Boards Newbie spins?

Trojan

Hi folks,

I'm a complete newbie to group cycling and a bit scared of the thoughts of my first one for a few reasons:

1. I have never cycled in a group before
2. I'm worried I'll be too slow or not fit enough to complete the route if there's tonnes of climbing
3. I don't have skin tight lycra nor a light weight road bike (I do have baggy shorts and a heavy steel touring bike)

Any advice for me for coming out on a boards spin? Any newbie specific spins coming up - are they regular or infrequent? Anything else I need to know? (I did read the group cycling etiquette post linked)

Cheers,
Al.

Gavin

Took me a while to head out with the crowd as well alright as I had never done any long distance stuff before. Just my daily commute. If you are commuting regularly, I think you'll be surprised how much it stands to you. Particularly on a heavy bike, I think it helped me for getting up hills.

I picked up a cheap, but decent, road bike for 200 quid, went for a cycle out to Sally Gap and back. It was fairly torturous, windy, desolate, barren, I felt like ****. Got home and was delighted. Went out next week with the gang and did around the same distance. It was so much better in the group.

So perhaps go for a longish spin on your own, if you haven't already (but you do long distance stuff don't you?). Once you are confident that you can make it home under your own steam, it's no problem heading out with the crowd. There's no pressure, nobody shouts or gets excited, it's a very casual affair.

p.s. Wear your baggies with pride.

ROK ON

Just go, they are a friendly bunch, and you have met most of us now.

Do a hilly 70km spin on your own. If you can hack that, then you can hack a boards spin I would say. Reality is, only about half the boardsies are 'fast', the rest of us are not.
But it is easier in a group.

It doesnt matter about the bike. A few guys come out on hybrids and they are pretty strong cyclists.

However, lycra is a must;). You cant be wearing baggy shorts - save that for the bbq and the beach.

TinyExplosions

Gavin wrote: »

p.s. Wear your baggies with pride.

UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!

Baggies are the devils stretch marks

yop

You will be well used to the hills around Westport/Newport there Trojan Get out them rugby shorts and wear them with pride!!!

dub_skav

I was planning to head out this Saturday for my first proper spin this year. As I have no strength built up yet I would gladly hang back with any newbies if they feel the pace is too much to show them the way/encourage (I know it was done for me).

So drag on your baggies and head along

kennyb3

im looking forward to joining a spin soon enough, do they come by the northside very often? most seem to be in the wicklow direction

seamus

Just name a spin Al and I'll come out with you for moral support. We can be disgraced newbies together.

Wait till I get my new steed though. I'm not going on a boards spin on a full sus. For a number of reasons.

penexpers

Trojan wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'm a complete newbie to group cycling and a bit scared of the thoughts of my first one for a few reasons:

1. I have never cycled in a group before
2. I'm worried I'll be too slow or not fit enough to complete the route if there's tonnes of climbing
3. I don't have skin tight lycra nor a light weight road bike (I do have baggy shorts and a heavy steel touring bike)

Any advice for me for coming out on a boards spin? Any newbie specific spins coming up - are they regular or infrequent? Anything else I need to know? (I did read the group cycling etiquette post linked)

Cheers,
Al.

The Cross Check isn't a heavy steel touring bike! It's steel alright, but it's pretty light and very nimble. You could easily hold onto a group on it.

Raam

kennyb3 wrote: »

im looking forward to joining a spin soon enough, do they come by the northside very often? most seem to be in the wicklow direction

No. 2 years of attempts have failed miserably.

kennyb3

Raam wrote: »

No. 2 years of attempts have failed miserably.

attempts on your part? are you a northsider?

Raam

kennyb3 wrote: »

attempts on your part? are you a northsider?

well I've never tried too hard, truth be told. Yes, am a northsider.

Vélo

I'll start a new thread for a spin out Meath direction.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

No. 2 years of attempts have failed miserably.

That's cos we hate you.

lyders

seamus wrote: »

Just name a spin Al and I'll come out with you for moral support. We can be disgraced newbies together.

Wait till I get my new steed though. I'm not going on a boards spin on a full sus. For a number of reasons.

Can I come too??!!

nitrogen

ROK ON wrote: »

Do a hilly 70km spin on your own. If you can hack that, then you can hack a boards spin I would say.

What time would be considered adequate?

