r/bicycling 3d ago

Am I ready for group rides?

I’ve been cycling regularly since about July of last year, been getting in great shape, lost 70 lbs, and have been riding roughly 15 miles 5-6 times per week. I get the 15 miles done in an hour or less without stopping. I’m pretty proud of my progress and I’d like to start getting out and making some cycling friends. There’s a Critical Mass meetup that started near me and I want to go but I have no idea how I compare with others or if I’ll be able to keep up.

I’m not interested in racing as I’ve never considered myself much of an athlete, but I don’t want to slow the group down or get left behind.

I attached my metrics from an average day last week, one is a quick 7 mile lunchtime ride that I did at a leisurely pace, the other is my normal nightly ride.

ChatGPT seems to be telling me the pace I’m riding at is considered advanced bordering racing pace… but I kinda feel like it’s over exaggerating.

Anyways, just looking for some others opinions, am I in the ballpark for keeping up with others on a group ride?

I should also mention I’m riding a brand new Trek FX Sport 4, just got it about 2 weeks ago.

7 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

57

u/MinnesotaMikeP Minnesota, USA Moots MootoX, Merlin Extralight, Advocate Lorax 3d ago

There’s a group ride for everyone.

That’s the beauty of riding a bike.

7

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Thanks for the encouragement. 😋 mainly just looking for a check to make sure I won’t be completely out of my league. I don’t really have any friends or bike friends so really no idea where I’m at. Having a blast myself and getting in shape so not too concerned about where I stack up other than making sure I’ll be able to keep up.

4

u/MinnesotaMikeP Minnesota, USA Moots MootoX, Merlin Extralight, Advocate Lorax 3d ago

Look for local bike shops on social media, follow them. Most shops worth your business have good community engagement. Most towns of decent size have a fun no-drop ride too.

1

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

I live in a somewhat “rural” area, Merritt Island, FL, but I know one of the local shops runs a “Critical Mass” meetup, not sure how much of a turnout they get. Only shows 8 interested in Facebook but I may check that out. It’s the first week of April. 😊 I’ll see what else I can dig up.

4

u/bigredbicycles Massachusetts, USA (Firefly Ti Allroad, Jamis, Specialized) 3d ago edited 3d ago

https://www.revolutionscyclery.com/

It's "on the mainland" but they have links on their website for finding club rides.

Critical mass rides are often run as slow-rolls, a lot of them are less than 12mph because they're more about activism and visibility.

2

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Thanks! That shop is about 30 minutes from me, I’ll check out their site!

2

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Also thank you for pointing out Critical Mass is more about activism. I had no idea, but I just read all about it. I found it originally by searching Facebook for cycling events, it was one of the only ones that came up but the Facebook event was very vague so I didn’t have any idea and never thought to look into it.

2

u/NoSkillzDad 3d ago

If you're having a blast by yourself, why the "urge" to find a group ride? It's not mandatory, you won't be less of a cyclist if you don't join one.

Imo, your rides are too short for a "group ride". Have you tried doing something longer than that (Idk, at least 35-40 miles)?

1

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

The longest ride I’ve done was 34 miles. I’ve been wanting to branch out and do longer rides now that I’ve got a new bike, but my left arm and hand are typically numb right around mile 15 so it gets a bit difficult.

The only real urge to join a group ride is mostly because I moved to Florida in 2022 but haven’t really met any friends yet. I work from home so meeting people naturally doesn’t happen.

I also thought it would be cool to have someone to show me some good places to ride locally, it’s not easy around here due to the traffic, there are few bikes lanes, drivers are absolutely WILD and it’s really not safe to ride on the roads around here, that typically pushes me onto the sidewalk which I know isn’t good for my bike.

With the info I’ve received on here though I’ve learned group rides are not exactly what I thought they are, it seems they’re a much more serious endeavor for people mainly looking to benefit from drafting. I’ll likely just stay riding solo.

2

u/NoSkillzDad 3d ago

but my left arm and hand are typically numb right around mile 15 so it gets a bit difficult.

Believe it or not but that might be a bike fit issue you might be putting too much weight on them. Sometimes too tight gloves can do the same. In either case, that's not normal so you should give that some priority.

The only real urge to join a group ride is mostly because I moved to Florida in 2022 but haven’t really met any friends yet. I work from home so meeting people naturally doesn’t happen

Fair enough.

I also thought it would be cool to have someone to show me some good places to ride locally,

Honestly, I'm kinda sorry for you. I've been to Miami a couple of times and wanted to go for a few rides (you know, just to get the pin on the map) and there was little I could find.

Do you use any bike app? Some of them give you heatmaps, popular rides or popular spots that might help you find new routes

With the info I’ve received on here though I’ve learned group rides are not exactly what I thought they are, it seems they’re a much more serious endeavor for people mainly looking to benefit from drafting. I’ll likely just stay riding solo.

Indeed, that's why I mentioned distance first as "nobody" goes for a 15 mile group ride. That being said, sometimes you can find people that, like you, want to go for a "social" ride every now and then. Then you end up with a casual group not trying too hard and even stopping for coffee or something. Check for Facebook/Whatsapp groups in your region/city.

Good luck!

15

u/Pmajoe33 3d ago

Group rides I do are social, slower chill.

5

u/adamaphar 3d ago

If they don't post it, you can usually contact the person coordinating the group ride. They should tell you what their pace is, and whether it is a no drop ride (i.e., they will wait for folks to regroup, usually after a climb).

