Club Ride Ratings

[Eden]

I disagree - like the Cascade rides I would classify rides based on speed for flat ground without breaks because 1. most people over estimate their own average speeds because they look at the speedo more often when they are going faster and 2. average speed is usually a bit of a liar - many of my training rides clock in around 15mph if you look at the computer average at the end of the ride, but that counts many stop signs and other things that bring that average down. The rides themselves are actually much harder with the flat ground averages being more like 18 - 22 mph...

[li10up]

I disagree - like the Cascade rides I would classify rides based on speed for flat ground without breaks because 1. most people over estimate their own average speeds because they look at the speedo more often when they are going faster and 2. average speed is usually a bit of a liar - many of my training rides clock in around 15mph if you look at the computer average at the end of the ride, but that counts many stop signs and other things that bring that average down. The rides themselves are actually much harder with the flat ground averages being more like 18 - 22 mph...

But since everyone has to do the starts and stops your bike computer would still be a legit comparison, wouldn't it?

[li10up]

How about this? The hors is a tongue-in-cheek thing.

[indysteel]

li10up, what's the difference between "B (hilly)" and "C (some hills)"? Otherwise, it makes sense to me.

[RoadRaven]

LOL, li...

A hors - casual ride????

that has me wondering!

[li10up]

LOL, li...

A hors - casual ride????

that has me wondering!

I did say tongue-in-cheek. But in reality...that's probably all the faster they would be going up that type of climb...if that.
----------------
I'm just trying to incorporate more descriptive descriptions...wait, that doesn't make sense, does it?
----------------
All I'm trying to say is it seems to me if your bike computer says your avg. speed is 14.2 mph on any given ride (yes, give or take, and taking in different conditions, wind speed, what you ate, the color of your jersey , etc. ad nauseum) then you probably wouldn't want to go out and try an advertised ride of 16 mph on a hilly route.

I think that if you talk about a persons typical speed under ideal conditions - ie. flat without significant wind then it will be easier get an idea of what group you'll fit best with without having to know anything about the route you are about to ride.

But some days the avg. speed of the same group will be 14 and other days it will be 20, depending on the route...it doesn't make sense to me to use your avg. speed on flat ground as the indicator of what your avg. speed is. Otherwise you will always just ride the rides that fall into your flat cruising speed...which may leave you way behind or put you way ahead of the group. I'm trying to see what you're saying but I'm just not getting it.

[makbike]

Here is the rating system used by the Louisville Bicycle Club. It is pretty simple when compared to those that have been shared thus far.

Ride difficulty ratings are approximate:
#1: Family/Beginner Ride
#2: Mostly flat to rolling, up to 1/3 hills
#3: Rolling, up to 1/2 hills
#4: Rolling, mostly hills, some long, steep grades and/or long mileage
#5: Mostly long, steep hills and/or extremely long mileage.

[RoadRaven]

li10up, what's the difference between "B (hilly)" and "C (some hills)"? Otherwise, it makes sense to me.

They are having this discussion on BJ at the moment... when entering your ride you can choose for a hilly course between 'hills' and 'steep'...

There is nothing there for the rolling rides... they are not flat, but they are not really hilly either... I think li's C category is probably for those rolling terrains which arent hilly, but demand more of a workout and give a lower average than a flat terrain...

[Eden]

But since everyone has to do the starts and stops your bike computer would still be a legit comparison, wouldn't it?

You'd have to be riding the same course at the same time for there to be any comparison as far as average speeds go. There are too many variables on any given ride to make it anything better a very general comparison - how many times you have to stop or slow, what the wind conditions are like, if you are alone or drafting. I think that if you talk about a persons typical speed under ideal conditions - ie. flat without significant wind then it will be easier get an idea of what group you'll fit best with without having to know anything about the route you are about to ride.

And also - generally club rides regroup on hills, so its your speed on the flats that more determines what group you want to ride with. You can be speedy on hills, but have trouble keeping up high speeds on the flats.....

[RoadRaven]

You can be speedy on hills, but have trouble keeping up high speeds on the flats.....

LOL... or you can motor it on the flat but get
d
r
o
p
p
e
d

on hills... like moi!