I'm also a newbie myself, but unfortunately not in the country to join the rides. Maybe in the future.

Nietzschean

getting to the end is adequate, any time isn't really required, though i suppose its preferable if you can granny ring it to the top of the hills(with breaks if needed) rather than walking?

ROK ON

nitrogen wrote: »

What time would be considered adequate?

I'm also a newbie myself, but unfortunately not in the country to join the rides. Maybe in the future.

I would say that if you can do a hilly spin averaging 20-22km/h+ you will be fine. You will go faster, and get better training in a group with people that are better cyclists than you. Thats what is working for me anyway. If you dont train with people that are better than you, it is difficult to get any better yourself - as you wont have an idea as to what is a better pace/cadence/approach to climbing etc.

From that point of view the boards spins (while sometimes a little chaotic) are invariably very educational and good fun. The more experienced cyclists may not actually appreciate how much they know vis a vis a less experienced cyclist.

On the flat, you would wnat to be comfortable of sustaining a minimum of 25km/h at the very least over three hours. Otherwise it just wont be that enjoyable.

My first boards spin was last summer on the flat - I was barely able to keep pace, and eventually dropped back and did my own pace, despite repeated offers of help/a wheel from Emty. At that stage, I decided I would get a bit fitter before my next boards spin, which I did.

I am still very slow ascending, but I now can easily hold a minimum of 25km/h on the flat.

On a flatish road in a group, a cohesive group will be capable of rolling along at 36-42km/h at a reasonably comfortable level. Unless it is into a heavy wind.

nitrogen

ROK ON wrote: »

I would say that if you can do a hilly spin averaging 20-22km/h+ you will be fine. You will go faster, and get better training in a group with people that are better cyclists than you. Thats what is working for me anyway. If you dont train with people that are better than you, it is difficult to get any better yourself - as you wont have an idea as to what is a better pace/cadence/approach to climbing etc.

From that point of view the boards spins (while sometimes a little chaotic) are invariably very educational and good fun. The more experienced cyclists may not actually appreciate how much they know vis a vis a less experienced cyclist.

On the flat, you would wnat to be comfortable of sustaining a minimum of 25km/h at the very least over three hours. Otherwise it just wont be that enjoyable.

My first boards spin was last summer on the flat - I was barely able to keep pace, and eventually dropped back and did my own pace, despite repeated offers of help/a wheel from Emty. At that stage, I decided I would get a bit fitter before my next boards spin, which I did.

I am still very slow ascending, but I now can easily hold a minimum of 25km/h on the flat.

On a flatish road in a group, a cohesive group will be capable of rolling along at 36-42km/h at a reasonably comfortable level. Unless it is into a heavy wind.

That's valuable information for a newbie to work towards. I'm still at the stage where I'm just trying to put in distance - I badly need a road bike to get to the next level.

Thanks for that.

mr. pleasant

i like this thread, very interesting.

i'm cycling on my own since a couple of years, mtb, spins of about 60-100km with an average speed of ca. 25km/h in the flat, unfortunately very slow uphill for any reason (that reason might well be my weight... :rolleyes: )

only this week the company i work for annoucend to participate in the bike to work scheme and i defo will buy a road race bike. (thinking about trek 1.2 or 1.5)

so, just as a warning: having bought that bike and being back from holidays i'll appear in dundrum from mid july on...

mloc123

Nietzschean wrote: »

getting to the end is adequate, any time isn't really required, though i suppose its preferable if you can granny ring it to the top of the hills(with breaks if needed) rather than walking?

pfft, granny ring.. standard double ftw

seamus

Nietzschean wrote: »

getting to the end is adequate, any time isn't really required, though i suppose its preferable if you can granny ring it to the top of the hills(with breaks if needed) rather than walking?

Which hills though?
Let's say you could low-gear it up Stocking lane as far as Rockbrook before taking a break, would that be good enough? Or would you need to be able to make it all the way to the Hellfire (or even viewpoint :eek:) in one go?

lukester

seamus wrote: »

Which hills though?
Let's say you could low-gear it up Stocking lane as far as Rockbrook before taking a break, would that be good enough? Or would you need to be able to make it all the way to the Hellfire (or even viewpoint :eek:) in one go?

I'd say as a minimum you'd want to be able to ride non-stop to the Viewpoint.

Caroline_ie

seamus wrote: »

would you need to be able to make it all the way to the viewpoint in one go?

