46
Still kicking.
08-12-11, 12:16 AM
#47
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Some group rides are realllly fast, almost painful. Others are painfully slow. Not to mention all the group rides in between, depending on your area. Around here, it's either A or B. Try it out, just don't sign up for a hammerfest.
08-12-11, 08:04 AM
#48
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If you showed up on my ride with a "crabon" fibre bike and the lycra clown duds, first I would laugh at you, then it would be YOU who would be embarrassed to be alive after getting your poseur ass dropped by a guy on a fixie.
Obviously, you are all talk and no walk. The best riders totally accept SS/FG riders.
Obviously, you are all talk and no walk. The best riders totally accept SS/FG riders.
08-12-11, 10:07 AM
#50
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Do it, if that group is cool with bringing someone new to group rides go with them! Listen, learn, and no sudden movements. Bring some snacks too, people love snacks.