How many group rides per week
 

How many group rides per week do you guys think is too many, in terms of training. I do like 4-5 (drop rides) and think that I might be better served doing more base work by myself, but that's no fun.

8 would be too many.

^^^ Though given longer days, two-a-days might be a thing. Spread out the pleasure of his company....

Before heading out for a group ride, consider your TSB and how it'll be affected by the additional TSS from the ride. Recovery is essential, and you wouldn't want your ATL to shoot too far beyond your CTL and risk overtraining/injury, now would you?

4-5 drop rides is way too much. It depends on your age and fitness and ability to recover. When I was younger, I raced once on the weekend and one hard group ride after work during the middle of the week. Intervals one day, sprints another day. Two rest days. Sunday was the long steady ride.

You also have to take into account your alcohol consumption. That puts a load on your system. too

Dang, that's quite a few group rides.

Even though it's intensely boring at times, I spend the majority of my time doing base and build work on the trainer with 1 group ride a week to keep it fun. For context, we're talking 4 hours base (solo) training and a 2-3 hour group ride once a week. The caveat I would put out there, is, putting time into base training does make the group rides more enjoyable when you're fitter and spend less time trying to hang on.

wtf, 4 GRs is tm, though ymmv.

yeah I feel like its too much, I did my first race (early bird training crit) on sunday and got wrecked. My excuse was that I was worn out and needed a rest day or base building day. Also im quitting alcohol

Maybe when the season starts, I could do 2 a days on tuesday and thursday now but both of those rides are killer. Also im kinda trolly here but im on my best behavior when riding and am just out there chasing fitness like everyone else.

Planning to quit isn't a thing. You're either drinking or you're not.

been sober this week. One day at a time

Quitters never win.

I do one group ride per week on road and one group ride per week mountain in summer or fat bike in winter.

Good work! Keep at it. If you're not going to meetings, I recommend that you try 'em. They're especially great if you like church basements and stale coffee. :)

kudos

It's a bit sporadic at the moment, but I'd like to do 3 or 4. I have 2 regular ones, and would like to add a nite bike ride, and maybe 1 other.

Are you asking for yourself, or on behalf of the group?

lol I don't get why y'all think I'm some pariah. people like me for the most part as far as I can tell. Haters gonna hate I guess.

Anything is possible....:roflmao:

shelby how many miles did you ride last week? I bet ive rode double that over the past 3 days

You've got me there Larry! :o Only one ride last week of 74 miles. 4400 elevation. It was my birthday "ride my age" ride. Heavy snow the rest of the week. 6200 miles for 2021, how about you? I've no doubt you are a cycling stud, I just doubt anyone wants to be on a ride with you.:twitchy:

Don't start.

Thats quite the ride! nice. Ive done like 125 miles the past 3 days so not more than double you. I commute 15 miles a day though so its easy to pack in miles. "old" people seem to have crazy endurance, you lose some strength but endurance is the last thing to go. Not to call you old ;p

Returning to the original question, you need to define your goals. If you just want to ride in the fast group rides, then do that. If you want to win races, you need more specific training, like structured workouts and base miles NOT done at high power.

Ah, yes: the old "I've ridden more miles than you, so I must be correct about this completely unrelated point!." A staple argument on bf.

But I'm smarter than both of you -- I've stayed in a whole bunch of Holiday Inn Express hotels.