A part of Riding in a Group is having the know-how to "Go with the Flow". This involves many small things which when applied at the right time allow a rider to "Enjoy the Benefits" of Riding in a Group.
Here are the Small Things:
1. Know Who You Are Riding With. You have to trust the people you're riding with. Those riding with you need to understand basic etiquette. This includes no sudden braking, the importance of proper signaling, and no quick and unnecessary moves in the group. If everyone maintains proper riding etiquete, then the ride will be more enjoyable and safer for one and all.
2. Know Your Bike. You have to be confident in how to shift through all your gears etc. No Extreme Gear Ratios (causes unnecessary strain on the chain)and No Shifting Under Load (stresses the drive train). It is important to understand when to shift. Only spending time on the bike under varying conditions will you learn to select the appropriate gear. Remember that in all bikes, there are gears that overlap.
3. Plan Your Strategy. If you are a new rider, this may be more difficult because you're still getting used to your bike. The Trick is to plan the gear you are comfortable with and stick to it when going up hills. You should only leave yourself with no more than 2 easier options/gears. This way the hill won't seem as long. There are 2 trains of thoughts - either run a harder gear and cover more distance = shorter time on the hill but harder on the legs; or shift to an easy gear and spin, covering less distance = longer time on the hill but can require greater cardio/respiratory fitness.
4. Finally, Maintain Intensity "Over the Top" of the hill. This will give you the advantage, believe it or not, over other riders. Most people give up just before the top and slow down. Once you crest the top, shift to a harder gear and spin out your legs, increasing speed. This helps increase your overall average speed.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions please post them in the comments section for all to view.
Cheers,
Dan.
4 comments:
One thing I have noticed with cyclists who are new to group riding (and I was no exception). Novice cyclists tend to grind too much, they want to keep upshifting on the expectation that only by using some insane gear ratio can they ever keep up with the pack.
So while the comment "plan the gear you are comfortable with and stick to it" is valid, one should ensure to ride at a cadence that is not too low.
HTH
3 things I would like to add (because you can't keep me quiet too long)
1. Welcome to the pack! Everyone was a newbie at some point.
2. Make sure your bike is mechanically sound. You don't want to have a mechanical breakdown when you're with a new group.
3. Ride within your means. Do not try and go with an Advanced group if you are new to group riding. Also, don't try and go with a beginner group if you are experienced. It will only frustrate everyone around you!
Happy riding. See you all (hope so) at the Tour for Kids.
Evan
Thanks for the tips - I have found that getting used to my bike, knowing when to shift and which gear to ride in have been (and still are) things that I have been working on. I have appreciated the help and tips that other riders have given me while out on rides, and tips like these also help a lot. Thanks for making the newbies feel welcome!
Cheers.
Lesson learned from the Darker Side: When your cresting that hill after a sprint at 35klms per hour (ok it was only a small roller and I was wheel sucking at the back), and you find yourself on the decent now starting to accelerate and approaching 40klms per hour, and suddenly you miss what everyone else in front must have seen, and you are now in a bed of gravel washed up on the road surface from the rain storm from the day before, accelerating out of control towards others, whatever you do, dont touch the front brake!
Hope that helps.
Perhaps the only Lesson here (other than "that really sucks")is that accidents happen when you least expect them. Enjoying the draft at the back, on the final leg before the coffee, after all the hard work had been done, and while chatting with one of your buds about a whole lot of nothing, faster than you can say "Oh thats going to leave a mark" your on the deck and possibly waiting for a ride from the van with the pretty red lights on the top. Enjoy but stay alert.
Post a Comment