Cycling Forums › Forums › Bikes › Cycling Training › Tell me again why group rides aren't a good use of time?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Tell me again why group rides aren't a good use of time? - Page 2

post #16 of 17
6/10/10 at 11:06pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Tell me again why group rides aren't a good use of time?

Quote:
Originally Posted by frenchyge View Post
The less time you have to train, the more important it is that your training time be as efficient and targeted as possible.

Of course there are caveats to the advice about group rides. If the groups are small (~3-5 people) and everyone is actively contributing to the pace-making (ie, working above threshold during pulls so that the others are recovering in L3 while sitting in) then I think they can be very effective and can encourage riders to sustain SST levels for longer than they otherwise might if they were riding by themselves and could just quit whenever they wanted.
Exactly! I don't think I'm able to push myself as hard alone as when I'm riding with others...Not for as long anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Felt_Rider View Post
We were thinking about that, but the problem is like picking a team in grade school and everyone wants to be on the "A" team.
I find that A and B riders usually filter themselves out, especially on windy days. It's pretty hard to "fake it" when the group is all strung out and there's nowhere to hide.

I really enjoy my group rides, when I need the race-type environment I opt for A's, when I want to do a lot of work I opt for the B's.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 17
7/14/10 at 11:31pm

Re: Tell me again why group rides aren't a good use of time?

Quote:
Originally Posted by far-sided View Post
...I really enjoy my group rides, when I need the race-type environment I opt for A's, when I want to do a lot of work I opt for the B's.
As has been mentioned by Dave, it depends upon what you are training for. Our group rides are generally focused on our road and track racing, and have specific goals for each ride (often motor-paced). We also have social rides, that are used as a recovery run, combined with an occassion for welcoming new riders.
When a group ride gets too big and / or the abilities too disparate, it makes sense to divide it up. We have a Saturday LBS ride where there will be usually 4 groups, with separate routes, distances, and pace on a graded system. It's up to the riders to choose the correct group to join, according to their wants / abilities for the day. If they are new to the ride, they will be encouraged to start with one of the easier groups and work their way up.
My focus is on our junior riders, who do much of their training on their own. Group rides are very important for them in preparing for racing, and in providing them with a (relatively) protected environment for getting out amongst the traffic.
If racing is what you are training for, then the unpredictability of a hammerfest is a good precursor to the real thing. If TT'ing, or general fitness is your aim, a hammerfest may well do more damage than good.

Cheers,
Eoin
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cycling Training
Cycling Forums › Forums › Bikes › Cycling Training › Tell me again why group rides aren't a good use of time?