Went for first group ride; they ruined me
Discussion
So, my local bike shop (where I bought my road bike from) do a run on a Sunday morning. For a year they've been saying I should go out with them, but I've not wanted to for fear of being too slow.
I was in there Saturday afternoon, and with the GF away on holiday and nothing to do on Sunday, I agreed to it. Planned 60 miles and they said they'd take it easy for me.
To put in perspective - I have lots of local hilly routes that I do and average 16+ mph, all on my own. Frequently I will catch and pass riders on my routes, my times on Strava were in the upper parts and I occasionally sneak a KOM. Talking to guys when I catch them that do go out on local rides, they said their pace was similar and so I had hope that although I wouldn't be quick, I wouldn't be embarrasingly slow.
To begin with, I was fine. Staying with them and really enjoying myself - getting used to the protocol involved in group riding too. They were all very kind and helpful and teaching me where I needed it. But then slowly and surely the pace just increased. Not instnatly, but just that after 10 miles I found myself at near max HR, constantly. Thinking "oh bugger, I won't be able to keep this up". All this with a bugger of a head wind (though they always kept me at the back, protecting me). We had some really great sections of brutal pace, strict line and constant changing leaders (excluding me) which was awesome fun, if not leg killing!
Long story short - the pace just killed me. We got to our cafe stop half way (36 miles) and I was determined to do the rest. 9 miles in on the way back, my legs were jelly and the guys kept having to slow right up for me which (even though they were great about it) I could tell wasn't how they wanted to use this (rare) lovely Sunday morning - so I bailed out and got the train the rest of the way. Legs, literally, struggling to walk.
The average seemed not that high - 17.1mph over 45 miles. They invited me back - stressing I was very welcome (so at least I didn't pee them off
) but I was annoyed at myself for not finishing but glad I didn't ruin their ride.
Anyway - where am I going with this? First the realisation of how much work I have to do. Apparently, they say, I will get quicker as I go out with them more. Not just because they're pushing me, but experience and such too. But also a question; how do I get quicker when training on my own? I push myself, but I'm not sure how to guage how to do it. Do I simply use HR zones and keep myself up at a certain level for X amount of time?
So there we are, that was my sunday. Good fun though
I was in there Saturday afternoon, and with the GF away on holiday and nothing to do on Sunday, I agreed to it. Planned 60 miles and they said they'd take it easy for me.
To put in perspective - I have lots of local hilly routes that I do and average 16+ mph, all on my own. Frequently I will catch and pass riders on my routes, my times on Strava were in the upper parts and I occasionally sneak a KOM. Talking to guys when I catch them that do go out on local rides, they said their pace was similar and so I had hope that although I wouldn't be quick, I wouldn't be embarrasingly slow.
To begin with, I was fine. Staying with them and really enjoying myself - getting used to the protocol involved in group riding too. They were all very kind and helpful and teaching me where I needed it. But then slowly and surely the pace just increased. Not instnatly, but just that after 10 miles I found myself at near max HR, constantly. Thinking "oh bugger, I won't be able to keep this up". All this with a bugger of a head wind (though they always kept me at the back, protecting me). We had some really great sections of brutal pace, strict line and constant changing leaders (excluding me) which was awesome fun, if not leg killing!
Long story short - the pace just killed me. We got to our cafe stop half way (36 miles) and I was determined to do the rest. 9 miles in on the way back, my legs were jelly and the guys kept having to slow right up for me which (even though they were great about it) I could tell wasn't how they wanted to use this (rare) lovely Sunday morning - so I bailed out and got the train the rest of the way. Legs, literally, struggling to walk.
The average seemed not that high - 17.1mph over 45 miles. They invited me back - stressing I was very welcome (so at least I didn't pee them off
) but I was annoyed at myself for not finishing but glad I didn't ruin their ride. Anyway - where am I going with this? First the realisation of how much work I have to do. Apparently, they say, I will get quicker as I go out with them more. Not just because they're pushing me, but experience and such too. But also a question; how do I get quicker when training on my own? I push myself, but I'm not sure how to guage how to do it. Do I simply use HR zones and keep myself up at a certain level for X amount of time?
So there we are, that was my sunday. Good fun though
Reminds me of my first chaingang. I was at full tilt about a mile in! I did get dropped and finished with another who also got dropped. Fast forward 3 months I was able to not only do the chaingang at the same pace, but I could do turns on the front and was comfortable with the pace. Fast forward another 3 months I can do the entire chaingang route quicker solo than I ever did with the other guys.
Lesson? Keep going and hurting yourself, you'll be at the stage where you make huge gains just by riding your bike with people faster than you, fill your boots, those gains do drop off...
