Pro tip from our team's coach: Open your bar wrappers before the start of the ride/race so you can just reach for them in your pocket and eat instead of trying to open them.
I'm glad you guys spoke on getting yelled at by riders. I've witnessed so many unnecessary temper tantrums that could have been handled so much better by just offering help rather than rude comments. Kudos to Jeff for his accepting attitude and willingness to help new riders, it makes things better without animosity and ruining the vibe for the group. Get it EJ!
Very true. I try to remember that everyone in a group ride, even if they're leading or a strong rider, is under some level of physical/mental stress just by being there. That tends to elevate emotional responses to things that would otherwise be a very small issue.
Some ride organizers/leaders give a 5 minute orientation before each ride in which they cover the main points: overlapping wheels, centerline adherence, etc. If you do one of those things that was discussed by the leaders, you should take your medicine with humility.
@@DEAR7340 yes , in theory. But if it's like people at my job...mentioning the 'donts' and the person understanding what those terms actually mean..are 2 diff things. But it is interesting to me ( been out of it last few years, but started racing 1989....and even with all the media tools at riders disposal these days..its sorta interesting to still read the learning curve people have to go through ..during their 1st ride/race. Like chosingwhen to eat solid vs your liquid nutrion based on current paces etc
I’m not used to riding in groups. The first time I rode with a local group, before anyone had even asked my name, someone stopped the group at a stop sign and told everyone that I was pissing them off because I hadn’t held the pace steady when I pulled through. I was like hey, I’m new here. I got a very weak, oh, please keep riding with us. Cyclists can be D bags sometimes.
Kudos to you for showing up. Keep at it :) maybe there's a different group ride where people are nicer. Or just try again and tell everybody you talk to on the bike that you're new to group riding. I hope they'll understand and don't give you a hard time. It should be about having fun and riding together outside. Greetings from Germany :)
Yeah. It's so lame when that happens. My best advice is to just hang near the back (if it's safe) when riding with a new group. Get a feel for the group/pace/etc and then later in the ride if you're feeling it move towards the front.
Newcomers are frequently Dbags too unfortunately. They join into a new bunch or start their first bunch ride ever without having a clue as to what to do other than "ride fast and strong". It's a great way to fragment a bunch especially if that bunch already has that style of rider. I get what you're saying but it goes both ways and the newcomer should start by asking questions. It's not that hard to do that.
Maintaining a constant speed when you get to the front of a paceline, and then softpedaling just the right amount to switch over to the "receding line" without creating gaps or forcing others to change their pace, are things that take practice to get the feel for. And yes, it's often something that people yell at other riders for. Sometimes yelling is the only sure way to communicate a concern on the road at speed, but the rider who yells should also be willing to reach back out in a calmer tone later.
Myself when living in the pit of San Jose I liked going solo my best rides were going over 9 to Santa Cruz after clearing Boulder creek then it's off to playing cat and mouse with the cars down to Scott's valley then a gentle ride into SC for a little food, grab a couple of Bananas then make ready for the push home making ready for the rush of blasting down 9 into Saratoga, from there then off to Los Gatos for a cup of joe, from there home to SJ. The down hill run into Saratoga can be a bit hairy at times, like blowing threw the middle of 3 motor cycles of which the 3 motor riders stayed on my tail until the time I ran up on to 3 cars as like they were standing still, ok I'll pass the tail car then slip in behind car #2 then ride it out from there, not happening not enough space so instead I looked ahead and it looked good for a total pass of the 3 cars so I did after that no more motor cycles, as it turns out the 3 motor cycles decided to brake off at least that's what they told me after they caught up to me when I had stopped to down a banana this was done on a Modified Steel Track bike to road bike, this bike was quick and fast, 41/53 up front and a 12/25 7sp on the rear, friction only, the higher BB hight of the track frame gave more road clearance for carving up the down hill curves of the road way with 23mm SLICK tubular tires, now I live in the Netherlands where it's flat and boring. BTW: Back then we had no supplement energy drinks nor power bars and so on, Bananas and dried fruit, on this same bike but with a 27t cog on the rear I did a one day push to Yosemite from San Jose, it was HOT in the valley, ice cold apple juice from a road side stand saved my ass.
Tip #3 don't use earphones on a group ride (2:29 to 2:43) as it is selfish (group riding is great to have a chat) stupid (you need to listen to the communications) and inappropriate (okay when riding solo but pretty unsociable and risky in a group). That aside looked like a cracking ride. Also, I'm loving the headset cap and just found out these can be personalised so will be tailoring mine.
I’m not comfortable riding without hands on the bars. I find that opening the food package before the ride makes it easier to eat during the ride. Opening the package is usually the most difficult part.
I've heard some people partially open their gels to make them easier access. If you do this, make sure you eat it before you lean back against anything or wash the jersey... and finish off the gel -- don't save half for later for the same reason. (GU brand was always pretty easy to open while riding)
Absolutely. Clif Bloks can be hard to open when you are OFF the bike. I just take a pair of scissors and cut the whole end of the sleeve off before the ride. Anything in mylar can also be tricky; it won't tear, until it does.
@@SeraStaplz I’ve made rice cakes and done this, with the double sided parchment/foil. Personally, I find this to be a little harder to open than a pre-packaged, but hey, to each their own
I've never been in a group ride, but if someone yells at me for not knowing something, we're gonna have some problems after we're done. I'd probably just try to explain that I don't find that acceptable.
4 wide? Pick a group that has someone that basically controls the peloton. I've always found it helpful, to have a ride leader. While a humbling experience, it will make you a better rider.
Re snacks on the ride: I find it really helpful to prefill an opened zip lock with all most food. The bag is stiffer and stays open so I usually just reach into it inside my pocket which makes for less messing around.
Sorry, didn't get through all the comments, but in case nobody has mentioned it yet, you might consider two bottles with mix and instead of "snacks" like bars and individually wrapped gels (which I find super awkward to deal with on the bike) I load up a gel flask with 3 gel servings, and 2 water servings so that it goes down smooth. So much easier to "drink" all your calories instead of futzing with wrappers and stuff. And, it's small and just fits nicely into one of your back pockets. That's 700 cals - plenty for a 250 cal/hour fuel plan.
