What's Your Idea of a Perfect Group Ride?

[Jo-n-NY]

Congratulations on your role as ride organizer. I am our clubs Corresponding Secretary and I enjoy being more involved with the club than just riding with them.

Here is how our rides are divided:

C pace is 11–14 MPH
B is 14–17 MPH
A is 17–20 MPH
AA is 20–23 MPH

We have a ride calender on our clubs website. Each ride has a brief description of what it will be and will state H=hills; RH=roll hills; F=flat; F/H; flat with some rolling hills. A member will know what to expect of the ride before hand.

If you want to attract new riders I feel the C pace is very important to offer. We only get a handful of riders for that group. However, keep in mind that most riders that ride C will eventually move up to B. The future of the club is dependant on recruiting new members. In our area, when I talk about the club most people are intimidated because they assume riding with a club you have to be a very experienced rider. I then encourage them to try one of our C pace rides and this usually brings on new members.

What I like best about riding with the club is that I go to areas and routes that I would never go on my own. So I think changing routes is important. It will make each ride interesting.

Ride leaders should stick to the speed that the level is quoted. On Sunday our A group rode a AA pace. For a 62 mile ride with hills, myself and friends rode our own ride. We had a que sheet. We would have been fine at the A pace. However, just about all our other ride leaders do ride at the pace explained for that level.

It is important to have comfort rides not to discourage people and still make rides a challenge for those who what that also.

~ JoAnn