Lesson? Keep going and hurting yourself, you'll be at the stage where you make huge gains just by riding your bike with people faster than you, fill your boots, those gains do drop off...
Sounds like a very friendly chain gang.
I think you need to question the wisdom of training specifically to be better in a chain gang. My experience is and as OKGO says, you will pick up fitness very rapidly, and should be holding your own within a few weeks. Little things like gaining confidence and being able to hold a wheel, knowing the route and where to dig a bit deeper. These will all help as well as gains in fitness.
I'd think about your overall objectives for cycling whether its racing, sportives or keeping fit. TBH the health benefits of taking yourself from pretty fit to, say, cat 4 are probably marginal. From personal experience the feeling of high level fitness as opposed to being fairly fit is really special. The downside is these higher level gains in fitness fall off really quickly when you stop or reduce your training (or if you do too much).
My advice would be take it easier on yourself in your commuting and other riding so recover sufficiently to you allow your body to adapt to the stress of hard session. By all means do the odd fast ride to check your progress and work on your weaknesses but if you have a training goal in mind then the chain gang will be part of a blend of training to support that goal.
I'm exactly the same I find it very difficult to push myself when training solo. Group riding always gives me an extra push and I make progress. The feeling after a chain gang ride (endorphins and dopamine rush) is only exceeded by racing. Can't comment on what winning must feel like!
I think you need to question the wisdom of training specifically to be better in a chain gang. My experience is and as OKGO says, you will pick up fitness very rapidly, and should be holding your own within a few weeks. Little things like gaining confidence and being able to hold a wheel, knowing the route and where to dig a bit deeper. These will all help as well as gains in fitness.
I'd think about your overall objectives for cycling whether its racing, sportives or keeping fit. TBH the health benefits of taking yourself from pretty fit to, say, cat 4 are probably marginal. From personal experience the feeling of high level fitness as opposed to being fairly fit is really special. The downside is these higher level gains in fitness fall off really quickly when you stop or reduce your training (or if you do too much).
My advice would be take it easier on yourself in your commuting and other riding so recover sufficiently to you allow your body to adapt to the stress of hard session. By all means do the odd fast ride to check your progress and work on your weaknesses but if you have a training goal in mind then the chain gang will be part of a blend of training to support that goal.
I'm exactly the same I find it very difficult to push myself when training solo. Group riding always gives me an extra push and I make progress. The feeling after a chain gang ride (endorphins and dopamine rush) is only exceeded by racing. Can't comment on what winning must feel like!
Edited by oddman on Monday 11th June 12:20
yep as okgo says, no other way around it, just keep riding, it'll get easier in about a month or so, everyone has to go through this 'experience' at some time or other.
When riding on your own, instead of just trying to maintain a steady 16-18 mph, try doing some faster efforts (23-26mph) just for say 30sec/ 60secs then recover for 4-5 mins then repeat as you feel. Mix you riding between the steady state stuff and some faster, but shorter work, that'll help bring some fitness and endurance on a bit quicker, good luck with it.
When riding on your own, instead of just trying to maintain a steady 16-18 mph, try doing some faster efforts (23-26mph) just for say 30sec/ 60secs then recover for 4-5 mins then repeat as you feel. Mix you riding between the steady state stuff and some faster, but shorter work, that'll help bring some fitness and endurance on a bit quicker, good luck with it.
Another recommendation for digging in.
First chaingang was ruined and couldn't stay with them. FFWD 4 months and can lead the group and out sprint all but the very fastest riders at the end. You lose pace just as fast as you gain it but there is no substitute for hanging on with faster people and not worrying about what anyone else thinks.
Keep going
First chaingang was ruined and couldn't stay with them. FFWD 4 months and can lead the group and out sprint all but the very fastest riders at the end. You lose pace just as fast as you gain it but there is no substitute for hanging on with faster people and not worrying about what anyone else thinks.
Keep going
oddman said:
I'd think about your overall objectives for cycling whether its racing, sportives or keeping fit. TBH the health benefits of taking yourself from pretty fit to, say, cat 4 are probably marginal. From personal experience the feeling of high level fitness as opposed to being fairly fit is really special. The downside is these higher level gains in fitness fall off really quickly when you stop or reduce your training (or if you do too much).
A good question. I started cycling to commute, and enjoyed cycling so much that have just continued to wanting to do more. Now it's fitness, very much so. So while I don't want to train to specifically be quick with these chaps, it was more a question of getting better anyway - the side effect being quicker with them.That the consensus is I merely need to dig in and continue going out with them means I'll do exactly that - though I expect it to be hard for quite a while to come, but that merely elevates the feeling of satisfaction
how do I get quicker when training on my own? I push myself, but I'm not sure how to guage how to do it. Do I simply use HR zones and keep myself up at a certain level for X amount of time?
