Why is it so hard to find a group ride that averages 16 MPH?

[KSH]

I am finding myself getting a little frustrated.

You see... the groups in Dallas, TX... well, their rides are either "no drop" rides (which averages around 13 MPH)... which I have fun doing... but I want a little bit more of a challenge.

So... the other option are rides that go 18+MPH average. Which is way too fast for me.

I found a Wednesday night ride... but they average 17+ MPH... and I did OK... because I fell in between the fast group and the slower group.

I just don't understand why there can't be challenging rides for us people who don't average 18+ MPH.

[Bikechic]

i feel the same way!!!!! I want a group and everything around me is 18+ I just want to find a group to ride with cause it gets lonely out there by yourself!

[Carm]

Me too!

I average between 15 - 16 mph which on some rides where I live is considered the "Turtle Group". I converted from a hybrid to a road bike and am working on increasing my speed and endurance. I feel like Goldelocks trying to find the perfect group to ride with.

This May I went on a ride that was billed as a no drop, "recovery ride". I had a hard time keeping up and at one point slowed down and dropped to the back. The wife of the ride leader was riding in the back and asked me if I could gear up (i.e., pick up the pace). I asked her to drop me but she wouldn't. 30 minutes into the ride, my computer said we had gone 11.2 miles which is more than 22 mph.

So until I can get my speed up, two times a week I ride by myself and the other time I ride with a group that averages 12 - 15 mph.

[KSH]

This May I went on a ride that was billed as a no drop, "recovery ride". I had a hard time keeping up and at one point slowed down and dropped to the back. The wife of the ride leader was riding in the back and asked me if I could gear up (i.e., pick up the pace). I asked her to drop me but she wouldn't. 30 minutes into the ride, my computer said we had gone 11.2 miles which is more than 22 mph.

WOW... your "No Drop" rides are a bit more "rutheless" (? spelling), than ours!

Ours are seriously slower... and we have 2 stops in 30-40 mile rides. The average is around 12-14 MPH. So, I am lucky to have that.

But more and more, I find myself riding alone... because I am too slow to go with the really fast ones, but too fast to hang with the slower pack.

[RoadRaven]

If you average 16mph on solo rides, you should be able to keep up with a pack that is a mile or two faster... even if you just hang on the back

Remember, riding on your own is much tougher, no-one to break the wind for you and slip in behind to rest...

Good luck

[CR400]

Ladies, I here you on that one. I always find myself riding alone on group rides. Becuse I can only hang on to the fast group for about 10 miles after that I have to slow down, they average 20-22mph. Then the slow groups are below 15 some down to 12. So I never see them again. So I just keep trying to get faster and hang on longer. I average around 18+. Road Raven is right though it should be easier to hang on when you are in somebodies draft and another person behind you pushing you.

[singletrackmind]

Last solo ride 17.5 avg., 41 miles
Last group ride 20.6 avg., 12 mile warm-up (easy ride to the ride), 25 mile group ride, 12 mile cool-down (easy ride home).
Conditions about the same for both,

Sure, I pushed harder on the group ride. It satisfies the competitor in me and makes me faster than I would be if I only ever rode on my own. The last time I was able to participate consistantly I got up to a 23 avg and could put the hurt on a lot of the boys. That, alas, has been a few years, bk (before kids). Luckily we have multiple rides in town nearly every night of ALL abilities so for those days I want to just ride but with people involved there's a ride that fits the bill. Right now I am thanking my lucky stars!

[Geonz]

I found the cure - or at least the treatment - for wanting the 16 mph ride was to keep riding until I found other people wanting the 16 mph ride. Most of them didn't go to the faster rides because the rides were too fast. As long as only one person is "trying" a ride then you don't know the others exist if you don't go back.
A big challenge is all those people who are *sure* that yea, they're going to ride at 16 mph - until "shrinking butt syndrome" kicks in (you know, when somebody's butt is getting smaller in front of them because it's getting further away, and it activates the "pedal faster!" button).
Menin their 50's, 60's and 70's are in my experience the most likely to be genuine 16-ers and they often have good endurance too.
When we have big get-togethers it's hard for the 16's because they don't often feel ready to "lead" a subgroup of their own, so they end up cruising at 14 or 11.
One solution is to find the other genuine 16-ers and then send emails and make calls and get together whenever.

[KSH]

Oh... and I only ride with groups. I never ride alone.

I *think* I may have found a smaller group to ride with... for around 30 miles... that goes my speed. We will see how it pans out.