Yikes!

[hibiscus09]

:eek: I just told a lady I had contacted about group riding that I would ride with them on Friday. First group ride. Scawy stuff. LOL

She actually seemed very nice on the phone & said they don't drop people. She said just come out & give it a try. :D

[Veronica]

You'll be fine! It will be good to learn to ride in a paceline, you don't get nearly as tired that way and usually you can go a bit faster - depends on the group. I know when I ride with the club guys on their recovery ride my average speed goes up a mile or two. What's recovery for them is a great workout for me!

Veronica

[hibiscus09]

Don't say "paceline" -- that scares me too! LOL

[MightyMitre]

If you think paceline sounds frightening here it the UK these sort of training rides are sometime called 'chaingangs'. Now that does sound nasty. One of these days I'll get up the courage to try one for myself.:p

On saying that, I've ridden in small groups, all in a line and it's incredible how easy it feels when you're slip streaming people - it's cool. I'm sure you'll do really well. :)

[Grasshopper]

If you ride is anything like our beginner - no drop - rides, we ride in two lines - side by side. It's nice because there is usually a break away group at the back and one of the trainers stays with that group. The first week I was in that group and I learned a ton!! Last week I was kind of between the two and was able to stay with the main crowd for most of the ride. It's nice to be able to practice drafting - with the two lines you can ride behind but between the two lines and not HAVE to be soooo close yet. They started calling our ride a "social ride." Tomorrow night BF is going to take his MTB out and ride this ride with me.

It's my last week of being able to catch the rides - I'm back in school every night starting next Tuesday. :( I was nervous and scared too but everyone was really really nice!!

[Dogmama]

Originally posted by hibiscus09
Don't say "paceline" -- that scares me too! LOL

How about "sucking tire?"

Really - riding in a paceline is a great way to conserve energy. Sometimes on group rides we'll have ~10 people in a line. The leader does 50 pedal strokes and then pulls off. The trick is - when you get the lead DON'T speed up! Remember that poor sucker who just pulled you is pretty tired!

There are pace line rules, like pointing out trash, holes, sand, etc. because the person behind you won't see it until she is in it. Also be sure to signal slowing (hand behind back in a fist).

WHATEVER you do - DO NOT over lap your front wheel with the person's rear wheel (who is in front of you). If she swerves and catches your front tire - you're road rash. Keep your tire a good 6" behind - and not to the side.

All in all, paceline riding is a good skill to have. I must say, though, on longer rides, I'll often pull out because it is a lot of concentration and I don't get to see the scenery. Plus, I have to concentrate at work. I ride to relax.

Be sure to let everybody know how you did!

[hibiscus09]

LOL, MM. I sometimes think I'm going to end up on a chaingang during PMS. :D

Hi Grasshopper. :) Yikes -- school! I didn't go to college when I was younger & ended up going to school in my late 30s. I graduated with a Psychology degree in December, 2001. Lately, I've been filling out a grad school application to start in January. :eek: Hopefully, I won't chicken out -- going to go back to get a masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. :)

Yep, Dogmama, I like "sucking tire" much better. :rolleyes: LOL! I'll be sure to give a report to you guys if I'm still with the living. :D

[Veronica]

The best is when you suck a tandem's tire. They tend to be a little faster on the flat and if you can hang with their pace it's really nice. They climb poorly though.

Thom and I did a century last weekend on the tandem with another guy from our club on his single. We pulled him for the first 75 miles. It was a hot day and Thom got cooked on one of the last climbs. He does not have an efficient cooling system. Anyway Jay (the guy on the single) went to the top without us and came back down twice. It was nice because a lot of single riders will take the pull and never even say thank you. We got to the next rest stop and told him to go on without us. We finished about 30 minutes behind him.

I got to follow a tandem tonight on the club ride. It was very pleasant. :) I'm with you though Dogmama. I like to be in the front so I can look around. It's a lot of mental work to stay in a paceline. On a lot of rides I don't bother unless there's no scenery or a really bad headwind.


Veronica

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Veronica
They climb poorly though.

Hey, them's fightin' words ;)

Seriously, SOME tandems climb slowly (just not the one I ride on) and they DO make great drafts on the flats/downhills. Always always make friends with the tandems on a group ride!

[hibiscus09]

It was a hot day and Thom got cooked on one of the last climbs. He does not have an efficient cooling system.

Me either! That sucks too! :) I live in South Carolina and I hardly ever work up a sweat -- even when I rode the 54 miles this past Sunday. I'm riding in rolling hills and going at over a 14mph average pace (I know, slow for you guys -- but okay for a newbie!). Anyway, I actually gain weight on my rides -- 4lbs last time! I guess it's from all the hydration & not sweating it off? Of course, I tinkle it all away as the day goes on but it sure is annoying. :(

[Veronica]

Can you really climb as fast or faster on your tandem than your single? That's cool! What kind of training do you do to be able to do that?

Veronica

[Grasshopper]

Hey I gain weight on rides too! I thought I was eating too much!! Bf was telling me that the screws on his bike rust from his sweat if he's not careful about it - he sweats THAT MUCH when he rides!! I don't seem to sweat much at all.

