How fit to join a cycling club's group ride?

[Virtual DBP]

I have a question regarding joining a cycle club ride and how fit you need to be to do so.

There is a cycle club near me that do group rides on the weekends. On their slower ride they said they cycle keep an average speed of 15mph and I think they are out for a couple of hours with a short stop half way.

Looking at their route there are a few hills involved and while I could manage an avg. speed of 15mph, it would be by crawling up the hills and then flying down the other side!

Therefore, my question would be, in a normal cycling club run averaging 15mph, how quickly do you think they would ride on flat ground and how quickly would they climb a reasonable hill?


Cheers,

Cam

p.s. I realise that I could ask the cycle club these same questions but having only started cycling again after years away, I’m looking for a few more months under my belt (and some general fitness back) before I make contact with anyone.

 

[jimboalee]

Look on your local council website for cycling events.

I take my son on Solihull's rides which average no more than 12 mph and are no more than 15 miles in length.

There are all sorts of bikes and there are children of seven and eight.

Alternatively, you could look on the club's website and see what venues they visit. Ride to those venues by way of the COUNTRY LANES, not the main roads.
If you can average 15, its time to ride with the club group. Most clubs welcome new riders and don't insist on membership for anyone riding the slower Sunday rides.

 

[addictfreak]

Cam

15 mph average isnt as bad as it sounds, you will find riding in a group much easier. Most groups will not leave anyone behind.

 

[monnet]

It sounds like you'll be fine. If the club is anything like mine, there'll be plenty of options for you. You might even find it a bit slow! Riding in a group is easier than alone. If you're struggling there'll be plenty of help and advice. And of course there's always that halfway stop for tea and cake.

If it's a decent club you might find that the stronger riders have a bit of a sprint for the hill whilst you slog your way up cursing them, but they'll wait at the top for everyone to regroup. And if anyone gets tailed off on the flat someone will notice and tell the group to slow down.

My advice: get involved. My biggest regret in 20+ years of cycling is not getting involved in a club sooner.

 

[zacklaws]

Do not worry about the average speed regarding going uphill, there is no need to try and go up them at that "average speed". The average speed relates to the speed of the whole journey, so whereas you may crawl up them at 4mph, going down you'll probably exceed 20+ so it does balance itself out.

 

[lanternerouge]

Great thread this, just what I was thinking of asking.... however I have a hybrid, don't think I could keep up at all on that - will have to save the pennies!

 

[addictfreak]

Great thread this, just what I was thinking of asking.... however I have a hybrid, don't think I could keep up at all on that - will have to save the pennies!

Not all clubs are exclusively for roadies. You will find many who cater for other riders too.

 

[HLaB]

Great thread this, just what I was thinking of asking.... however I have a hybrid, don't think I could keep up at all on that - will have to save the pennies!

For quite about a year after I joined a club I had a hybrid (albeit a flat bar road bike) and it could hold its own in the 15mph group and ventured into the faster groups. You'd be amazed how much easier it is in groups. Its a pain though when you become detached fro the group the wind really hit when in the more upright position. It remained my winter bike for a while and still is until I converted it to dropped and it sees a bit more action.

 

[lanternerouge]

Thanks guys - I think I just need to feel sure I won't make a muppet of myself before I try and join a club somewhere...

 

[Virtual DBP]

well after reading the above (and thanks for the replies) ...i'm going to give myself a month to get my general fitness up a bit and then contact my local club and see if i can join them on a run.

right now i don't think i could commute 3 days and do a saturday run on top of that.

 

[lanternerouge]

Great encouragmenet on this thread, thanks.... would love to do it...

 

[Crash]

15mph avg in a group is quite easy , but the one thing that may be a problem could be the distance. You should ask before hand how far they will be going.

Knowing where they are going gives you the option to work out routes home if you think it's going to be to far or maybe time restraints stop you from going out for hours. If the sun is shining you'll be surprised just how long a sunday morning club can go on.

Monet is quite right even on the slowest of group rides, testosterone starts to build up on the hills and suddenly a group will split but they always wait at the top ( try to get their breathe back )

 

[iendicott]

Excellent advice here.

I am looking at joining the Fenland Clarions but have the same reservations.

I am average fitness I cycle 10 miles a day in total cycling to and form work, I must average about 15 mph but I can say in a group I can see the benefits of slipstreaming others as 15 mph will come easily.

I to am on a hybrid.

 

[eldudino]

I'm thinking about joining my local club too, going on a development ride in October, would have been early September but we're going on holiday so I'll miss it. I'm on a 26" wheel hybrid too but I'm looking to get a road bike next year (when cash allows) so I'd like to maybe do a couple of rides a month to bring on my fitness.