First Road Ride w/ Group

[SalsaMTB]

My husband and I try to do some evening road rides after work during the week because we can't get to a trail in time. It's always just us two trucking down the road. Well, last night as we began our ride, we were just slowly starting and chatting away. I noticed someone behind me so we moved over to let him/her pass. Well, there were about 10 people in a group riding together. After they all passed, their pace seemed decent so husband said we should ride with them. We weren't really sure what the etiquette was, if it's rude to join a group ride, but we did. He got chatting with one of the guys on the ride and they seemed like really nice people. I got such an amazing ride from that. The draft was unbelievable and we held a really good pace. We went futher than we normally do (we only go for an hour and went about 20 miles). It really motivated me to join some group rides now. It's so fun riding with other people!!

[runnergirl]

Drafting can be addicting! I still love my solo rides but they feel so much harder for less speed after a group ride. Did you find out about the group to go out with them again? Good group rides can be hard to find-when you find one, latch on.

[KSH]

I have been riding with groups, since I got my bike. I have only ridden alone or with 1 other person... a few times.

Groups are great to ride with. The secret is that when you go out with them... say hello... let them know you are new... and someone will "keep an eye" on you and your hubby to make sure you don't get lost!

[carback]

There's nothing wrong with latching on to a passing group. The more, the merrier.

However, keep in mind that if you do join the group, be prepared to pull when it's your turn. Also, make sure you know the etiquette rules of group riding (hold your line, call out obstacles/debris etc) because chances are, the group you've just joined has been riding together for a while and are accustomed to each other's style etc. There's nothing (or at least to me) more nerve-wracking then having inexperienced riders join a group who have no knowledge of what to do in pacelines/group rides and don't ask and don't point stuff out or hold their line.

Everyone has to start somewhere so don't be afraid to ask if you're not sure how to signal/when to signal, how to pull etc etc.

Enjoy the group rides!

[Nanci]

That's cool! I just experienced drafting for the first time last night, too. BF and his friend were going for a ride on a paved trail, and I went along. I thought I would just ride for the same time, at my own pace, which is about 14 mph by myself, and meet up with them at the spring they planned to swim at. BF's buddy suggested I try to keep up with them, and draft off him, and said they were only going to go about 17 mph. So we started out, and I was drafting behind this guy, with BF riding out alongside him so they could talk. Pretty soon they're going along in the 19-21 mph range, and I had no trouble keeping up at all, as long as I stayed close enough. How amazing! I'm still too nervous to do it in a real group ride, though...

Nanci

[snpdragn]

I'm scared to death to join a group! That's a bit of trust to put in me or me to put in someone else, I can just see me knocking someone off their bike accidentally.

How do you keep from doing those things? Were you not freaked out about that?
I've heard the draft is amazing, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to handle the nerves of it at first!

[Nanci]

Well, I would be terrified to do it with people I didn't know, too. But behind the guy I was drafting behind, I trusted him to not do anything weird, since he had been riding pacelines for years, and I didn't have to be perfect, like I would have with BF, and he kept glancing back to check on me, and giving me all kinds of hand signals, some of which were self-explanatory, and some of which weren't, and it was mostly really amazing and relaxing. So I guess it's better to learn how to do it with friends that aren't going to kill you if you screw up, because that makes you less nervous, and things just go better, then.

Nanci

[snpdragn]

ah, I imagine the first time I will try will be with BF, which... let's just say that although he's supportive, someone left out the tactful bone in his body.
so. i'll be a nervous wreck!

is it easy to trust people more as you ride more? because they'll eventually have to trust you too?

[profàvélo]

is it easy to trust people more as you ride more? because they'll eventually have to trust you too?

I would say that as you ride more often in groups, you get better at it, and you get more confident and steady yourself, but just because you are a steady, trustworthy rider does not mean that the rider in front of you is. What happens--in my experience--is that it becomes easier to quickly pick out which riders are good to ride behind, and which ones you want to avoid being near.

If you are lucky enough to have a small group of friends to ride with on a regular basis, you can practice your group-riding skills there before trying a group of people that you don't know. In both cases, though, a large amount of trust is required, and I guess the trusting does come more easily the more you do it.