First group ride report...

[Crankin]

I have seen a few rides that start in Worcester, but mostly the rides are in rural/suburban areas, so the car factor isn't as bad. The group I rode with today, which is part of CRW is great, but even i won't drive to some of the places they start at; it's just too far for a day trip. However, sometimes you have to do this, so you can ride in different areas and vary your routine. And yes, YM groups tend to be "fast," in both the Boston and Worcester chapters. Maybe you could start a "slower" YM group of cyclists.

[Jolt]

I have seen a few rides that start in Worcester, but mostly the rides are in rural/suburban areas, so the car factor isn't as bad. The group I rode with today, which is part of CRW is great, but even i won't drive to some of the places they start at; it's just too far for a day trip. However, sometimes you have to do this, so you can ride in different areas and vary your routine. And yes, YM groups tend to be "fast," in both the Boston and Worcester chapters. Maybe you could start a "slower" YM group of cyclists.

I'm sure the traffic factor is the reason for none of the rides starting in Worcester, although there are some places where one could start in Worcester and not have too far to go before getting into a quieter neighboring town (like along Rte. 122 going into Millbury/Grafton--the first part would be busy but the lane is wide enough to share for most of the busier section). As for starting a slower YM group, maybe eventually but I don't feel that I am experienced enough to think about doing that yet. If I do end up starting something at some point, I'll have to think of an amusing name for the group or the rides (somebody on another thread said she'd like to get a jersey made for Equipo Tortuga, a hypothetical slow racing team). It's interesting that the YM cycling group is a bunch of speed demons, because in my experience the Worcester YM hikes have generally been less challenging than those with the general chapter--either shorter, easier ones like Mt. Wachusett etc. or just slow/lots of stops. I may be slow on the bike, but I like to keep a brisk pace when hiking and that's hard to do in some of the groups I've hiked in (the larger the group, the slower the going--probably true of cycling groups as well!).

[Crankin]

Jolt, it's funny you said that about the hiking. I think the hiking adage is "go as slow as the slowest person." Generally, big groups of cyclists don't go slow, they go the speed of the advertised ride! AMC is different than most groups in that our liability rules say we have to keep the group together and no one can be dropped. This is hard on the show and go rides like you did, but generally, if someone wants to go faster, they have to tell us and then they are "off" the ride. I find hiking very difficult; I don't like heights and freak out on rocky steep sections. I do a fair amount of local hiking in conservation lands, and I have found if I bring my pole from snow shoeing, it helps. I am much faster on the bike! (in relation to my fitness level).
Maybe we can hike one day this summer (at my slow pace!).

Robyn

[Jolt]

Jolt, it's funny you said that about the hiking. I think the hiking adage is "go as slow as the slowest person." Generally, big groups of cyclists don't go slow, they go the speed of the advertised ride! AMC is different than most groups in that our liability rules say we have to keep the group together and no one can be dropped. This is hard on the show and go rides like you did, but generally, if someone wants to go faster, they have to tell us and then they are "off" the ride. I find hiking very difficult; I don't like heights and freak out on rocky steep sections. I do a fair amount of local hiking in conservation lands, and I have found if I bring my pole from snow shoeing, it helps. I am much faster on the bike! (in relation to my fitness level).
Maybe we can hike one day this summer (at my slow pace!).

Robyn

I think part of it may be that it's hard to have an advertised speed for a hike (too many variables that affect this) and it's more dangerous for the group to get split up and somebody get lost on a hike than on a road ride. Getting lost in the woods can be serious, while getting lost in a town is usually just an inconvenience, so "dropping" anyone on a hiking trip is not a good idea. As far as places to hike, sounds like you might like the Midstate Trail--it's mostly easier terrain (it does go over Mt. Wachusett but that's not hard either). Re: the pole, a lot of people use a pair of poles--it takes stress off the knees on descents and can help with balance. I picked up a pair at Ocean State Job Lot and have experimented with them, and find that they are only helpful for me on some descents (and depending on the terrain sometimes they get in the way more than helping). Speaking of snowshoeing, I got a pair of snowshoes this year and of course we hardly got any snow so I guess I'll be starting that next year instead!