I usually only ride in groups and have been doing so for decades. The thing about group riding is that everyone is extremely reliant on those around them for safety and shared effort to complete the ride. In a pack you can't really see anything and you're often just inches away from other people. You are operating on trust. Speaking for myself, if I've yelled at someone on the road (which is rare because I only ride with people I know and trust) it's because they are doing something that is endangering me or those around me. It's not an "elitism" thing, it's an "abject terror" thing. There are two types of road bike riders: those who have crashed in a group and those who have not yet crashed in a group. Crashing sucks and it's a lesson you only have to learn once to make you never want to do it again. Crashing makes you realize just how seriously you need to take group rides and just how much concentration you need to have to be aware of what exactly is happening. I'm not saying this to scare off new riders, it's just the reality of the situation. If you're new to group riding, the main thing is not to join a group that's going to be too fast for you. In fact, I would recommend joining a group that is very easy for you. Adding in physical exhaustion to trying to learn group riding is a recipe for disaster. Also, be humble and listen to those around you (as long as they are polite and reasonable). The rules of riding in a group are the same all over the world and have been around since the beginnings of the sport. Even the most obscure, non-intuitive rule is there for a good reason. The main thing is to ride in a smooth, predictable manner. Sticking to the rules makes you smoother and more predictable. Once you get the hang of it, group riding is the only way to go.
You'd be yelling at a lot of people on the british road race scene. I find group ride crashes extremely rare and in my club of 600 riders there hasn't been one that I know of in the past 3 years.
Overcommunicate. We tend to fixate on what is happening in front of us because it changes faster than what is overtaking us. So, when you are overtaking from the left or right, announce your intentions. It also helps to acknowledge the communication with a nod or a quick thumbs up.
Nobody said that yelling at anyone for any reason is elitist. Methinks you might be too sensitive and saw criticism where there was none. The context of that comment was clearly not a safety issue. That particular yelling was about not getting to the front fast enough to pull. It was someone who thought their time (edited for typo) on that ride was super important and thus was frustrated when someone wasn't helping them get the best time possible. That's why it's considered elitist. That person knows the plan and anyone who doesn't know the plan is ruining things for everyone else. Additionally, the context heavily implied that the elitism comes in when chastising or yelling at new riders instead of just communicating the expectation.
No, people yelling at people for ignorance is never acceptable. As a new road rider, this type of story makes me want to avoid the cycling community all together. Coming from the mountain bike world (mostly downhill) the negativity Ive seen in the road cycling community is baffling. I've been MTBing for over a decade. In MTB, I have seen newer rider literally walking up downhill only trails and people dont yell at them for it (despite it being a life-threatening danger in some cases). We stop and pull off to the side and have civil conversations and help newer riders into the sport. But road cyclist (not all, all it takes is a bad few) are just rude. Yelling at someone for not understanding a pace line is laughably immature.
Awesome video - sorry to dig up an old video but I am looking for a video to help the chain gang/group ride/drop ride that I take part in/lead - We have had a bunch of new people join which is awesome but they lack ettique and group riding "sense" and unfortunately had a crash in the bunch due to overlapping wheels a "town sign sprint". Things like calling, how to ride the paceline, townsign sprint ettitque, general consideration for people in bunch (yo yo on wheels/snotting etc)
Personally, I can't eat any type of whole foods while riding. My mouth and throat get too dry, and I can't get anything down even with water. However, the company I use for my water bottle mix also allows you to customize your carb, electrolyte, etc. ratios when ordering. I order a high carb mix, add it to something like Hammer flasks with a small amount of water until it makes a runny "sludge". I carry 1 flask for each hour of riding I'll be doing (usually no more than 6 flasks). I've completed Granfondos in the Alps and stage type races on this type of mix alone not even stopping at the rest points for fuel, just water as needed. I love how the series is developing...keep it coming and stay safe!
Drove one Marathon and a good couple of 80-100km rides with small to mid groups. My tips I learned on Group rides. - Try out Gels for fast intake and eat bars on flat or "chill" segments. - Get comftable with riding in the group. Try staying in the middle on the side (Roadside is better, since you can evade other rides better when you aren't comftable with being so close). It reduces risks and it gives you a better feeling where you stand. (Right Side is better if you don't wanna feel the pressure from behind). - On your first time in a group your focus shouldn't be to be a head rider. Even if you can faster. Focus on sticking to the group. Learn to pace and ride in the Windshade. - Big and important tip: Windshade. Never Ever try to lose it. Gear lower when you have a tight corner to get back to higher speed faster. Even a gap of 2-3 Meters can be hard to close. (I know it ... I had to close a couple of 20-50m gaps while the group was at a 35-40kph pace. - The last tip comes with another tip. Find a "Teacher". Someone you can pace and try to match his exact speed. If your Frontpacer keeps on accelerating and breaking look for someone else, If he rides ahead stick in the group and look for someone else. List keeps going. - ALWAYS Point out danger (Cracks, Sticks, Cars, Cyclist) - Try to keep one hand to the bar ... we know you can ride free handed .. but its saver for everyone.
Before the first ride together in a group of very experienced riders (actively riding amateur racing series) it was taken for granted that I already had a >very< good performance, that I knew how to dress, how to eat and drink properly. These experienced riders put me at the back of the peloton and said, stay here, don't go anywhere and watch everything and learn. And that went on for a long time. Today I'm an experienced rider and I'm definitely not going to let an amateur rider who has no idea how to ride in a group to go up and down and endanger everybody, it takes a lot of learning. 7--12 degrees Celsius on a sunny day, otherwise I ride on bare legs and one complete layer for the upper half of the body, but I am from the eastern EU and we are much more resistant to cold there.
Eating right versus left hand.. I've been told and I agree is eat and drink with the LEFT hand. If the rider needs to grab a fistful of brake, a hard left brake grab will cause you to endo. There is also less control with the front brake and more potential to wash the front wheel. Rear brake is good for scrubbing speed and keeping control.
Are beginner group rides a thing? I’ve never done a group ride and am really put off by potentially pissing folks off because I don’t know all the ins and outs.
Where I live there are couple of no drop social group rides that will travel at 28km or so pace. There is brief put up on FB of the route and expectations and the organisers always provide a brief before going and if there's new faces they get asked if they've ridden in a group before and will be provided extra info on group etiquette. Usually it will be rolling turns at the front and not a fast paceline like this one. Ask your local shop/s about any no drop rides in your area and get into it!
