joing a cycling club question

Amprodude

I went training on my road bike today. I am a beginner and started cycling in May. I upped my pace today and in the first 50km i did an average speed of 27.5km/h there were some average to big hills on this part of journey as well and I have an aluminium road bike. My legs got weak then and were out of steam. Stretched my legs for 3 mins and off again. Normally i never have to stop to stretch legs. I finished up my cycle after 80km completed doing an average speed of 25.5km/ h with some tough hills in that. This might have been better if my legs werent hurting. I did running three times this week too at high pace and along with that, I did two spinning classes which I believe affected me a bit today. I am going to cut some of this down I reckon.

What i need to know is my love of cycling has me considering joining a cycling club but what I am afraid is that i wont be quick enough to keep up with a cycling club.

Any advice?

Roger Hassenforder

That pace, on your own, this time of year you'll be fine

Tonyandthewhale

Yeah, you'll be grand.

fixie fox

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

That pace, on your own, this time of year you'll be fine

Even if you don't keep up, and get dropped, that is fine too. You will keep uf for a little longer each time. To progress you have to take a hammering from time to time.

luapenak

I don't think you'll have any problems.

I am beginner from this summer too and would do similar mileage and speed to you on a Saturday. Being heading our with Orwell yellow group (second slowest) on a Sunday as a recoveryish spin and haven't ever felt like I would be dropped (so far). Saying that, I've no idea what other club spins are like

Amprodude

Anyone on here that are members of cycling clubs tell me what would be the average speed of their spins and distance normally covered? Are there hills in their routes or are they flat? My routes contain flat and hilly sections. Just want to see how far off i am at present? I will try to improve next week again. Does the type of bike also affect ones performance? My bike is an entry level road bike. I would consider myself relatively fit.
Cheers.

Beasty

luapenak wrote: »

I've no idea what other club spins are like

Try the Swords Saturday spin - infamous;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6BJJe9JV_A

billyhead

Beasty wrote: »

Try the Swords Saturday spin - infamous;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6BJJe9JV_A

I started to join up with this group prior to my current injury and its not to exerting this time of the year, probaly because its off season. As others who do it know it breaks up a lot as the group heads around by St Margarets as their is a mad rush down the Swords road towards the Pavillions. If anyone else out thier is planning to do it my advice would be stay down the back and draft the other cyclists. Got dropped the 1st couple of times I have gone out with them but subsequently held on with the main bunch after that. Must say though thier a sound bunch of lads.

billyhead

Amprodude wrote: »

Anyone on here that are members of cycling clubs tell me what would be the average speed of their spins and distance normally covered? Are there hills in their routes or are they flat? My routes contain flat and hilly sections. Just want to see how far off i am at present? I will try to improve next week again. Does the type of bike also affect ones performance? My bike is an entry level road bike. I would consider myself relatively fit.
Cheers.

In answering your question I was covering about 80km on the Swords Saturdays spin with an average speed of about 30km. The route is undulating with a few short climbs (nothing major)

Amprodude

billyhead wrote: »

In answering your question I was covering about 80km on the Swords Saturdays spin with an average speed of about 30km. The route is undulating with a few short climbs (nothing major)

I will do my route again next week and see if i can improve. My legs were tired and sore today even at an early stage so i think myself I was a bit slower than what i am capable off. Some of my hills had me down to 20km which will bring down the average speed. Still dont think i could do 30km for an average speed. Thats fair going by you billyhead. Good speed. I can only try and hope to reach that pace at some stage.

killalanerr

when you are traveling in a group you can add another 3/4km ph no to your solo speed if you want to go with a group you would be grand plus you would gain a bit of group rideing expert

Arthurdaly

If you can manage 25.5 kph average over a hilly route on your own then you will easily hang with an intermediate club group. You may initially get dropped on the climbs by the fitter guys but they generally regroup at the summit.

rayman1

Yes you will have no problem keeping up. Clubs have different groups for different abalities.
I was out Sat with my club. we split into 2 groups on different routes.
The faster group did about 90k at 28kph and my group did about 80k at 25kph.
We slow a bit if someone is dropping off and regroup after a big climb.
You will always go faster with a group so if you can do 25kph on your own you will be even faster with a group.

Amprodude

rayman1 wrote: »

Yes you will have no problem keeping up. Clubs have different groups for different abalities.
I was out Sat with my club. we split into 2 groups on different routes.
The faster group did about 90k at 28kph and my group did about 80k at 25kph.
We slow a bit if someone is dropping off and regroup after a big climb.
You will always go faster with a group so if you can do 25kph on your own you will be even faster with a group.