Suffer. Lots. Via every means possible: hill reps, sustained efforts etc. But stick at the group rides too: IME you get twice as much from them as when you ride solo. As said, if you put in the work, it'll come. Just be prepared to venture into a very, very dark place once in a while
Suffer. Lots. Via every means possible: hill reps, sustained efforts etc. But stick at the group rides too: IME you get twice as much from them as when you ride solo. As said, if you put in the work, it'll come. Just be prepared to venture into a very, very dark place once in a while
okgo said:
Fast forward another 3 months I can do the entire chaingang route quicker solo than I ever did with the other guys.
Not being funny mate but that must be one bloody slow chaingang if you can do it quicker solo. Our Tuesday night rides are usually run off at 27/28 mph for 2 hours (flat admittedly). There's not a single rider I know who could do it quicker on his own.Jimbo. said:
Suffer. Lots. Via every means possible: hill reps, sustained efforts etc. But stick at the group rides too: IME you get twice as much from them as when you ride solo. As said, if you put in the work, it'll come. Just be prepared to venture into a very, very dark place once in a while
mcelliott said:
Not being funny mate but that must be one bloody slow chaingang if you can do it quicker solo. Our Tuesday night rides are usually run off at 27/28 mph for 2 hours (flat admittedly). There's not a single rider I know who could do it quicker on his own.
The issue is that there are a couple of really quick guys and a lot of slower ones. It's not the fastest chaingang out there It's an hour at around 25mph. But it's not a quick route, lots of lights etc. I would imagine I'm a little slower than out fast guy who does a 19.40 10 and 51 min 25. I was about 30 secs down on his 3 laps of Richmond park, and he's the quickest round there by some margin on the London bike forums.
What's your route like?
okgo said:
mcelliott said:
Not being funny mate but that must be one bloody slow chaingang if you can do it quicker solo. Our Tuesday night rides are usually run off at 27/28 mph for 2 hours (flat admittedly). There's not a single rider I know who could do it quicker on his own.
The issue is that there are a couple of really quick guys and a lot of slower ones. It's not the fastest chaingang out there It's an hour at around 25mph. But it's not a quick route, lots of lights etc. I would imagine I'm a little slower than out fast guy who does a 19.40 10 and 51 min 25. I was about 30 secs down on his 3 laps of Richmond park, and he's the quickest round there by some margin on the London bike forums.
What's your route like?
It takes some tim eto develop teh skill of riding someones wheel and working out where teh wind shadow is.
if you keep falling off the lead riders wheel th eeffort of keep getting back on will kill you.
If you learn to stay on their wheel without falling off teh whole ridingin a group thing becomes much easier.
the fact that you can average 16mph on your own but couldnt hold 17mph in a group tells me you struggled to effectively ride on a wheel and that the next time you go out you'll be noticably better.
if you keep falling off the lead riders wheel th eeffort of keep getting back on will kill you.
If you learn to stay on their wheel without falling off teh whole ridingin a group thing becomes much easier.
the fact that you can average 16mph on your own but couldnt hold 17mph in a group tells me you struggled to effectively ride on a wheel and that the next time you go out you'll be noticably better.
okgo said:
Yeh, ours is just our club which doesn't really have a racing background so there are a few faster guys myself included, then a fair few 3/4 cats that are decent but not pro/elite!
What pro's have you had down? Any names? Devon way right?
We have Tobyn Horton who currently rides for the Raleigh UK squad - he's doing pretty well in the city centre series at the moment and placed 7th in the westminster stage of the Tour of Britain last year.What pro's have you had down? Any names? Devon way right?
Also James McLaughlin - a hugely talented rider, currently on the feeder squad for Saur-Sojasun. He placed third in the amateur GP Plouay last year - this is generally regarded as the most prestigious one day race for amateurs in the world. He has also placed highly in UCI ranked stage races this season. To have riders like these come out on the chaingang - they simply seem inhuman in their strength - everyone else just hanging on. We've also got several other riders competing at elite level - divisional champions (southern area of GB) for both moutain biking and road biking. All home grown talents of the Guernsey Velo Club.
Crippo said:
the fact that you can average 16mph on your own but couldnt hold 17mph in a group tells me you struggled to effectively ride on a wheel and that the next time you go out you'll be noticably better.
It was my first time, so I'm certain I was doing lots of stuff wrong When you say how to "effectively ride" a wheel - do you mean in reference to where the wind is and therefore where best to remain (not just immediately behind the chap in front)?My plans have just changed for this weekend now, so hopefully I'll get out with them this Sunday again
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff