Weekday Rides?

[redrhodie]

I finally joined my shop ride tonight and had a great 17 miles - there were over 200 riders and 5 different groups of differing speeds and distances - I was in the "fun and fitness" group - which is the shortest and we spread out across the route. It was fun though the wind was a bi*ch on the way back! My neck did fine, even in the wind, so I think it is good to go!

Wow, that's a huge group. Was there some reason for that, or is it always that big?

[Catrin]

Wow, that's a huge group. Was there some reason for that, or is it always that big?

The Thursday rides are always that large, sometimes larger. My LBS got a mention at the end of 2011 in Bicycling for having the largest shop rides in the country (that they knew of). It does help that one can be on country roads pretty quickly after leaving the parking lot.

There are also Tuesday night rides - but that is a true training ride for the fast boys and girls. I understand that is also a large group but not as large. I really like the Thursday night groups are truly split - there are training groups for the racers, slower paced groups for those who want to learn how to ride in close groups, then there is my group - it is a true no-drop group but of course we get quite spread out unlike the faster groups.

[redrhodie]

I guess I need to stop complaining about my huge groups of 30.

[Catrin]

I guess I need to stop complaining about my huge groups of 30.

I don't know if it was the normal size for my group, but we started with about 25 of us in my group. I was able to hang with no problems until I was stuck at an intersection, was solo after that point. There were 5 groups in total. I had fun and will return, this is a good way to mix it up and get used to riding around others.

[indysteel]

Glad you had fun, Catrin. The route Nebo uses for its training rides remains one of my favorites. The last time I did a Thursday night ride there--in September of 2008--the group was much smaller than that. I can't even picture 200 riders congregating in Nebo's lot. That would be a big turnout even for a weekend CIBA ride. Is it chaotic? Is there a place to park?

[Catrin]

Glad you had fun, Catrin. The route Nebo uses for its training rides remains one of my favorites. The last time I did a Thursday night ride there--in September of 2008--the group was much smaller than that. I can't even picture 200 riders congregating in Nebo's lot. That would be a big turnout even for a weekend CIBA ride. Is it chaotic? Is there a place to park?

Everyone has to park in the empty lots on the north side of 106th as those businesses are closed by that time. It would certainly be chaotic if most of the riders didn't return every week. I think everyone is so accustomed to "their" group that everyone sort of congregates in their own group in Nebo's lot in the order in which the groups head out so it was really quite organized. They have a couple of minutes lag between groups.

Looking back at my last post - I only was dropped by the faster members of our group after I got stuck at that intersection. The slower members of our group (and the leader/sweeper) were behind me somewhere and I never saw them after we crossed 116th. I did wind up riding with another woman who was close to my speed and we missed a turn (the marker needs refreshing). I've ridden a LOT of miles in that area over the last two years though so once I realized we missed it I was able to lead her back - she was following me to begin with. It really helped knowing the area well enough to realize there wasn't a turn for a couple of miles so I knew we had missed a turn.

[withm]

LOL. I doubt there are 200 avid cyclists in the entire county here.

[Crankin]

Today I went on my first group ride since December 27th . I did do 2 hikes with the group in January/February.
The ride started in Concord center, so I rode to the start. This group is a moderately paced, social group. They use human arrowing for turns, which is somewhat weird for newcomers. A lot of the people who were active when I started with them in 2005 no longer ride with the group (it's an older crowd), and now there's usually always a faster group that does the same route plus more miles at a faster pace. I'm always on the edge of thinking I can hang with the faster group, but today was definitely a no-go... they were doing 44 miles at a 16 mph average, up significant hills that I am familiar with. And it was hot.
We rode to the MIT observatory in Groton, which is very near where I lived when i first moved back to MA. In fact, the faster group went right by my old house. It felt weird. I was riding on roads I used to drive on all of the time, but there were times I was not quite sure of what street I was on. The regular group has also picked up its pace, too. After the first 4 miles, I got up near the front and stayed there, except for falling back a bit, so I wouldn't have to arrow! The group was really big and it would have taken me awhile to catch up.
The hill up to the observatory was challenging, but I've done much worse. It's funny to watch some of the guys. They start out fast, stay in a hard gear and then poof! I pass them and leave them in the dust in my granniest of granny. No shade on the climb, either.
I peeled off to go home before they got back to Concord center and headed to lunch. I didn't have enough to eat and I was on the edge of bonking. When I got to the street that intersects with my street, I stopped, poured my water over my head and down my jersey and ate a shot block, to get up my hill.
I feel like I worked hard, but I'm not "exhausted," either. I rode 40 miles, no idea what the average was, as I didn't check it after I started the climb to the observatory.
I need to go on more of these rides...