Good to know that. I wanted to join cycling club but I thought at the pace I was doing, I thought I wouldnt have a hope of keeping up. I wasnt sure first was it me or the bike that was holding me back. I did forget that in a group the wind would be broken so it would be easier to gain a few km/h on to your own pace. It was the ROK where i did notice this.

Whats the story then guys/girls when your travelling in a cycling group. When do people swap to take their turn in the front of group? Every 10 mins, every 10km or how is it arranged in your own clubs??

uberwolf

Amprodude wrote: »

Whats the story then guys/girls when your travelling in a cycling group. When do people swap to take their turn in the front of group? Every 10 mins, every 10km or how is it arranged in your own clubs??

nothing as formal as that. Depends on the conditions tbh - strong headwind it can be every minute or two, easy conditions or tailwind many multiples of that. Especially if it's your first couple of spins the group will have no qualms about you hanging on the back or skipping turns by staying down the back for a while

Captain Havoc

OP, I think you'll be grand in a group, 80km at an average of 25kph is good enough for a group. I'd imagine most clubs are not doing that distance anyway.

Gallant_JJ

What is it etiquette re group riding and who is at the front. Does the man at the front pull off and drop back when he has served his time, or is it the responsibility of one of those at the back to move forward to the front.

uberwolf

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

What is it etiquette re group riding and who is at the front. Does the man at the front pull off and drop back when he has served his time, or is it the responsibility of one of those at the back to move forward to the front.

it's a mixture of both, but typically the guy at the front to move up and over.

Hmmzis

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

What is it etiquette re group riding and who is at the front. Does the man at the front pull off and drop back when he has served his time, or is it the responsibility of one of those at the back to move forward to the front.

In the club that I'm in those maneuver is called 'Up and Over' and what it means is that the the front right guy goes up in front of the left guy and the one who was behind him moves into the right forward position.

To the OP, with that average speed you'll be fine in any group, in some you might even be shouted at when in front to slow down (it's called 'Steady Up', no idea why , first time I heard that I thought it's meaning is the exact opposite, so I got shouted at a second time).

Captain Havoc

Up and over:


Etiquette is the following (leisure),
Do your shift at the front, if you're able, if not just sit at the back.
Always keep your front wheel in line with the guy beside you, if he's too knackered slow down.
Call and point all holes and dangers on the road.
Hand signals, stick your arm out straight left or right if you're turning that way. Give a shout and an up and down movement on the arms if you're slowing or stopping. Hand straight in the air, if you've punctured or other mechanical problem.
No sudden movements, especially braking.
If you're at the front, never stop pedaling.
Ask to make a change-over before you get tired, don't be trying to show off by staying at the front longer than you can.
Don't stand going up a hill, if you're still in a group, as you stand, you lose momentum which can cause the guy behind you to go into you.
Keep tight to the guy in front and behind.

billyhead

Op,

Tbh you would be better off for the first few spins staying at the rear or middle of the bunch to get used to riding in a group. Once you have become accustomed to group riding then you can lead the rest of the lads out and undertake the up and over swap

Lumen

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Don't stand going up a hill, if you're still in a group, as you stand, you lose momentum which can cause the guy behind you to go into you.

The problem is actually caused by conservation of momentum of the bike-rider system, not loss of momentum (where would it go?). As you stand up your bodyweight moves forwards, and this causes the bike to hurtle backwards in a panicky effort to avoid breaking the physical laws of the universe. :pac:

When you sit down the opposite happens and the bike shoots forward a little.

It's fine to stand when cycling in a group, but you have to do it smoothly over several pedal revolutions.

Lusk Doyle

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Up and over:


Etiquette is the following (leisure),
Do your shift at the front, if you're able, if not just sit at the back.
Always keep your front wheel in line with the guy beside you, if he's too knackered slow down.
Call and point all holes and dangers on the road.
Hand signals, stick your arm out straight left or right if you're turning that way. Give a shout and an up and down movement on the arms if you're slowing or stopping. Hand straight in the air, if you've punctured or other mechanical problem.
No sudden movements, especially braking.
If you're at the front, never stop pedaling.
Ask to make a change-over before you get tired, don't be trying to show off by staying at the front longer than you can.
Don't stand going up a hill, if you're still in a group, as you stand, you lose momentum which can cause the guy behind you to go into you.
Keep tight to the guy in front and behind.

Very bad cycling on display there. Taking over the whole road! I've a good mind to post that in after hours to show the sort of blatant disregard for car drivers that is being promoted by a mod!!!