That's recommended

seamus

seamus wrote: »

Which hills though?
Let's say you could low-gear it up Stocking lane as far as Rockbrook before taking a break, would that be good enough? Or would you need to be able to make it all the way to the Hellfire (or even viewpoint :eek:) in one go?

Yeah viewpoint would probably be best. That section a few hundred metres before the hellfire is fun though.

Chips Lovell

Stocking Lane is the easy side. Edmondstown Road is where it's at if you're going up to the viewing point.

seamus

At least I know what to aim for now anyway

I'll try it on the full sus for the larf.

neonman

Great thread i'd be interested in group cycling as well at some point only new to the cycling game. Doing about 120km a week cycling in and out of work 3 times a week.

The only worry I have is the HILLS (no not the T.V. program, that'S more of a nightmare). I live on the northside myself and I was thinking of building up hill training by cycling out to howth and going up and around howth hill. Would this be a good starting point ??

Any other suggestions would be great. O and I cycle a Hybrid Giant FCR 2.

Caroline_ie

The spin have gotten much harder, longer, and I know we don't wait as much and as long at the top of a climb. I am not the fastest boardsie, but getting better and on a 150 km ride, the stronger riders would not wait for you forever - i mean, once up Sally gap - down at larragh - and at the cross road somewhere on the way back - if you re stranded on the side of the road because you're pacing yourself you might end up on your own.

Unless a pro marathon runner, and you are fit as hell, get yourself a road bike before you join the spins - and make sure you are able to keep some kind of pace up, as in no stopping in the middle of a hill.

I don't want to be a snob but .. have you ever played tennis with a 5 years old? ... it's the same type of thing

neonman

neonman wrote: »

Great thread i'd be interested in group cycling as well at some point only new to the cycling game. Doing about 120km a week cycling in and out of work 3 times a week.

The only worry I have is the HILLS (no not the T.V. program, that'S more of a nightmare). I live on the northside myself and I was thinking of building up hill training by cycling out to howth and going up and around howth hill. Would this be a good starting point ??

Any other suggestions would be great. O and I cycle a Hybrid Giant FCR 2.

Can't comment on Howth but i've the same bike so you should be grand for getting up and around wicklow!

seamus

When I say "give it a go" btw, I mean, take myself out onto Stocking Lane (2 mins from my house) and see how I go, not joining in with you guys and pissing you off . Climbing hills is much easier in groups, but if I can make viewpoint on my own, on an MTB, then I'd be fairly happy trying it when I get my new bike.

short circuit

seamus wrote: »

When I say "give it a go" btw, I mean, take myself out onto Stocking Lane (2 mins from my house) and see how I go, not joining in with you guys and pissing you off . Climbing hills is much easier in groups, but if I can make viewpoint on my own, on an MTB, then I'd be fairly happy trying it when I get my new bike.

Go for a 15mins warm up in the flats before you do this .. else you might not get to the top ...

Climbing straight up when your body is cold is not recommended.

lukester

seamus wrote: »

Climbing hills is much easier in groups, but if I can make viewpoint on my own, on an MTB, then I'd be fairly happy trying it when I get my new bike.

You'll find it significantly easier on a road bike.

Raam

lukester wrote: »

You'll find it significantly easier on a road bike.

Totally! And if ya wanna make it difficult, just ride faster

Trojan

Ferg, what's the new bike? (and ETA?)

I have no idea what this Hellrock business is all about. I know I can do the distance, but climbing and speed are my worries. Still, I'm on for it.

Aside: (was this ever discussed before?) how about we have a sticky thread in the forum called "Next boards spin". Whenever someone is organising a spin post start-time, location, distance, and a link to the main thread for that spin. We keep the thread clean of other info by having a new thread (non-sticky) for each seperate spin.

Or we could have a "boards spins" sub-forum for the Cycling forum. Would there be enough use for a forum like that? Would keep the main forum cleaner.

Thoughts?

Raam

Trojan wrote: »

Aside: (was this ever discussed before?) how about we have a sticky thread in the forum called "Next boards spin". Whenever someone is organising a spin post start-time, location, distance, and a link to the main thread for that spin. We keep the thread clean of other info by having a new thread (non-sticky) for each seperate spin.

Or we could have a "boards spins" sub-forum for the Cycling forum. Would there be enough use for a forum like that? Would keep the main forum cleaner.

