First group ride report...

[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!