Yes there are and they're probably the best thing providing there is at least one experienced rider to guide the group. I've seen a bunch of newbies kick off with a few silly rules while ignoring (or not knowing) really important ones.
Great video and good tips. You mention getting carbs in your bottles versus food. Do you have any recommendations of products that have worked best for you? Thanks
I make a point of giving any guy with the dirty bike a wide berth when in a race - if he can't be bothered getting the bike right then chances are his head isn't in the game and he's a liability.
I’m Alaskan and I live in Upstate New York. 50° is the lower end of my comfort zone without warners but I can absolutely do sub-freezing weather no problem with gloves and warmers. However, anything more than 75° is pretty damn hot for me
I recommend eating with your left hand because if you're going to break hard, especially with one hand, you'll want to drag the rear wheel instead of lock up your front wheel and most likely be on the ground. If you ride MTB you learn to use your rear brake a lot more. I never brake less than 50/50 front and rear brakes and then I start to let off the front first then back second, road and MTB.
Water is heavy I always ride 1 bottle.. I use the small bottle or the large bottle.. Whatever the ride, I make it last the whole ride... so, if the ride is 60 miles, such as this, I divide the race/ride into quarters, and drink a quarter bottle at 15 miles.. half at 30 miles, and the remainder at 40 and 50 miles... As far as choking on food, eat 60 gm carbs every hour, one sip and hold and chew the food with your head down, so it stay at the front of the mouth, of you chew w it back, you may inhale and choke on it. Let the water soften the food and chew and swallow in small parts.
Keep in mind, that the back can be the hardest place to ride. After every turn, the front will accelerate back to speed and you need a little snap to get back on; those snaps add up. It's a good practice to observe from the back, as you say, but also adjust your tactics to reduce the number of matches you'll need to strike.
I carry a gel flask that holds four shots. Far easier than gel packets and cheaper with less waste. A full flask lasts for a four hour ride. Easy to handle in a group situation.
Peanut butter pretzel bites are an easy snack to eat without having to hold something in your hands for several minutes. Also, you can fill up one of your bottles with water and put your gels in the water. Then you don't have all that sticky mess if you use gels.
Doing spectrum as a first group ride is gutsy! I was out there with you. Good job- get more group rides in so you know what is going on- it will improve fun and safety for everyone.
I feel like that could have me riding in the shoulder at 5:01 where the relative speed of you group riders versus the average Joe was clearly on display. Did you guys at least shout a few "On Your Left"s as you blew by those riders enjoying a ride at their own pace? As others have commented, I just don't see the enjoyment of a high-pressure group ride like that. Plus, here in the Bay Area, in my opinion, a large group ride like that generates more negative sentiments towards bicycle riders by the general public who cannot distinguish the difference between the riders in your group ride and those 2 riders at 5:01.
I came back to specifically find this part of the ride because it made me nervous in the moment when the camera threaded through between me (on my right) and community riders going much slower. I'm not sure what the etiquette is on this to move up in the group on others' right side at the same time "riders right!" is being shouted up ahead.
Fast group rides are huge fun. That said, the best place to learn the basic group-riding skills like pacelines (DONT SURGE AT THE FRONT, DAMMIT, unless you're actively attacking 😜) and calling out / pointing out hazards is on chiller group rides, like "team rides" in the winter where the focus is on getting base miles. But whatever. You did great, and your willingness to learn and observe will take you far. Chapeau!
Why do Americans have their front brake on the left? It's always been on the right in Australia growing up and as a motorcyclist the clutch is on the left front on the right
Energy in the form of glucose is the only energy you'll instantly get back during a ride. The intestine has an absorption limit of 60 grams of glucose per hour, and glucose intake above this can cause stomach ache. It's recommended an total intake off 90g. carbs pr. hour in rides that last above 2.5 hours. It's vital to look for gel with 2:1 ratio glucose:fructose. One bag of these energy gels usually contain 20g glucose and 10 g. fructose of energy. Take one of those every 20 minutes and your energy intake is optimal. It only takes like 10 second to eat a gel. I use to have my computer remind me with a sound to take some gel every 20 minutes. It's so easy to forget. These gel need to be tested before a ride. Not every stomach like those and you have to test several brands to find onne that fits your stomach.
Hearing that such a nice dude like EJ got yelled at by one of these clowns makes me very happy to continue riding my myself. Unless someone's being absurdly reckless, it seems like the better approach would be to give that feedback afterwards. I don't need to stand for other adults yelling at me. Unfortunately it's yet another cyclist who has solidified the shitty elitist reputation that they have.
"It's not personal".... That's what we tell new riders to the local group rides. "If you get yelled at it's not personal. It's to have you make a correction quickly." It's the need to communicate loudly and quickly. Safety is paramount. Yelling accomplishes this and gets results quickly. When you are moving along above 20mph in a pace line, it's not the time to have a drawn out conversation. After the ride we can talk about it and make sure everyone is good.
@@jamest2502 Well, that's a load of crap. "Yeah, I'm going to scream at you, but when it's all over, I'll explain to you why you need to let bygones be bygones. I gotcha, bro. It's all good." Up your nose with a fire hose. I've done so many sports in my lifetime and easily, easily, the worst effete a-holes were in road cycling. It's a product of demographics. Road cycling attracts a disproportionate amount of yuppies and rich boys who already have senses of entitlement and superiority, which is all the more comical in these silly "competitive" group rides. These numbnuts persist under the delusion that they're contending for the win in Roubaix or the Tour. Pros, of course, don't ride like this at all. In an absolute sense, these group riders, even the "A" group members, are Freds. Gulfs separate them from truly gifted riders. And that's the other thing, regardless of which sport it is: the really good ones rarely act like this. It's almost always the pissants who thrust out their chests and bark and howl. These are the guys who drop $8/9/10 k and more on their rigs, trying to shave a few hundred grams for their "competitive group rides" and races that mean nothing. Do you guys have any conception of how clownish you look and sound? If you're so worried about accidents, don't participate in group ride sprints. Sprinting among 30-40 guys the likes of you folks is a recipe for injury. You don't have the bike handling skills to react at 35-40 mph in a group sprint. Little wonder that I've seen so many crashes in videos of group rides and Cat. 2-5 races. Those races aren't dangerous because of the sizes of the peloton, they're dangerous because those riders lack the skills to shoot gaps at those speeds, the sense to pull up when they have no chance, the coordination to do all the millisecond adjustments necessary at those speeds to avoid catastrophe.
you said, its cold in California right now bro....cmon come to uk them we talk. 😳 I'm happy thought you fixed your front derauiler cable change, that will be crazy to face whit out
Two of the biggest things I've seen with new riders is that they lose focus and don't hold their line. They jerk or drift left and right etc causing emergency reactions from those around them. Also, hitting their brakes because they panic about something.
