In Savannah? - Looking for riding partner

[SmallGiant]

Hi All,
I'm just getting back into riding after a few years off. Coming from bike friendly Tucson, I'm finding Savannah it challenging place to plan a safe route of any challenging distance. Maybe it'll be better with a partner.

I'm currently riding Wilmington Island and drive over to Hunter AAB once a week. If any women in this area are looking for a training partner, let me know. I'm working up for some century rides as soon as I'm ready.

Anyway, no frills, no high tech, just someone to safely ride with.

- Deb

[aicabsolut]

I'm from Savannah, but I don't live there anymore. I do come back and visit a fair amount (I think the next time I'll be back for a while is in October). I get a lot of good riding in when I go back home! Have you checked out the group ride at the Gallery Espresso on Saturday mornings? It's at 8am, and they have split the group into 4 pace/distance options. It is also a no-drop ride (though I would do the "B" ride, because I wouldn't want to piss off the A riders hanging on for dear life--I do that on the Sunday hammerfest ride instead ).

You can also find some good casual, long rides in the area through the Coastal Bicycle Touring Club (they have a website).

As for riding around town, HAAF is a good, safe place to go during the week or at higher traffic times by yourself. There are plenty of roads out of town through Garden City out around the airport, Pooler, etc. to ride on from downtown that are fairly quiet. Many of them are numbered Georgia Bike Routes. The people who do the Saturday rides are a really good source of information about where to go and when.

What kind of training do you want to do? Distance? Pace?

When I go home, I tend to do a lot of group rides and suffer, because all the veterans and superfast racers really challenge me, but they are supportive and do help me improve a lot. However, I can see how that level of intensity isn't really for everyone, but maybe I can help you get to know the right people for your goals...

[SmallGiant]

Thanks for the info. Frankly, I'm a intimidated but the large group ride thing. I just think I'm going to end up over my head. Of all the rides here, I've seen, here, the coastal group seems to be the most casual, I might try one of their C class rides.

As far as my goals, right now I do light rides during the week after work when I can, 8-10 miles. Saturday mornings I do a 20 mile loop on Wilmington and Monday is my "push it" day at Hunter ( happen to have Monday's off ). Yesterday I did 30 miles alone at Hunter until the heat fried my brain. I average 15 mph overall.

I'm just a few weeks back into it but it feels wonderful and I can't imagine why I ever got out of the saddle and I think if I just ride where people ride, I'm likely to meet people. Thanks for the input - keep pedalin!

[aicabsolut]

Yeah, the coastal group is probably the most casual, though there are plenty of more casual riders who show up for the shorter Saturday ride. Towards the fall and winter, things will probably calm down even more in terms of pace.

I think the first group ride I ever did was with the CBTC, and I easily kept up with the B group. Based on your average speeds and distances so far, the C group is probably a good place to start, but you can probably move up to the Bs easily. It is a lot easier to keep your average speeds up when you're in a nice group (particularly in that coastal wind!). If you're having trouble, you can just stay off the front of the paceline. I found that group and the weekend rides in town to be a great way to learn how to ride in a group with a lot of very stable people, and you can also quickly pick up on group ride etiquette. There are plenty of people willing to help out new riders. Just let them know that you are new and don't know where you're going and haven't done group rides.

The "beginner" ride on Saturday out of the coffee shop is 30 miles with 17-19mph pace, though the warm up heading out of town is typically slow for all groups. It is a no-drop ride, but if you will struggle a lot keeping that pace in the group, wait until your fitness improves a little more to join in. They will give you ride directions if you need them. It's at least a good way to figure out some good roads.

There's also a Wed evening ride rolling at 6:05pm out of the Bicycle Link store on MLK downtown (near Jones St. and I-16). It is also a no-drop ride, though the pace may be slightly faster than the beginner Saturday group (closer to 20mph). It's usually about 30 miles as well. It is supposed to be a recovery ride for the racers and a learning ride for new cyclists.

If you wait until the evenings to ride at Hunter, you will probably encounter other cyclists who are usually happy to chat. They will be on the road doing the loop and not the path. So long as you obey traffic laws out there and keep to the right, the MPs and drivers will be very friendly.

I believe there's also an evening ride on Skidaway Island on Thursdays (?). Stop by Quality Bike Shop out on Montgomery Crossroads (I think) and ask the guys about it. You can also get a map for the Wed night ride (and some of the Saturday ride roads) from the Bicycle Link downtown.