Hard time holding back
#1
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Hard time holding back
Anyone else have difficulty with slowing down the pace for a more casual ride?
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
#2
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Need a faster group of friends, that's all. Not everyone ages the same. Try some folks 15 years younger. That works.
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Plenty of riders I know are like that.
Best solution is to ride with like-minded and like-abled riders.
However, if you find yourself on a more mellow ride, try to drop it back and enjoy the scenery or socialize a little. You might enjoy it.
Best solution is to ride with like-minded and like-abled riders.
However, if you find yourself on a more mellow ride, try to drop it back and enjoy the scenery or socialize a little. You might enjoy it.
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Anyone else have difficulty with slowing down the pace for a more casual ride?
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
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Nice problem to have, being too fast.
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Anyone else have difficulty with slowing down the pace for a more casual ride?
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
Some of my riding partners - like all of us - are getting older, and I have struggled on group rides these past few years to keep from getting out ahead of them... I am BY NO MEANS a racehorse - I average from 16.5 - 17 mph on longer rides in our hilly neck-of-the-woods (my highest average last year was a century in a flatter part of the state - about 18.2 mph average).
Our local club has a NY Day ride, which I have missed the past two or three years, and I met up with some of the guys I've ridden with for years at the start; we stayed together for the first mile, but the rolling-hill nature of the terrain (and a wicked crosswind) ultimately found me dialing up the speed, to maintain momentum, and I didn't see any of them after the first five miles were past. I finished the ride a good 2 mph higher average than the guys I started out with.
I know a longer, slow ride is good for training, but I really struggle to not hammer it out, especially when the hills require a little momentum going down to keep a good pace going up.
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It's more of a problem when I'm alone than when I'm with others, but I guess it depends on what you want to get out of your rides with others. I have friends that are newer to cycling and/or less fit - I approach rides with them as being social more than anything. If I'm feeling antsy and need to stretch my legs, I have weekly club rides that are spirited or I can flog myself on solo outings.
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Well, depends on what you are training for and your training plan in whole. You didn't mention your race plans but training may be much different from recreational riding. I can't say that I have a problem riding more slowly than possible and often do that when riding with a congenial group. I think below about 3 mph is where I would have trouble.
#9
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It’s a good skill to develop, as annoying as it can be at first.
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#10
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If you have a regular fast ride/training workout, then you'll have less of an issue with loafing along in between those workouts on casual rides.
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Most of us Freds don't get enough Z2 time, anyway.
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You can also use the ride with your slightly slower than you buddies as an opportunity to test ride some more tourist oriented bike builds. I have a 1999 Cannondale CAAD3 R1000 that is retro set up with SunTour 3x8 XC Pro/Command shifting and a cobbled together Dura Ace 7410 crankset into a 1/2 step + granny triplizer triple with Salsa chainrings and a 12/26 SunTour Accushift rear cassette.
It can most definitely huff it and ride spirited if called upon for the speed. However, the funky fun Command paddle shifters are different enough from every body else’s STI that it ends up lolly gagging really well too.
It can most definitely huff it and ride spirited if called upon for the speed. However, the funky fun Command paddle shifters are different enough from every body else’s STI that it ends up lolly gagging really well too.
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This. I will also add that a tip I learned from the Vegan Cyclist on youtube that actually works is to "dress down" for casual, chill rides. Do it in a t-shirt and running shorts instead of a kit, and you'll naturally find yourself riding at a slower, conversational pace instead of tickling your threshold every time you hit a grade.
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Drop your air pressure
Do everything you can to be un-aero
Take all the pulls, all day
Sort of the opposite of everything we are hardwired to do
Do everything you can to be un-aero
Take all the pulls, all day
Sort of the opposite of everything we are hardwired to do
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When I ride with friends with less fitness, I tell myself that this is a social ride, not a training ride, and I ride accordingly. I'll also do things to even the odds and keep it interesting for me, like offering to carry peoples' gear (water bottles, clothing layers, etc...), gear down to work on my high RPM spinning smoothness, or gear up to work on my strength, sprint ahead to stop and take action photos then sprint to catch up, etc...
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Yeah, most of my road bike rides are Z3 and Z4. I have a hard time dialing down the effort for the Z2 stuff. The road bikes and kit just encourage harder efforts. Another problem is I can't hear my phone announcements of my heart rate when the phone is in my rear jersey pocket. Wind noise drowns it out. So I tend to push harder. I don't have any computer on my outdoor bike, so I just go by how it feels, pushing as hard as I can sustain for 20-40 miles.
So about once a week I'll switch to the hybrid, no clipless, casual clothes, and ride with another group of friends for rides of 20-40 miles averaging 12 mph. Those are just as enjoyable. We had our monthly dinner ride last night, so most of my ride was to and from the meetup, a 25 mile round trip for me. Even then, when I was riding solo, I was pushing harder than necessary.