Just curius on 3 plus hour rides do yall ever have to take a pee brake? Im semi new to the sport my longest 2 rides where about 2-2.5 hours and after both u had to go prety bad how do yall go 4 hours strait?
I believe you but find it crazy you prefer grabbing front brake over back brake when you only have one hand on the bar. Mtber but legit always just nut myself and fall if I accidentally grabbing just some front brake lol
Comments done respectfully is necessary on group rides. Inexperienced riders can be strong enough to hang but don’t know how to draft, overlap wheels or swerve around obstacles. If you can stay clear of inexperienced riders to stay upright.
Those groups ride with a lotta of people that have different bike handling abilities and understanding of the rules of cycling, can become very dangerous for the most experienced cyclist. Do not forget that cycling is an intense sport, therefore expect that experience cyclist will give you an intense warning, if he feels threatened by anyone. It's no different than any other spots.
To each there own on what they wear when riding…. I am in LA county, riding at 5:30 AM sometimes 34 degrees F. So to ME, I think 50’s sounds great and would love to shed some apparel when I’m out in that temp!! Sounds great
Any recommendations on how to maneuver in these groups if you're starting to drop on climbs? Other than the obvious "becoming a better climber"? I popped out the side of a recent group ride on the climb, knowing I would be a bit slower, and thinking that I didn't want to hold up riders behind. This backfired and I was almost immediately dropped and couldn't catch up after getting taxed by the climb and having to break the wind alone for 5-10 miles.
Well the obvious is to be at front at beginning of climb and sag back when necessary. If you lose contact and never catch up, oh well this is why some group rides are drop rides. Keep doing these rides, eventually you will make the whole ride with the group
@@adamashfield357 the ride in this video is the spectrum ride, which is fast pace, I definitely would say it’s competitive. 20+ mph average speed for the ride. If you are new, you can hop into the Pen Velo ride on Saturday and Sunday. Starting point is at top of Cañada road and 92 parking lot. You can do that ride and time it with spectrum if you want to get more intense riding in.
Input from grouchy old man. First, the old rule still holds fast. No group rides until you can ride rollers for at least 45 minutes without needing to touch a wall or support. Second, no surging or balking at front. Steady speed. Third, signal intent with plenty of time for other riders to react. Finally, no overlapping wheels.
Dude so jealous you have Jeff as a mentor! Seems like you guys are building a good friendship too. So great. Jeff seems like a stand up guy! Really enjoying these videos too. Thanks EJ for the steady stream of content!
A very miss organized group ride let me tell you. At times there is riders all over the lane on an open road, and some riding on the opposite side of the lane, I am glad they made it safely but just be careful
Thank you for sharing tips and tricks for group riding. Reading the comments is absolutely awesome too. So many great experiences shared with all. I'm 60, been riding probably 57 of those years.😁I've tried a few group rides and even attempted cat4-5 racing back in the 90s for a year. I just want to add a bit to the video conversation about riding the white line in practice. Hopefully everyone on the ride has reasonable vision, even if aided with glasses or contacts, I feel it is vital to practice expanding your ability to use your peripheral vision when practicing riding the white line. If you focus too hard on watching the line while eating or drinking, your reaction to something just ahead can be delayed and that can be dangerous. Practice having the white line in your peripheral boundaries, not your main focus. The white line makes this practice so much easier as the color contrast aids the eye's ability to incorporate it into your peripheral vision. Then, once you start to master this concept, put it into practice. You'll start to notice your ability to quickly change peripheral points of location like the seat stays in front of you in relation to your front tire etc., all the while keeping your focus further ahead to any up coming hazards or direction changes. To this day, on road bikes, I struggle with bike control when out of the saddle. As mentioned in the video about proper equipment, I finally found the ticket to aid my control, but 52cm flared handlebars are NOT group ride friendly.😨 Knowing this, I will be sure to make it known that I will not be in the middle of the pack at time during the ride. If this is not acceptable, then another ride by myself will be had.😄
This is such a completely advanced first-time group ride - kudos to you for getting into it and making it through. Your attitude (and Jeff's) is just fantastic. All of these tips are spot on. I need arm and leg warmers, typically, anytime it's under 60 degrees F; I do NOT like riding cold. I have some white sun sleeves that are good, too, when it's super hot and sunny out; great for not needing to cake on the sun block and avoiding roasted arm for dinner ;-) They seem to work well for keeping a bit cooler, too. I don't do bars while riding in any high intensity group rides, but sometimes gels though usually have been favoring the blocks/chews kind of food format. I can grab the package from a pocket that I've already ripped open, and thumb two in my mouth. I've found that so much faster, less fiddly, safer and just less stressful - so much easier than a gel packet (which needs much more focus and riding a straight line in a group setting). I'll do that every ~20 minutes, which can work better for me during a faster workout than doing something once per hour. But if you take in your fuel just from the bottle, that is the easiest/fastest way to go.
Pro tip from our team's coach: Open your bar wrappers before the start of the ride/race so you can just reach for them in your pocket and eat instead of trying to open them.
hmm that's a great idea!
Damn! Awesome idea! Thanks for the pro tip! ❤
Learned that as a bike mssgr in NYC back in the day, was the coolest kid in school opening a PowerBar with both hands until I got doored 😅
I always cut mine open with scissors before leaving home. They slide out easier then just ripping the package.
i seriously thought you meant handlebar tape and imagined some mad lad eating their grip tape mid race for extra energy boost
I'm glad you guys spoke on getting yelled at by riders. I've witnessed so many unnecessary temper tantrums that could have been handled so much better by just offering help rather than rude comments. Kudos to Jeff for his accepting attitude and willingness to help new riders, it makes things better without animosity and ruining the vibe for the group. Get it EJ!