Thoughts?

I dunno, it don't seem broke at the minute.

Caroline_ie

Trojan wrote: »

Or we could have a "boards spins" sub-forum for the Cycling forum. Would there be enough use for a forum like that? Would keep the main forum cleaner.

Thoughts?

I dont think we need to make it that -official- what i like about Boards cycling forum is the fact that it's not official ...

Trojan

ok cool - just wonderin - what with the organisation being talked about in the other thread n'all

Raam

Trojan wrote: »

ok cool - just wonderin - what with the organisation being talked about in the other thread n'all

That's just El Tonto thinkin he's faster than everyone else.

seamus

Trojan wrote: »

Ferg, what's the new bike? (and ETA?)

Probably a Trek 1.5 through the company, though I'm informed that if we request a bike which they can source, then I can get one of them, meaning I'm not limited to Treks. So I've to look at what else is good (i.e. scour this forum) and then ask the people supplying the bikes. ETA is probably next month.

Dub13

Why does any new beginners group have to start on the hills...?why not a nice easy pace flat run..?

Raam

Dub13 wrote: »

Why does any new beginners group have to start on the hills...?why not a nice easy pace flat run..?

Cos we need to utterly destroy you before we can build you up.

Dub13

Raam wrote: »

Cos we need to utterly destroy you before we can build you up.

LOL...as somebody who did army basic training twice I look forward to this version.

Chips Lovell

Dub13 wrote: »

Why does any new beginners group have to start on the hills...?why not a nice easy pace flat run..?

Routes are usually decided by consensus. There's plenty of scope for flattish or only slightly hilly runs even if you head south.

lyders

Raam wrote: »

Cos we need to utterly destroy you before we can build you up.

This sounds like fun!!

ROK ON

Dub13 wrote: »

Why does any new beginners group have to start on the hills...?why not a nice easy pace flat run..?

A lot of cycling is how you aproach/prosper/survive/die on the hills.
Also, many people use these spins to train for TOI, WW200, Sean Kelly etc. There is a fair amount of climbing in these.

Finally, ritual self inflicted pain and humiliation is fun.

Dub13

ROK ON wrote: »

A lot of cycling is how you aproach/prosper/survive/die on the hills.
Also, many people use these spins to train for TOI, WW200, Sean Kelly etc. There is a fair amount of climbing in these.

I agree,but that all seems a different level to what we are talking about on this thread.

petethedrummer

Dub13 wrote: »

I agree,but that all seems a different level to what we are talking about on this thread.

Not when you consider the number of boardsies entering these events:
ROK
Wicklow200

TOI might be just for a select few.

Nietzschean

Dub13 wrote: »

I agree,but that all seems a different level to what we are talking about on this thread.

Not really, cycling seems to be all about the idea that what seems impossible one month is just the norm 3 months later(granted don't expect to do the TOI after 3 months but you get the idea)......

I think i cycled properly for my first time in January, got a road bike and did my first decent climb 2 months ago, and did the W200 2 weeks ago. Of course base fitness comes into play/weight and so on, but until 3 weeks before the W200 i was positive i was doing the 100(and even that sounded like it'd kill me). Plenty of others here have similar experience's with biking....

It will help to get you out every weekend on some spin if your aiming for some sort of silly target, you might just find out its entirely doable come the end...

waitforme

Dublin Social Cycle Group might fit the bill for some:

http://www.meetup.com/Dublin-Social-Cycling-Group/

Careful what ride you choose to join though, ensure they are arranging a faster group, as the slow group are for a very leisurely pace

Trojan

ROK ON wrote: »

A lot of cycling is how you aproach/prosper/survive/die on the hills.
Also, many people use these spins to train for TOI, WW200, Sean Kelly etc. There is a fair amount of climbing in these.

Finally, ritual self inflicted pain and humiliation is fun.

This is a "newbie" thread. Dying, humiliation and pain are not the primary objectives here. I'd be happy to get out a nice 60km on the flat tbh.

ROK, I know you're joking here. However, the perception of group cycles as extremely difficult or painful is one of the reasons I have only solo cycled up until now, and haven't joined a boards spin as yet.

I'm probably not the only one with that perception so I hope that we can dispel it and get even more boards folks out on their bikes. We might even eventually have a north (newbie), south (newbie), north (masochist) and south (masochist) boards spins