I use to - when I trained 4 hours a day - maybe my cooling system needs to get back in shape too.

Hibiscus - yep, school - good luck with Masters!! This part is going to be the hardest yet. I've been told I won't have a life until next May. - I'm viewing it as "School will be my life" sounds a little less hopeless! :) I called my old job yesterday (kind of a "did I do the right thing" call) I'm so glad I left and returned to school - it's still the same job and nothing has changed there - but so much has changed here. I definately made the right choice.

ok, doggie is crying - better stop rambling :) Good luck on the ride - my last one for a while is tonight and I still get nervous!!

[hibiscus09]

Well, I'm off to do my training ride. :)

What are you studying at school?

[Grasshopper]

Muscle Activation Therapy. I'll be the 2 or 3rd therapist in the NC, SC, VA, GA, TN area. It's going to be a little like being the state's second chiropractor. :) I'm up for it though. The one that is already in place in Raleigh is so busy she's begging me to hurry with my schooling. - It's nice to have her there.

Good luck on your ride!!

[emily_in_nc]

I must say that I envy you gals who don't sweat all that much
when you ride. I POUR sweat! Of course, riding in the NC
humidity and heat doesn't help, but I have noticed that I sweat
a lot more than many of my riding companions. I have to wear
a headband under my helment, which ends up just soaked at
the end of a ride, along with my hair, which I could wring out!
My arms and legs are slick with sweat, etc.

I have to be very careful to stay hydrated, and I always lose
weight during a ride despite that.

I wonder why some people sweat so much more than others?

Emily

[hibiscus09]

I don't know, but I'm in South Carolina & it's plenty hot here.

[MightyMitre]

Does this sound weird, but I actually like sweating. ( when I'm on the bike obviously, not in the office, on the train, shopping...:) )

It's a gauge that I'm actually putting some effort in and I also love the way it makes my skin feel after. My face feels really soft and clear.

I also find it quite liberating to work up a good old sweat, as the female social stereo type still seems to show an image of women who look and probably smell perfect at all times, gorgeous hair, beautiful makeup and nails. There's some serious pressure out there.

I've also spoken to loads of girls in their early 20's who never do any exercise, mainly because they say they don't like getting sweaty. I think this is a real shame as they're missing out. There are such things as showers and it does you good to (literally) let your hair down form time to time and just relax.:)

[Grasshopper]

LOL! Don't worry - those girls in their early 20's will hit their early 30's and their butt will spread and so will everything else - then they'll discover the joys of exercising! :)

I have a cousin that's like that - only she takes it a step further and says she's allergic to her own sweat because it makes her want to puke to smell it. I'm just waiting for the spread - any day now. :D

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Veronica
Can you really climb as fast or faster on your tandem than your single? That's cool! What kind of training do you do to be able to do that?

Veronica

I'll post under "Tips-n-Tricks" so we don't steal Hibiscus' thread....

[hibiscus09]

I would definitely prefer to sweat. :)

Grasshopper, mine started spreading at about 33 years old & off I went to the gym. Been there fighting gravity ever since. LOL

[hibiscus09]

LOL -- ya'll have to wait until next week to get a report on how I like the group riding. I had to go to the doctor yesterday because I was feeling pretty nauseated & had sharp pains in my ear. Anyway -- ear infection. I'm now taking two types of ear drops, a Z Pack of antibiotics & a decongestant. It sucks. :( I did get a new car today, so that made me feel better. Amazing how materialism brought me out of the depths of illness (well, plus the antibiotics). I'm starting to feel a little better. However, the heat index hit 109 degrees today, so I probably shouldn't push my luck out in the heat tomorrow.

[Grasshopper]

:) there's not much a new car and z-pack together can't cure!! Congrats - what kind of car did you get.

Hope you're feeling better soon!!

[hibiscus09]

It's a silver Nissan 350Z convertible -- it's beautiful!!

[Dogmama]

Of course, you have a matching bike rack...

[hibiscus09]

LOL -- I started talking about that & my hubby (car dealer) said he was bringing home a used Mitsubishi Montero so I could tote my bike around. Now my bike has a car! LOL I was just going to put a rack on the Z.

[Grasshopper]

WOW - nice car!! Looks like it's going to be a perfect "top down" weekend too!!

[hibiscus09]

Thanks Grasshopper!

I know, I'm looking forward to the weekend -- we've had quite the heat wave this week. It took us all by surprise because we had a rarity occur this year -- a not so hot summer. :D

Anyway, I likes the car. :)

[adkoch]

One, This website was mentioned in another thread and one of the pages sounds like it would help:

http://www.roadbikerider.com/articles.htm

There is an article for How to Ride in a Group and How to Ride in a Paceline.


Secondly, I envy those who sweat and have skin that actually feels smooth! I am one of those very salty/heavy sweaters, who has to watch their electrolytes! My skin has all of that granulated residue everywhere - including the corners of my eyes, which is very irritating!!!

~Angie

[hibiscus09]

Thanks Angie! :)