Very true. I try to remember that everyone in a group ride, even if they're leading or a strong rider, is under some level of physical/mental stress just by being there. That tends to elevate emotional responses to things that would otherwise be a very small issue.
Some ride organizers/leaders give a 5 minute orientation before each ride in which they cover the main points: overlapping wheels, centerline adherence, etc. If you do one of those things that was discussed by the leaders, you should take your medicine with humility.
@@DEAR7340 yes , in theory. But if it's like people at my job...mentioning the 'donts' and the person understanding what those terms actually mean..are 2 diff things.
But it is interesting to me ( been out of it last few years, but started racing 1989....and even with all the media tools at riders disposal these days..its sorta interesting to still read the learning curve people have to go through ..during their 1st ride/race. Like chosingwhen to eat solid vs your liquid nutrion based on current paces etc
@@DEAR7340 medicine?
11 degrees celsius here in Ireland is considered pretty warm and is definitely bare arms and legs time on the bike! 😂 (For me anyway…)
Yeah coming from Ohio, 50F is almost balmy as long as the winds are mild
Top of the morning to ya!!
These are Californians we're talking about here, lol
We are a bit soft 🤣
Yeah, same here. Riding in Salt Lake City, Utah... 50F is probably my favorite starting temperature.
If someone tells you that you’re not rotating, just tell them you have a teammate up the road 😂
I’m not used to riding in groups. The first time I rode with a local group, before anyone had even asked my name, someone stopped the group at a stop sign and told everyone that I was pissing them off because I hadn’t held the pace steady when I pulled through. I was like hey, I’m new here. I got a very weak, oh, please keep riding with us. Cyclists can be D bags sometimes.
Been there and done that. I've seen a few riders go wide open Psycho over the smallest of things.
Kudos to you for showing up. Keep at it :) maybe there's a different group ride where people are nicer. Or just try again and tell everybody you talk to on the bike that you're new to group riding. I hope they'll understand and don't give you a hard time. It should be about having fun and riding together outside. Greetings from Germany :)
Yeah. It's so lame when that happens. My best advice is to just hang near the back (if it's safe) when riding with a new group. Get a feel for the group/pace/etc and then later in the ride if you're feeling it move towards the front.
Newcomers are frequently Dbags too unfortunately. They join into a new bunch or start their first bunch ride ever without having a clue as to what to do other than "ride fast and strong". It's a great way to fragment a bunch especially if that bunch already has that style of rider. I get what you're saying but it goes both ways and the newcomer should start by asking questions. It's not that hard to do that.
Maintaining a constant speed when you get to the front of a paceline, and then softpedaling just the right amount to switch over to the "receding line" without creating gaps or forcing others to change their pace, are things that take practice to get the feel for. And yes, it's often something that people yell at other riders for. Sometimes yelling is the only sure way to communicate a concern on the road at speed, but the rider who yells should also be willing to reach back out in a calmer tone later.
Myself when living in the pit of San Jose I liked going solo my best rides were going over 9 to Santa Cruz after clearing Boulder creek then it's off to playing cat and mouse with the cars down to Scott's valley then a gentle ride into SC for a little food, grab a couple of Bananas then make ready for the push home making ready for the rush of blasting down 9 into Saratoga, from there then off to Los Gatos for a cup of joe, from there home to SJ. The down hill run into Saratoga can be a bit hairy at times, like blowing threw the middle of 3 motor cycles of which the 3 motor riders stayed on my tail until the time I ran up on to 3 cars as like they were standing still, ok I'll pass the tail car then slip in behind car #2 then ride it out from there, not happening not enough space so instead I looked ahead and it looked good for a total pass of the 3 cars so I did after that no more motor cycles, as it turns out the 3 motor cycles decided to brake off at least that's what they told me after they caught up to me when I had stopped to down a banana this was done on a Modified Steel Track bike to road bike, this bike was quick and fast, 41/53 up front and a 12/25 7sp on the rear, friction only, the higher BB hight of the track frame gave more road clearance for carving up the down hill curves of the road way with 23mm SLICK tubular tires, now I live in the Netherlands where it's flat and boring. BTW: Back then we had no supplement energy drinks nor power bars and so on, Bananas and dried fruit, on this same bike but with a 27t cog on the rear I did a one day push to Yosemite from San Jose, it was HOT in the valley, ice cold apple juice from a road side stand saved my ass.
The things I've seen on Spectrum. Fights , literal horses running down the road that escaped stables, road rage. Bananas.
Tip #3 don't use earphones on a group ride (2:29 to 2:43) as it is selfish (group riding is great to have a chat) stupid (you need to listen to the communications) and inappropriate (okay when riding solo but pretty unsociable and risky in a group).
That aside looked like a cracking ride.
Also, I'm loving the headset cap and just found out these can be personalised so will be tailoring mine.
Have you ever had a team mate wear headphones during a pickup basketball game? Less dangerous but just as infuriating.
I generally would not ride with earphones unless it's an isolated bike path on a river etc.
I’m not comfortable riding without hands on the bars. I find that opening the food package before the ride makes it easier to eat during the ride. Opening the package is usually the most difficult part.
I've heard some people partially open their gels to make them easier access. If you do this, make sure you eat it before you lean back against anything or wash the jersey... and finish off the gel -- don't save half for later for the same reason. (GU brand was always pretty easy to open while riding)
That’s a great tip for bars and other solid foods. Sometimes they can be really pesky to open on the move.
Absolutely. Clif Bloks can be hard to open when you are OFF the bike. I just take a pair of scissors and cut the whole end of the sleeve off before the ride. Anything in mylar can also be tricky; it won't tear, until it does.
I make my own bars and wrap with parchment and aluminum. Unwrapping is definitely easier than opening something sealed.
@@SeraStaplz I’ve made rice cakes and done this, with the double sided parchment/foil. Personally, I find this to be a little harder to open than a pre-packaged, but hey, to each their own
Lol 50s being cold! 50s on the east coast is like "yes, I can finally just wear a jersey!"
I've never been in a group ride, but if someone yells at me for not knowing something, we're gonna have some problems after we're done. I'd probably just try to explain that I don't find that acceptable.
