Hey just wondering something...
05-03-16, 04:45 PM
#27
Senior Member
For the first time, I am a member of a bike club. Typically, our rides consist of two groups, the hotshots and the regular folks. I ride with the regular folks and slowly learning a few names/faces. As long as I can find folks who ride about as fast as I do, their ages don't make any difference to me.
05-03-16, 06:45 PM
#29
Homey
Thread Starter
lol!!
05-03-16, 06:50 PM
#30
Homey
Thread Starter
My main issue is getting the time off for it. I work the weekends and have varying split days off during the week. So it's hard to PLAN a ride with others. I have one girlfriend who is off four days out of the week and I will go ride with her. I have one other guy who likes to ride but he's a 30something that always has to mash hard on the pedals and drive like a SF messenger, going as fast as he can and weaving in and out of tight spots. Then he gets annoyed when I mention my safety. So he's no fun.
__________________
Last edited by Siu Blue Wind; 05-04-16 at 04:25 AM.
05-04-16, 02:43 AM
#31
Bicycle touring groups usually attract an older set of riders. But they are fairly rare. SBW, see if you can find something like that in your area.
By the way, why are you inquiring. You're only 35 years old, aren't you?
By the way, why are you inquiring. You're only 35 years old, aren't you?
05-04-16, 04:27 AM
#32
Homey
Thread Starter
I just need to get out more and because of safety issues lately, I'd like to go with some people. I like to go on the paved trails that wind through this county. They are multiuse trails, often used on the weekends for families. During the week though it can be sparse. That's when the creeps like to target people.
05-04-16, 06:19 AM
#33
Do you find it hard to find people to ride with you in 50+ groups? If not, how do you go about reaching out to those who would be interested?
One organized ride though that I make extensive plans to attend are the Fifty-Plus Annual Rides, informal gatherings of some subscribers in conjunction with an organized ride. I recently posted, on the Fifty-Plus thread,”50+ the way that it used to be”
…What has captivated me most about Fifty-Plus beside the general milieu are (were) the Annual rides begun in 2010 up though last year. I have ridden in five of them, and have compiled the personal narratives of all the Rides on the thread, "A Chronicle of the 50+ Annual Rides". I myself think this so-called "way it used to be" ended with the Fourth Annual Ride in Tennessee. …
…That's why I enjoy the Fifty-Plus Annual Rides so much, because meeting fellow enthusiasts is the goal of the excursion. I usually ride solo, and could find organized rides much closer to home, than the hundreds of miles I have driven to attend.
BTW, I have put out some feelers for an organized ride here in Boston in September, and would welcome any suggestions for elsewhere.
BTW, I have put out some feelers for an organized ride here in Boston in September, and would welcome any suggestions for elsewhere.
This enthusiasm has definitely increased my enjoyment of cycling. As far as improving it, what I have gotten directly from BF [include]:
- ...
- the Fifty-Plus Annual rides that motivate me to train in the nice weather
- ...
05-04-16, 06:46 AM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: still above ground
Posts: 1,066
Bikes: 2016 Specialized crosstrail comp disc
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Riding with other people is a pain.
They want to do things I don't want to do and at my age I don't do anything I don't want to do
They want to do things I don't want to do and at my age I don't do anything I don't want to do
05-04-16, 07:36 AM
#35
Senior Member
In my small town, finding a group of adults over 40 with similar abilities and schedules is more or less impossible. Luckily there is a group of cyclists about 40 miles away that includes quite a few riders my age and the pace is generally spirited recreational. There are also a couple of LBSs that do shop rides and offer B-rides that I'm comfortable with and that include individuals from their teens through their 80s.
I go on a couple of group rides a month, but mostly ride solo.
I go on a couple of group rides a month, but mostly ride solo.
05-04-16, 02:47 PM
#37
Pedals, Paddles and Poles
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Vegas Valley, NV
Posts: 5,495
Bikes: Santa Cruz Tallboy, Ridley Noah, Scott Spark 20
Liked 69 Times
in
58 Posts
Meetup.com was my first group ride, now I have lots of people @ my age that I ride with. We have a club that hosts beginner rides. WE have had 300 pounders on Huffys show up.
__________________
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
05-04-16, 02:50 PM
#38
Pedals, Paddles and Poles
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Vegas Valley, NV
Posts: 5,495
Bikes: Santa Cruz Tallboy, Ridley Noah, Scott Spark 20
Liked 69 Times
in
58 Posts
My main issue is getting the time off for it. I work the weekends and have varying split days off during the week. So it's hard to PLAN a ride with others. I have one girlfriend who is off four days out of the week and I will go ride with her. I have one other guy who likes to ride but he's a 30something that always has to mash hard on the pedals and drive like a SF messenger, going as fast as he can and weaving in and out of tight spots. Then he gets annoyed when I mention my safety. So he's no fun.
__________________
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
I think its disgusting and terrible how people treat Lance Armstrong, especially after winning 7 Tour de France Titles while on drugs!
I can't even find my bike when I'm on drugs. -Willie N.
05-04-16, 02:56 PM
#39
Senior Member
The bike shops around here have group rides. The biggest local club has rides somewhere every weekend. They have a web site and a forum. Did you already search for your area bike clubs on line?
05-05-16, 10:42 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340
Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot
Liked 496 Times
in
299 Posts
I have spent some time with skiers who like cyclists are passionate about their sport. So passionate, in fact, the many will relocate to areas with a very long skiing season. One man I worked with was complaining that he had spent good money to send a daughter to college but at that time was a ski bum in the western states. SBW, you need to move to where cycling is common and comparatively safe. The other option I can think of is to start your own bike club.
