Dan's Wednesday Night Worlds report got me thinking about some of the group rides in the area and some of the dynamics of the rides. I did the Worlds ride a few times last year. All the local pros and wannabes show up on their pro bikes, wearing their pro kits for the 30 mile race for weekly bragging rights. Its a serious ride for serious riders. A couple of times I made it all the way to the end with the front group. A couple of other times I was dropped big time and limped back to the parking lot, licking my wound (or legs). Wednesday Worlds...no A, B and C groups, no maps to find your way back if you are dropped, no mercy, you keep up or ride home alone.
I did the Wednesday night ride from Hoover Dam a couple of weeks ago. A different kind of ride from the Wednesday Worlds. A, B and C groups with maps and the option to ride a shorter route, if the 37 mile option is too much. I saw bikes with kickstands, a few people who probably should not wear spandex and one old guy with knee high black socks and goggles. A more sedate ride, even in the "A" group. Depending on your status, they might even wait, if you can't keep up of have a mechanical.
I did a Tuesday night ride from Hoover Dam with a group of local triathletes a few times last year. I group of five or six nice guys who like to hammer right out of the parking lot. One of the nice things about riding with these guys, they don't care if you never take a pull. All they want to do is put their head down and hammer. If you want to just sit on, that OK. I must have gained a bit of status with them after a few rides. One Tuesday night, when I wasn't really feeling it, told them I was going to turn off and ride a bit easy for a while. They actually offered to back off the pace and ride a little easier. I decided to stay with the group and of course the pace went right back up a few miles down the road. At least they tried.
I find I usually prefer to ride alone but I will continue to occasionally ride the Worlds, the Wednesday Hoover Dam and the Tuesday tri-geek rides. I can't be completely anti-social.
I did the Wednesday night ride from Hoover Dam a couple of weeks ago. A different kind of ride from the Wednesday Worlds. A, B and C groups with maps and the option to ride a shorter route, if the 37 mile option is too much. I saw bikes with kickstands, a few people who probably should not wear spandex and one old guy with knee high black socks and goggles. A more sedate ride, even in the "A" group. Depending on your status, they might even wait, if you can't keep up of have a mechanical.
I did a Tuesday night ride from Hoover Dam with a group of local triathletes a few times last year. I group of five or six nice guys who like to hammer right out of the parking lot. One of the nice things about riding with these guys, they don't care if you never take a pull. All they want to do is put their head down and hammer. If you want to just sit on, that OK. I must have gained a bit of status with them after a few rides. One Tuesday night, when I wasn't really feeling it, told them I was going to turn off and ride a bit easy for a while. They actually offered to back off the pace and ride a little easier. I decided to stay with the group and of course the pace went right back up a few miles down the road. At least they tried.
I find I usually prefer to ride alone but I will continue to occasionally ride the Worlds, the Wednesday Hoover Dam and the Tuesday tri-geek rides. I can't be completely anti-social.
posted by Doug at 11:13 PM
4 Comments:
Doug,
What do I need to do to get one of these shirts: http://olympushomescycling.blogspot.com/2008/04/saga-continues.html
Spees
Scott,
I think we need to sell them on ebay. I'm sure there would be a lot of buyers.
Doug,
Are you guys going over to Gettysburg this Sunday?
-Spees
We're planning to be at Gettyburg. You?
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