4 wide? Pick a group that has someone that basically controls the peloton. I've always found it helpful, to have a ride leader. While a humbling experience, it will make you a better rider.
Re snacks on the ride: I find it really helpful to prefill an opened zip lock with all most food. The bag is stiffer and stays open so I usually just reach into it inside my pocket which makes for less messing around.
Sorry, didn't get through all the comments, but in case nobody has mentioned it yet, you might consider two bottles with mix and instead of "snacks" like bars and individually wrapped gels (which I find super awkward to deal with on the bike) I load up a gel flask with 3 gel servings, and 2 water servings so that it goes down smooth. So much easier to "drink" all your calories instead of futzing with wrappers and stuff. And, it's small and just fits nicely into one of your back pockets. That's 700 cals - plenty for a 250 cal/hour fuel plan.
I usually only ride in groups and have been doing so for decades. The thing about group riding is that everyone is extremely reliant on those around them for safety and shared effort to complete the ride. In a pack you can't really see anything and you're often just inches away from other people. You are operating on trust. Speaking for myself, if I've yelled at someone on the road (which is rare because I only ride with people I know and trust) it's because they are doing something that is endangering me or those around me. It's not an "elitism" thing, it's an "abject terror" thing. There are two types of road bike riders: those who have crashed in a group and those who have not yet crashed in a group. Crashing sucks and it's a lesson you only have to learn once to make you never want to do it again. Crashing makes you realize just how seriously you need to take group rides and just how much concentration you need to have to be aware of what exactly is happening. I'm not saying this to scare off new riders, it's just the reality of the situation. If you're new to group riding, the main thing is not to join a group that's going to be too fast for you. In fact, I would recommend joining a group that is very easy for you. Adding in physical exhaustion to trying to learn group riding is a recipe for disaster. Also, be humble and listen to those around you (as long as they are polite and reasonable). The rules of riding in a group are the same all over the world and have been around since the beginnings of the sport. Even the most obscure, non-intuitive rule is there for a good reason. The main thing is to ride in a smooth, predictable manner. Sticking to the rules makes you smoother and more predictable. Once you get the hang of it, group riding is the only way to go.
You'd be yelling at a lot of people on the british road race scene. I find group ride crashes extremely rare and in my club of 600 riders there hasn't been one that I know of in the past 3 years.
Overcommunicate. We tend to fixate on what is happening in front of us because it changes faster than what is overtaking us. So, when you are overtaking from the left or right, announce your intentions. It also helps to acknowledge the communication with a nod or a quick thumbs up.
Nobody said that yelling at anyone for any reason is elitist. Methinks you might be too sensitive and saw criticism where there was none.
The context of that comment was clearly not a safety issue. That particular yelling was about not getting to the front fast enough to pull. It was someone who thought their time (edited for typo) on that ride was super important and thus was frustrated when someone wasn't helping them get the best time possible. That's why it's considered elitist. That person knows the plan and anyone who doesn't know the plan is ruining things for everyone else.
Additionally, the context heavily implied that the elitism comes in when chastising or yelling at new riders instead of just communicating the expectation.
Solo riding is better.
No, people yelling at people for ignorance is never acceptable. As a new road rider, this type of story makes me want to avoid the cycling community all together.
Coming from the mountain bike world (mostly downhill) the negativity Ive seen in the road cycling community is baffling. I've been MTBing for over a decade. In MTB, I have seen newer rider literally walking up downhill only trails and people dont yell at them for it (despite it being a life-threatening danger in some cases). We stop and pull off to the side and have civil conversations and help newer riders into the sport.
But road cyclist (not all, all it takes is a bad few) are just rude. Yelling at someone for not understanding a pace line is laughably immature.
Awesome video - sorry to dig up an old video but I am looking for a video to help the chain gang/group ride/drop ride that I take part in/lead - We have had a bunch of new people join which is awesome but they lack ettique and group riding "sense" and unfortunately had a crash in the bunch due to overlapping wheels a "town sign sprint". Things like calling, how to ride the paceline, townsign sprint ettitque, general consideration for people in bunch (yo yo on wheels/snotting etc)
Your vibe and inclusivity is awesome. I will keep watching.
Loving this series bro! I still haven't done my first proper group ride like this one. Appreciate the transparency over here 👊
Thanks for the love 🙏 Let’s do it when I come down to LA! 💪
@@norcalfullraces sounds like a plan! Montrose has a crazy group ride I've been afraid of 😅
A Hammer flask holds 5-6 gels. I buy GU gels because they come in 15-serving pouches.
Great advice, fun footage. Yellow jersey guy wearing a ball cap? Helmet with a ball cap?
Personally, I can't eat any type of whole foods while riding. My mouth and throat get too dry, and I can't get anything down even with water. However, the company I use for my water bottle mix also allows you to customize your carb, electrolyte, etc. ratios when ordering. I order a high carb mix, add it to something like Hammer flasks with a small amount of water until it makes a runny "sludge". I carry 1 flask for each hour of riding I'll be doing (usually no more than 6 flasks). I've completed Granfondos in the Alps and stage type races on this type of mix alone not even stopping at the rest points for fuel, just water as needed.
I love how the series is developing...keep it coming and stay safe!
Can we get a breakdown of EJ’s TCR??
Yes please!
Drove one Marathon and a good couple of 80-100km rides with small to mid groups.
My tips I learned on Group rides.
- Try out Gels for fast intake and eat bars on flat or "chill" segments.
- Get comftable with riding in the group. Try staying in the middle on the side (Roadside is better, since you can evade other rides better when you aren't comftable with being so close). It reduces risks and it gives you a better feeling where you stand. (Right Side is better if you don't wanna feel the pressure from behind).
- On your first time in a group your focus shouldn't be to be a head rider. Even if you can faster. Focus on sticking to the group. Learn to pace and ride in the Windshade.
- Big and important tip: Windshade. Never Ever try to lose it. Gear lower when you have a tight corner to get back to higher speed faster. Even a gap of 2-3 Meters can be hard to close. (I know it ... I had to close a couple of 20-50m gaps while the group was at a 35-40kph pace.
- The last tip comes with another tip. Find a "Teacher". Someone you can pace and try to match his exact speed. If your Frontpacer keeps on accelerating and breaking look for someone else, If he rides ahead stick in the group and look for someone else. List keeps going.