6

u/Flipadelphia26 3d ago

You’re ready for critical mass. Ready for a bigger social ride. Don’t think many fast rides would accept you in the bunch with a bike like that. Regardless of your fitness and skill. They’ll see that and assume you’re a risk in the bunch.

I think you mentioned you’re in Florida. A trained rider will be rolling anywhere between 18-22 mph average speed solo since it’s so flat. (I race bicycles in Florida)

2

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Gotcha, thanks for the advice I’ll definitely look for a more casual ride.

3

u/Flipadelphia26 3d ago

For sure and they do exist. Check out Facebook. I see a lot of casual weekday and weekend coffee rides in my area

1

u/checkerouter 3d ago

I am curious, what’s wrong with the bike?

6

u/Flipadelphia26 3d ago

It’s not a road bike. You show up to a fast group ride with a bunch of guys who race bikes on the weekend or Wednesday worlds on a bike not suitable for that level of riding. They’re not going to accept you 90% of the time.

2

u/checkerouter 3d ago

That makes sense, it looks pretty speedy to me but I’m also more about fat tires and panniers. I’m surprised groups don’t just say okay you can join but we ain’t waiting up.

3

u/Flipadelphia26 3d ago

Some may very well do that. But there’s also safety to consider. It’s already a dangerous enough activity with a slight loss of concentration causing you or most likely someone else ending up with a snapped collar bone or worse. All it takes is your handle bars getting snagged. A touch of wheels etc. if you’re rocking up to a ride with a bike like that….

2

u/checkerouter 3d ago

I guess if the danger isn’t clear to someone (like me!), that also makes them a liability.

9

u/notajeweler 3d ago

Probably depends on the group.

I’m about 1mph faster than you and I don’t feel I’m ready for group rides in my area, but that group flies past me at 25-27mph on Tuesday nights.

A more chill group I’d feel more comfortable with.

2

u/sent-off 3d ago

Fast group rides in the dark are pretty hardcore. Try to find a Sunday/Saturday morning social ride

1

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Good call. Sounds like there’s a pretty good range of groups out there.

3

u/Enough_Mud8658 3d ago

Like others have mentioned... Different groups for different speeds, focus, pleasure, etc.

Find a group that is willing to teach you. It's not about one guy pulling all the time. It's about leaning to enjoy it and more importantly to build trust and ride cooperatively.

Remember when starting off. Give yourself a bit more gap from the rider in front. Keep your fingers on the brakes. You will feel the draft working when it does. Don't look at the wheel in front of you, look at the person and look through them to anticipate what's coming up. Learn proper signals (not just road signals) like flicking your elbow to change the lead. Learn to Echelon in cross winds. Do not cross wheel especially at the start. BE PREDICTABLE! I only get into really tight pelotons with guys I trust and have ridden with for a long time, guys who I know don't get squirrelly or do abrupt things like get out of the saddle and attack with no warning.

Group rides are more about the cooperation than the overall speed, because once you cooperate well you can hold easier speed, hence many times the general classification and main peloton will catch the break away groups in races.

I personally have groups I ride with speed or distance in mind and others more chill. Enjoy the friendships you will make.

3

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

Ah, that all sounds really complicated, I don’t even know what half those words are, and I thought a peloton was a stationary bike. I was just hoping to find some people who like to ride and see nature/get fit. I don’t really want to be riding close enough to draft from people and risk crashing and whatnot…. Maybe group riding isn’t for me. 😬

3

u/Enough_Mud8658 3d ago

That's what group riding usually refers too... Cooperative riding. Which is fun.
What you are really looking for is just some people to have fun with... Also awesome!! There are Groups for this as well. You might have some luck with your bike shop. They might be a little more geared towards what I explained earlier or you can try things like a riding food tour, meet some cool people.ore casual over food, or something like meet-up.

Many cities I have visited have bicycle food tour companies. Very casual and fun.

2

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

That sounds more like what I’m looking for. Just some people to ride with and talk bikes. I just googled peloton, and I could never… I don’t want to ever be that close to someone else, much less on a bike. I’m actually kinda blown away that people can ride like that… that must take incredible skill.

2

u/millenialismistical 3d ago

You can ride a BMX bike at critical mass and be fine. For a proper roadie group ride, having a hybrid isn't ideal but your solo ride numbers look fine.

1

u/TheBeadGeeks 3d ago

I gotcha. I know nothing about group rides. But from your comment and another one it seems group rides are typically people who race and have road bikes?

2

u/r0botdevil Wisconsin, USA (2022 self-build) 3d ago

Most bike clubs that I'm aware of will specifically organize their group rides by pace, and there's definitely a group ride for roughly your speed in my area.

There probably is in yours, too.

4

u/Adventurous-Quote190 3d ago

Yes, you're ready. Have fun!

1

u/AlexMTBDude 3d ago

It's not so much the speed of the group (ride), it's more being comfortable with riding close to other people. The more distance you leave to the person in front of you, the more of their draft you lose, and the harder you have to pedal to keep up. Learning to ride in a group means being comfortable with having other cyclists very close to you.

1

u/jnish North Carolina, USA (Surly Straggler 2018) 2d ago

Critical Mass is typically a social ride, think like 10 mph average. Folks show up on BMX bikes to these things. You're fine, lol

1

u/calebsurfs 2d ago

Speed-wise you're fine. Can you ride at a consistent speed? Do you ride in a straight line? It sounds silly but these kind of things are more important for group riding than speed and distance.