CTS Rides

[XMcShiftersonX]

Okay! Those are good things to think about. Maybe it was just a little slower because it was the first ride of the series, they probably wanted to ease in to it a bit. There were 60 people in the green group and it had to be broken into three groups of 20. So maybe just the sheer number of people slowed it down too! It may also calm my nerves to stay in the green group for now, being that this is the first year I've even done big group rides like this. Like I said, I was nervous this morning before I even got there, not knowing what it was going to be like or if the group would be too fast. So, I'll stick with it, once we get in to hills I'll probably need to be there anyways! Thanks for all your advice along the way

-Jessica

[lauraelmore1033]

Oh, I don't know that my advice has been any good. Hubby (who regularly averages 15-16 mph on a hilly-ish ride) just told me that he can find people in the green group that go "plenty fast". But...
I should mention that he is kinda an, um, oldish fart (I am guessing in comparison to you) and when he was a youngish fart he probably would have been riding with the CATS group, no doubt. He also said that the only reason he wasn't riding with the CATS group now was that it was too much of a logistical challenge to get both of us to different start locations. So, he's holding himself back for my sake....
You are young and strong, so maybe you should go for it? (and be sure to print out the map, and, and, and...)

[XMcShiftersonX]

haha... Well, I'm so indecisive anyways, which doesn't really help matters much . I talked to my husband about it, and he's like "if it didn't feel like a challenge then just go for the harder group, don't over think it! Just go for it! Afterall, the point of these rides is to challenge yourself, right??" I keep going back and forth, and probably will until the next ride. The good thing is that the CAT ride in the third week (which is the next time I'll be able to go) is a flat ride in an area I'm pretty familiar with, so it may be a good time to give it a try. *sigh* So it continues... haha

[Susan126]

Jessica I've been debating whether to join the 14-16 mph CTS group or the 16-18 mph CATS group. After giving it much thought and reading the posts in here about the first CTS ride I think I may ride in the 16-18 CATS group. I checked the route and it is flat. I hope I'm understanding their ratings. This means they will cruise on the flats between 16-18? Right? I still have two weeks to decide. I hate this! Argh. How I wish my hubby was riding this year. He is fast and always pushes me and waits for me. I'm a better rider when I ride with him but he is having serious knee pain. He's been to the orthopaedic doctor and he may have to have a knee replacement. He's already had three knee surgeries.

---> Sue

[XMcShiftersonX]

Sue - I believe that is right (because it's certainly not an average for the whole ride!). On the way out to Seward Park in the green CTS group we intentionally rode slow, before coming back, they said to expect to be going 16MPH (it was the 14-16MPH group) on the flat. So, I imagine it's the same for the CATS group. Hey, if you're taking the plunge too, at least we'll have each other haha... I think my co-worker may also be joining us. she's never done these rides before, but we ride together usually and we're a pretty equal mach. I told her how it went, so she's going to check out the website and see if she wants to join that group too.

[XMcShiftersonX]

I hate to ask, since I bailed on today's CTS/CATS rides because of the wind and potential for rain. But did anyone else go? And how did the weather end up? It didn't rain here, so I somewhat feel bad that I didn't make it! I just hate getting caught in bad weather on a ride and today was so unpredictable. I know I'll regret having asked, if I hear the rides were fun, so you can lie to me, haha j/k.

-Jessica

[Eden]

I was out on a team ride, not the Cascade ride, but we had fine weather throughout (we were out from 9 until almost 3). It dripped a few drops on us and hailed for a brief instant coming into Bellevue, but that was the extent of the precipitation. It was quite windy.