- ALWAYS Point out danger (Cracks, Sticks, Cars, Cyclist)
- Try to keep one hand to the bar ... we know you can ride free handed .. but its saver for everyone.
Before the first ride together in a group of very experienced riders (actively riding amateur racing series) it was taken for granted that I already had a >very< good performance, that I knew how to dress, how to eat and drink properly.
These experienced riders put me at the back of the peloton and said, stay here, don't go anywhere and watch everything and learn. And that went on for a long time. Today I'm an experienced rider and I'm definitely not going to let an amateur rider who has no idea how to ride in a group to go up and down and endanger everybody, it takes a lot of learning.
7--12 degrees Celsius on a sunny day, otherwise I ride on bare legs and one complete layer for the upper half of the body, but I am from the eastern EU and we are much more resistant to cold there.
Aldis sells fig newtons for super cheap and they are tasty..easy to throw in a baggie and eat while riding..just my two cents.
Eating right versus left hand.. I've been told and I agree is eat and drink with the LEFT hand. If the rider needs to grab a fistful of brake, a hard left brake grab will cause you to endo. There is also less control with the front brake and more potential to wash the front wheel. Rear brake is good for scrubbing speed and keeping control.
Anyone catch at 3:20 in the video the dude wearing a "hat" in the yellow jersey??
Are beginner group rides a thing? I’ve never done a group ride and am really put off by potentially pissing folks off because I don’t know all the ins and outs.
Where I live there are couple of no drop social group rides that will travel at 28km or so pace. There is brief put up on FB of the route and expectations and the organisers always provide a brief before going and if there's new faces they get asked if they've ridden in a group before and will be provided extra info on group etiquette.
Usually it will be rolling turns at the front and not a fast paceline like this one.
Ask your local shop/s about any no drop rides in your area and get into it!
Yes there are and they're probably the best thing providing there is at least one experienced rider to guide the group. I've seen a bunch of newbies kick off with a few silly rules while ignoring (or not knowing) really important ones.
Great video and good tips. You mention getting carbs in your bottles versus food. Do you have any recommendations of products that have worked best for you? Thanks
I make a point of giving any guy with the dirty bike a wide berth when in a race - if he can't be bothered getting the bike right then chances are his head isn't in the game and he's a liability.
Who is the dude in the yellow kit with the baseball hat at 3:20?
Great video - Been riding Zwift so long that my group riding skills have fallen off - great refresher.
lol, 11 degrees cold -- that's a beautiful summer's day in the north of england
I’m Alaskan and I live in Upstate New York. 50° is the lower end of my comfort zone without warners but I can absolutely do sub-freezing weather no problem with gloves and warmers. However, anything more than 75° is pretty damn hot for me
I recommend eating with your left hand because if you're going to break hard, especially with one hand, you'll want to drag the rear wheel instead of lock up your front wheel and most likely be on the ground. If you ride MTB you learn to use your rear brake a lot more. I never brake less than 50/50 front and rear brakes and then I start to let off the front first then back second, road and MTB.
Canadian rider here and can do low 50F rides without warmers if there isn't any wind.... But even up here it isn't too common
Water is heavy I always ride 1 bottle.. I use the small bottle or the large bottle.. Whatever the ride, I make it last the whole ride... so, if the ride is 60 miles, such as this, I divide the race/ride into quarters, and drink a quarter bottle at 15 miles.. half at 30 miles, and the remainder at 40 and 50 miles... As far as choking on food, eat 60 gm carbs every hour, one sip and hold and chew the food with your head down, so it stay at the front of the mouth, of you chew w it back, you may inhale and choke on it. Let the water soften the food and chew and swallow in small parts.
I hope I can find a after work group this year, the only one I know rides early Sunday mornings when I want to sleep in 😅
Appreciate the consistent content 👌
The trick I use on the pace line system is start on the back and watch what everyone else is doing. There are a lot of different ways and signals
Keep in mind, that the back can be the hardest place to ride. After every turn, the front will accelerate back to speed and you need a little snap to get back on; those snaps add up. It's a good practice to observe from the back, as you say, but also adjust your tactics to reduce the number of matches you'll need to strike.
Really enjoy your channel and content! As a beginner cyclist lots of great info.
Thank you so much for the support Jon!
Spectrums a pretty tough first group ride. Maybe the Friday Noon Ride might have been an easier introduction
I carry a gel flask that holds four shots. Far easier than gel packets and cheaper with less waste. A full flask lasts for a four hour ride. Easy to handle in a group situation.
3:16 was that guy wearing a baseball cap?!
The Ride leader.
A goof tip that I do is just go ahead and at least break the wrappers open for my food. It's especially helpful on a cold race day
Oh my gosh…this is actually an amazing idea! Definitely going to do this! Thank you!
Peanut butter pretzel bites are an easy snack to eat without having to hold something in your hands for several minutes. Also, you can fill up one of your bottles with water and put your gels in the water. Then you don't have all that sticky mess if you use gels.
Doing spectrum as a first group ride is gutsy! I was out there with you. Good job- get more group rides in so you know what is going on- it will improve fun and safety for everyone.
I feel like that could have me riding in the shoulder at 5:01 where the relative speed of you group riders versus the average Joe was clearly on display. Did you guys at least shout a few "On Your Left"s as you blew by those riders enjoying a ride at their own pace? As others have commented, I just don't see the enjoyment of a high-pressure group ride like that. Plus, here in the Bay Area, in my opinion, a large group ride like that generates more negative sentiments towards bicycle riders by the general public who cannot distinguish the difference between the riders in your group ride and those 2 riders at 5:01.
I came back to specifically find this part of the ride because it made me nervous in the moment when the camera threaded through between me (on my right) and community riders going much slower. I'm not sure what the etiquette is on this to move up in the group on others' right side at the same time "riders right!" is being shouted up ahead.
Fast group rides are huge fun. That said, the best place to learn the basic group-riding skills like pacelines (DONT SURGE AT THE FRONT, DAMMIT, unless you're actively attacking 😜) and calling out / pointing out hazards is on chiller group rides, like "team rides" in the winter where the focus is on getting base miles. But whatever. You did great, and your willingness to learn and observe will take you far. Chapeau!