On the hybrid I can usually put the phone in a front pocket, or even my jeans or shorts front pocket. So I can hear Wahoo Fitness announce my heart rate every few minutes. Reminds me to ease up instead of turning a casual ride into just another workout.
Ditto indoor trainer sessions. I do only short HIIT sessions, or all Z1-Z2 spins for 90 minutes to a couple of hours or longer while watching movies. I do my tempo and workout rides outdoors.
Reminds me, I really should get a basic bike computer compatible with my HR, cadence and speed sensors for outdoor rides. At the moment I have one only on the indoor trainer bike.
So about once a week I'll switch to the hybrid, no clipless, casual clothes, and ride with another group of friends for rides of 20-40 miles averaging 12 mph. Those are just as enjoyable. We had our monthly dinner ride last night, so most of my ride was to and from the meetup, a 25 mile round trip for me. Even then, when I was riding solo, I was pushing harder than necessary.
On the hybrid I can usually put the phone in a front pocket, or even my jeans or shorts front pocket. So I can hear Wahoo Fitness announce my heart rate every few minutes. Reminds me to ease up instead of turning a casual ride into just another workout.
Ditto indoor trainer sessions. I do only short HIIT sessions, or all Z1-Z2 spins for 90 minutes to a couple of hours or longer while watching movies. I do my tempo and workout rides outdoors.
Reminds me, I really should get a basic bike computer compatible with my HR, cadence and speed sensors for outdoor rides. At the moment I have one only on the indoor trainer bike.
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It's more of a problem when I'm alone than when I'm with others, but I guess it depends on what you want to get out of your rides with others. I have friends that are newer to cycling and/or less fit - I approach rides with them as being social more than anything. If I'm feeling antsy and need to stretch my legs, I have weekly club rides that are spirited or I can flog myself on solo outings.
People who can't do 15 mph on a bike don't like to ride very long. You can go on a short scenic ride with them, and then go get your workout on afterwards.
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It's really not that hard. The first thing you do is turn off you data recording device or stash it somewhere so you can't look at it. Don't worry about the speed, watts, power, etc and the rest will work itself out. Take away the need for the effort and the effort will decrease.
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I've heard that a way to rid the group of an annoying rider is to let him go charging off the front, then the group makes a turn. After the ride "Oh man, we hollered at you but you were too far ahead. We knew none of us could catch you!"
#22
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Yeah, most of my road bike rides are Z3 and Z4. I have a hard time dialing down the effort for the Z2 stuff. The road bikes and kit just encourage harder efforts. Another problem is I can't hear my phone announcements of my heart rate when the phone is in my rear jersey pocket. Wind noise drowns it out. So I tend to push harder. I don't have any computer on my outdoor bike, so I just go by how it feels, pushing as hard as I can sustain for 20-40 miles.
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When riding with some of my friends I ride before I meet up with them or make it on a rest day. I'm also conscious that I don't half wheel them. They're gracious enough to spend time with me, I can, at the very least, be gracious enough to not make the experience miserable for them.
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It's really not that hard. The first thing you do is turn off you data recording device or stash it somewhere so you can't look at it. Don't worry about the speed, watts, power, etc and the rest will work itself out. Take away the need for the effort and the effort will decrease.
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Our group rides are pretty well labeled. So if our Wednesday ride is a recovery and goes 17-19mph (flat area), and I’m in the mood for a harder workout I’ll just pull longer than my fair share or pace the group. Or ride on my own.
we recently started an amazing z2 ride, of course that’s different for everyone but basically 55 miles 19-22moh average and we get a huge group every Saturday of over 40ppl easily depending on time of year. Sometimes folks will split up and go off the front we let them go stretch the group and the legs for a bit. If they try to push the group beyond the intent of the ride we politely suggest the local A or B ride which are a different work out!
Then I have a smaller group of folks that I ride with regularly. When I choose to ride with them I know exactly what I’m in for a nice pleasant 14-18mph average for about 30 miles chatting all the while and coffee afterwards, I’ll pull a bit longer than some but always stay together since that’s what we bought into and as a smaller group would suck for the less strong people to leave them in the middle of the ride.
thankfully lots of options where I am!
we recently started an amazing z2 ride, of course that’s different for everyone but basically 55 miles 19-22moh average and we get a huge group every Saturday of over 40ppl easily depending on time of year. Sometimes folks will split up and go off the front we let them go stretch the group and the legs for a bit. If they try to push the group beyond the intent of the ride we politely suggest the local A or B ride which are a different work out!
Then I have a smaller group of folks that I ride with regularly. When I choose to ride with them I know exactly what I’m in for a nice pleasant 14-18mph average for about 30 miles chatting all the while and coffee afterwards, I’ll pull a bit longer than some but always stay together since that’s what we bought into and as a smaller group would suck for the less strong people to leave them in the middle of the ride.
thankfully lots of options where I am!
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