jay002

So after an injury kept me sidelined for the fall and a long winter I've been getting back on the bike now that the weather has turned up here in North Dakota. My LBS has a Tuesday Night ride that they describe as a "fun ride". Their description of the ride is " Conversational paced ride for those who want to combine exercising and socializing. 14-18 MPH pace average covering 15-25 miles." I was in the LBS the other day and the guy behind the counter told me about the run but I kind of got that old feeling of "you may want to stay home fattie" from him.

I've been logging 7 mile commutes to work and a few 10-12 mile evening rides by myself this spring. I've been averaging about 13 mph on my training rides. I know I can do 15-25 miles (did a century before I got hurt) in my current shape but I don't know if I can do it at the pace set for this group ride. I've never ridden in a group of any kind before and I'm concerned that I'm too slow to keep up. Am I crazy to think that I can do this? Should I do some more solo riding until my fitness level increases first?

Also; are there any other recommendations as to how to meet people to ride with? I think I'd enjoy riding with other people but at my speed and fitness level I feel I may be a hindrance to others.

jsigone

don't be scared of group rides, know the route ahead of time and if you fall off, finish the route. Also know bail out or short cuts . Repeat weekly until you can stick with the group the entire ride. You should see improvement and meet more people the more you go. Show your face out there and enjoy.

I get dropped on every club ride I attend, but I still show up, talk up a storm until we hit the hills than I'm off the back

TrojanHorse

LMAO, too funny.

OP! Don't project the anti-fatty feeling if it's not there. Why would he have told you about it?

Group rides are a great way to push yourself. As jsigone mentioned, be self-sufficient with respect to the route and if you get dropped, finish on your own. You may wish to do a trial run of the route once on your own for confidence.

NYMXer

I'm a newbie to cycling (started Aug '15) but was determined to rise to the top ASAP. Group rides let your ego do the talking to your brain and push you to limits you didn't know that you were capable of. Also, pace line riding will give you a free 2 mph, and riding in the drops another 1 mph.
I now ride at an A level, and sometimes get dropped.....BUT I continue to ride with that group and push myself. Even if I get dropped because they decide to "hammer" on a "no drop ride", I still try hard to stick with them longer than the last time I got dropped, but always know where you are and the way back to your car.
Sometimes, the best sight on a ride is your car in the parking lot!

dr_lha

Only reason I don't get dropped on group rides is because I lead them.

Group rides are great, just do it.

sstorkel

Why not ask them for examples of their routes and then pre-ride them to see if you can manage their pace without the pressure of having to keep up with a group? I dunno about anyone else, but I personally don't enjoy rides where there's a big speed disparity between the riders...

Podagrower

A man after my own heart. I might have occasionally forgot to announce a turn until I got to it when the fast guys were off the front, maybe.

MRT2

Group rides can be fun, but you need to find the right group. Only way to know is to show up and give it a try.

1242Vintage

I love group rides but find the pace is usually higher than advertised. Still makes it fun even if a bit of a challenge. Funniest one was about a year ago. The leader advertised the ride will have a nice social pace of around 17 mph. I never saw anything less than 21 and was all I could do to hang on to the back. Never took a pull. Had fun anyway.

VCSL2015

I usually ride the route before a group ride. I know my endurance level. So thats pretty easy to figure out.

digibud

Yeah...you'll probably get dropped like a hot potato. I'm guessing the average pace doesn't refer to some people going at 14 and others at 18, it more likely means the pace may vary from 14 to 18 and when the group hits the flats and rolls at 18 you won't be part of it. If getting dropped means horrible things to your ego I'd just stay home, personally but if you can go, get dropped and laugh then I'd say go for it!

dr_lha

Although it's important to say that due to drafting you can go faster easier in a group than solo.

customsound79

Most of our group rides naturally break into smaller groups during the ride. I was dropped near the end of the last one, but I passed a slower part of the group when leaving the parking lot in my car. I thought I was the last one in the ride especially after stopping twice to GPS my way back. It is still a lot of fun. I always get in trouble trying to keep up with faster riders too early on and finishing weak.

ohiogsp

I know u probably don't have a ton of choices in rides but maybe find a no drop slower ride. I lived in minot and know that there is probably not a ton of rides to choose from. Otherwise try it and see then u will know. I have experienced bike shop employees looking down their nose at me before too but if u ride with them maybe u will find out they are not as great as they think they are. And that's awesome!

brawlo

Just go on the ride and dip your toes in the water. Remembering back to my first group ride, I had only ridden a max of 20km previously. My first group ride, I ended up riding almost 60km! It smashed me, and I was one of the stragglers at the end, but I never gave up. Now many years later, if there aren't too many hills, you can sometimes find me on the tail end of the fast guys hoping to have a sprint, but most times just hanging on for dear life. You will get more appreciation from those that matter if you try but drop off and finish than if you stay in your comfortable little cocoon and don't have a go. If you do drop off (and it's likely at first) surely you won't be the only one and you can pick other riders to see what other rides they do. You may find other rides that suit you much better as a result. Happy riding

cyclist2000

I went on group ride yesterday, it was a casual pace, no drop ride. I haven't been on a group ride for years. it was a small group, and a short ride (10 miles). just go on the ride and don't worry about being dropped. it more about people that enjoy a common activity, riding a bike. If the first ride is hard, each ride will get easier.