Why ride with people?

[Cassandra_Cain]

Sooooo, I was having a chat with a fellow TE'r recently. Actually it was in the midst of a nice cross-town ride here. I had asked about her experiences with bike clubs in the area, etc.

This sort of broadened into a more general question...

Why ride with others?

Is it to be around a group of folks who like to drop the proverbial hammer and go as fast, or close to it, as they can? See who survives, who doesn't? Conversation discouraged, grunting/huffing/puffing encouraged? Competition heavy?

Is it the opposite....less effort/moderate pace, more conversation, socializing, talking, chit-chatting, sight seeing?

Why do you ride with others and what do you want out of those rides?

Thankfully, I rode with someone who was on the exact same wavelength as me.

[SadieKate]

I ride for all of the above. Just depends on what my personal goal is for the ride that day, even solitary rides. I like to mix it up (shaken not stirred).

[KSH]

Well, I go on different rides to get different experiences.

For example, if I want...

1) A slow ride where I get to chat- I ride with my Sunday group.

2) To hammer it some- I ride with my Tuesday group.

3) To go the distance and not get dropped- I ride with my Saturday distance builders group.

4) To go the distance and rest every 10-12 miles- I ride with my Saturday no drop ride.

You get the point.

I know that I can't do one type of ride all the time. I change it up often, so I can stay interested and challenged.. and it keep it's fun. If I ride with groups where I get dropped all the time... that is NOT fun.

[greenmachine]

Well, I go on different rides to get different experiences.

I know that I can't do one type of ride all the time. I change it up often, so I can stay interested and challenged.. and it keep it's fun. If I ride with groups where I get dropped all the time... that is NOT fun.

This describes me as well. I have to mix it up too. Different routes, different types of rides. And, I don't like riding alone...I wish I did.

There is always something to learn from riding with other people; training tips, etc., but that doesn't mean that I'm always chatting on my rides.

I really enjoy group riding, but I'm often riding by myself within the group as the group spreads out.

If I had to name a perfect type of ride for me it would be a ride with some hills and beautiful scenery, wildflowers, stuff like that!

[yogabear]

I think it depends on my goals

[Eden]

I have a hard time not hammering if I ride on my own. Don't know why, but its hard to not treat a solo ride like a personal TT for me. Riding with someone else and chatting helps me keep myself in line when I know I need to be doing a recovery ride.

[KSH]

And, I don't like riding alone...I wish I did.

That's a challenge for me too.

I have been riding alone lately though... on a 24 mile loop/bike path... and it has taught me how to keep my average/speed up without someone pushing me.

It's been a good learning experience.

BUT.... I refuse to ride the city streets alone. I'm all about safety in numbers.

[SalsaMTB]

Different times, different reasons...

I mainly ride with DH. When I say ride with DH, I mean drive to the trail together, start trail together, he drops me, we meet up at the end. If it's a longer trail, he'll wait for me every few miles.

I enjoy this because I know someone will be know if I get hurt, someone is there to motivate me when I'm tired, someone is there for the pre-ride talk and the talk on the drive home. When he rides behind me, it helps push me to take the downhills a little faster.

Also, I would never ride offroad at night by myself. That feels way too unsafe to me. I don't think I would even show up to a random group ride at night unless I personally knew someone on it.

I like to ride with other people (not DH) sometimes to compare myself, sometimes for social rides, and also to motivate some of my friends to try riding.

[DDH]

I mostly ride by myself, mainly because I don't have others to ride with, but also I enjoy being by myself and reflecting. I am not sure I am ready to ride with others anyway, I would feel like I was slowing them down. I already feel like I slow DH down whenever we get to ride together, which is not very often. It kills me, no more often that he rides and he can still get on and leave me.

What is a recovery ride?

[Eden]

After you've done a hard ride its good to get out and go easy the next day - so you do a "recovery ride". The basic idea is to keep it easy spinning and keep your heart rate down.

[greenmachine]

That's a challenge for me too.

I have been riding alone lately though... on a 24 mile loop/bike path... and it has taught me how to keep my average/speed up without someone pushing me.

It's been a good learning experience.

BUT.... I refuse to ride the city streets alone. I'm all about safety in numbers.

Hmmm, there is a loop around here I could try solo. The problem is, I do about 10 miles and then I feel like being done. I know that ALL miles count, but I'm more inclined for longer distances when I ride with other people... If anyone has any tips for me about riding alone more often, I'm all ears.

I agree with you too about the city streets. There IS safety in numbers.

[Bikingmomof3]

I have yet to ride alone. I do not like it. Maybe it is because I am so new to cycling or I just do not feel safe. I am not certain as to the exact reason, and so far I have not had to ride alone.

[chickwhorips]

i mainly ride solo but its also because i don't have anyone to ride with.

on BF's easy days he will ride with me bc he has a hard time going out easy and it keeps his hr lower. so his easy days are my hard days. i have a hard time going hard when i'm by myself. so he helps my do more of a training/get my butt in shape/better cyclist ride.

[pyxichick]

The groups around here run the gamut from hammer down all the way, nothing so much as an introduction to everyone in the group, to social, 10-12 mph. 25 mile rides with a rest/coffee stop halfway and dinner afterwards.

The only way for me to find out how different groups operate was to ride with all of them and now I can pick my group rides based on how I feel that day.

I like to be somewhat social, but if people are too busy talking to realize that they are riding four abreast on a city road, then I get frustrated.

Last night I got spanked on a ride with a new group. But it was probably good for me.

[Cassandra_Cain]

This is really interesting, kind of a sub-thread emerging of riding solo or, not.

I ride solo 99% of the time, in fact this weekend was the first time I've ridden with anybody in about 7 years. I enjoyed it a great deal though as I said before, we were on the same line of thought for the ride.

Riding with others can be, I think, more rewarding but also, infinitely more work. The big issues alway emerge - riding style, pace, speed, etc - which can lead to frustration, anger, etc. Unless you are unusually similar, there is going to be some kind of compromise. It is a compromise that is rather challenging - if my experience (and others I've heard of) with groups is any proof.

When I ride alone, which is most always basically, I feel comfortable doing whatever. Whether an intense straight-up all climbing ride, or an easy spin as this afternoon will be.