05-05-16, 11:59 AM
#41
Uber Goober
Several years ago, I started riding with Lone Star Randonneurs. The majority of the people are right around my age, and a lot of times, they'll ride in groups. So that was my solution.
Along with that, some of the ladies are not willing to ride solo, so that gives me people to ride with even if it's not a big group. My observation there: If I ride with two or three other guys, nobody talks and it turns into an athletic endeavor and we'll all be riding along as fast as we can with our tongues hanging out. So a good workout, but not much fun, and not much point in being in the group. But if I ride with one or more of the ladies, there's usually a conversation going on and a more relaxed pace, and then it's a lot of fun.
And, along with that, if you're a person that just wishes NOT to ride alone, don't be afraid to ask somebody if they'll stick with you; they may so no, but it's sure not an unreasonable question to ask.
I think it was about 4 years ago, I got my tandem. After a couple of months, my stoker quit on me. One of the other ladies in the club, I would never have thought to ask about that, but I didn't have too many options, so I checked with her- and we've ridden about 20,000 miles on that tandem since then.
It's neat that I've found people around my age to ride with, but don't limit yourself there, either. Age is important in some things, not so important in others, and you may find people 20 years older or younger than you that suit you fine as riding partners. The main limitation for me is that people younger than me tend to have kids at home, so they don't want to be gone every weekend, and people older than me are retired, so they do their riding during the week more.
Along with that, some of the ladies are not willing to ride solo, so that gives me people to ride with even if it's not a big group. My observation there: If I ride with two or three other guys, nobody talks and it turns into an athletic endeavor and we'll all be riding along as fast as we can with our tongues hanging out. So a good workout, but not much fun, and not much point in being in the group. But if I ride with one or more of the ladies, there's usually a conversation going on and a more relaxed pace, and then it's a lot of fun.
And, along with that, if you're a person that just wishes NOT to ride alone, don't be afraid to ask somebody if they'll stick with you; they may so no, but it's sure not an unreasonable question to ask.
I think it was about 4 years ago, I got my tandem. After a couple of months, my stoker quit on me. One of the other ladies in the club, I would never have thought to ask about that, but I didn't have too many options, so I checked with her- and we've ridden about 20,000 miles on that tandem since then.
It's neat that I've found people around my age to ride with, but don't limit yourself there, either. Age is important in some things, not so important in others, and you may find people 20 years older or younger than you that suit you fine as riding partners. The main limitation for me is that people younger than me tend to have kids at home, so they don't want to be gone every weekend, and people older than me are retired, so they do their riding during the week more.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."
05-05-16, 05:22 PM
#42
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,638
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Liked 2,003 Times
in
1,423 Posts
The group I ride with has been in existence for about 20 years. So we've all aged. Some new folks have come in, some folks have aged out in their mid-70s or so. At 70, I think I'm currently the oldest every-Sunday rider. Most folks are 10-12 years younger, and there are some all the way down into the mid-40's, kids. It's rather amazing how we've held up over the years.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
05-06-16, 08:10 AM
#43
www.ocrebels.com
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 6,186
Bikes: Several bikes, Road, Mountain, Commute, etc.
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
2 Posts
I'm lucky enough to have a lot of friends who cycle, and we keep track of who's planning to ride where using FB and email. On any given weekend there might be 3 different groups riding 3 different areas, each with 5-20 people. In age, they range in age from 30s to 70s, but we all ride at more or less a similar pace.
Rick / OCRR
05-06-16, 08:48 AM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,793
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Liked 2,778 Times
in
1,288 Posts
On the day you want to ride, go to a coffee shop near a well ridden trail and wait for a group to come in. Hooked up with a pretty cool group and they get newcomers at there stops all the time. It's on an e-mail format and the rides usually are in the twenty mile range with an option to go on a longer loop. They also get out for shows and share garden harvest... this week a member showed up with two 5 gallon buckets of avocado's.
05-06-16, 03:18 PM
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,901
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
Likes: 0
Liked 237 Times
in
187 Posts
It's not the age that counts but the separation between recreational riders and the hard core riders who care more about completing the maximum distance in the shortest amount of time that counts. At least one of our local bike clubs tells you exactly what the aim of a particular ride is. That way you can choose one with a pace that suits your needs.
05-06-16, 05:07 PM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
05-06-16, 05:39 PM
#47
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Thailand
Posts: 285
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
Liked 99 Times
in
62 Posts
I belong to two cycling clubs, and truly enjoy solo too. The group I'm cycling with tomorrow is primarily @50+. A fun/relaxed group of cyclist indeed.
05-07-16, 12:50 PM
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,491
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
Liked 737 Times
in
458 Posts
That's funny, because your group is like the opposite of mine. My club has a bunch of normal riders and then a bunch of slowpokes. The advantage is that I can ride with either group depending on my mood.
05-15-16, 11:42 PM
#50
Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: San Marcos, CA (North San Diego County)
Posts: 40
Bikes: Specialized Source Expert Disc commuter/hybrid/tourer, Jamis Dakar XCR Comp mountain bike, Burley Duet Tandem
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I usually prefer to ride alone, though I'll occasionally find myself alongside someone for a while. The biggest problem for me is that when I do meet someone who offers to let me join them on a regular basis, they're the kind of riders I just can't keep up with. My average on my road bike when riding solo is 13-14 mph, but on my preferred (and heavier) commuter/tourer that drops to under 12 mph because I'm after endurance, not speed. The people I encounter usually average 16-18 mph, and do 100 miles before lunch. San Diego is loaded with pro and semi-pro riders and triathletes, and it's not unusual to see a peloton of 16 pound bikes cruising along at 20mph or more. Heck, John Howard lives minutes from me - he still holds the land speed record for a bike of 152 mph - and riders that good are typical here.