Why do Americans have their front brake on the left? It's always been on the right in Australia growing up and as a motorcyclist the clutch is on the left front on the right
haha, I live in New England. If it's in the 50s, I'm definitely not wearing any warmers! But living in Cali, I imagine it's different.
Hey EJ, at least you didn’t get yelled at for “half-wheeling”. 😂
Looking good out there!
Energy in the form of glucose is the only energy you'll instantly get back during a ride.
The intestine has an absorption limit of 60 grams of glucose per hour, and glucose intake above this can cause stomach ache. It's recommended an total intake off 90g. carbs pr. hour in rides that last above 2.5 hours.
It's vital to look for gel with 2:1 ratio glucose:fructose.
One bag of these energy gels usually contain 20g glucose and 10 g. fructose of energy. Take one of those every 20 minutes and your energy intake is optimal. It only takes like 10 second to eat a gel.
I use to have my computer remind me with a sound to take some gel every 20 minutes. It's so easy to forget.
These gel need to be tested before a ride. Not every stomach like those and you have to test several brands to find onne that fits your stomach.
I’ve done spectrum twice, got dropped the first time and held in the second. Pretty brutal ride if you don’t know what to do like me
Hearing that such a nice dude like EJ got yelled at by one of these clowns makes me very happy to continue riding my myself. Unless someone's being absurdly reckless, it seems like the better approach would be to give that feedback afterwards. I don't need to stand for other adults yelling at me. Unfortunately it's yet another cyclist who has solidified the shitty elitist reputation that they have.
"It's not personal".... That's what we tell new riders to the local group rides. "If you get yelled at it's not personal. It's to have you make a correction quickly." It's the need to communicate loudly and quickly. Safety is paramount. Yelling accomplishes this and gets results quickly. When you are moving along above 20mph in a pace line, it's not the time to have a drawn out conversation. After the ride we can talk about it and make sure everyone is good.
@@jamest2502 Well, that's a load of crap. "Yeah, I'm going to scream at you, but when it's all over, I'll explain to you why you need to let bygones be bygones. I gotcha, bro. It's all good." Up your nose with a fire hose. I've done so many sports in my lifetime and easily, easily, the worst effete a-holes were in road cycling. It's a product of demographics. Road cycling attracts a disproportionate amount of yuppies and rich boys who already have senses of entitlement and superiority, which is all the more comical in these silly "competitive" group rides. These numbnuts persist under the delusion that they're contending for the win in Roubaix or the Tour. Pros, of course, don't ride like this at all. In an absolute sense, these group riders, even the "A" group members, are Freds. Gulfs separate them from truly gifted riders. And that's the other thing, regardless of which sport it is: the really good ones rarely act like this. It's almost always the pissants who thrust out their chests and bark and howl. These are the guys who drop $8/9/10 k and more on their rigs, trying to shave a few hundred grams for their "competitive group rides" and races that mean nothing. Do you guys have any conception of how clownish you look and sound? If you're so worried about accidents, don't participate in group ride sprints. Sprinting among 30-40 guys the likes of you folks is a recipe for injury. You don't have the bike handling skills to react at 35-40 mph in a group sprint. Little wonder that I've seen so many crashes in videos of group rides and Cat. 2-5 races. Those races aren't dangerous because of the sizes of the peloton, they're dangerous because those riders lack the skills to shoot gaps at those speeds, the sense to pull up when they have no chance, the coordination to do all the millisecond adjustments necessary at those speeds to avoid catastrophe.
3:23 bro in his flat cap! Never seen that before
I thought that was the ride leader in the Trucker Cap.
"when I ride alone I prefer to be by myself"
@3:21, Did he forget his helmet?
50s would be a dream temperature on any of the New England group rides right now.
I always open my bars/waffles before I put them in my jersey pockets. Makes eating easier in group or solo ride. 👌🏽
nothing like going out to my recreational sporting activity and getting yelled at- road cycling rocks !
Man…perspective is crazy. Low 50s is not cold where I live.
We are soft out here 🤣
3:19, is that guy wearing a ball cap?
you said, its cold in California right now bro....cmon come to uk them we talk. 😳 I'm happy thought you fixed your front derauiler cable change, that will be crazy to face whit out
Hold up, is that guy at 3:21 in yellow riding without a helmet?
I'm guessing you got yelled at by Kevin. Kevin yells at everyone. It's a rite of passage. Congrats.
Damn, he sounds like a dickhead. I wouldn't ride with anyone like that.
Two of the biggest things I've seen with new riders is that they lose focus and don't hold their line. They jerk or drift left and right etc causing emergency reactions from those around them. Also, hitting their brakes because they panic about something.
Wha's up with the guy in a baseball cap? around 3:18?
Just curius on 3 plus hour rides do yall ever have to take a pee brake? Im semi new to the sport my longest 2 rides where about 2-2.5 hours and after both u had to go prety bad how do yall go 4 hours strait?
If this is your pace after 6 months, you're a big talent man. That was going seriously fast. Keep going and we'll be seeing you in the tour one day?
What was the pace? 4 watt/kg plus???
I believe you but find it crazy you prefer grabbing front brake over back brake when you only have one hand on the bar. Mtber but legit always just nut myself and fall if I accidentally grabbing just some front brake lol
That's a pretty quick group ride for a first
This is the same ride where someone who crashed sued the group. Also loved the time a rider spat on another. 😂
Is that guy wearing a helmet at 3:20? He does have some warmers on though 😂
Comments done respectfully is necessary on group rides. Inexperienced riders can be strong enough to hang but don’t know how to draft, overlap wheels or swerve around obstacles. If you can stay clear of inexperienced riders to stay upright.
My tip is to first select z group to reflect your ability
Those groups ride with a lotta of people that have different bike handling abilities and understanding of the rules of cycling, can become very dangerous for the most experienced cyclist. Do not forget that cycling is an intense sport, therefore expect that experience cyclist will give you an intense warning, if he feels threatened by anyone. It's no different than any other spots.
I see everyone riding bikes with drop bars. Is that a requirement or something?
What group ride is this? ,and where do you meet?
My first group ride was not 87 moat 20+ mph pace
To each there own on what they wear when riding…. I am in LA county, riding at 5:30 AM sometimes 34 degrees F.
So to ME, I think 50’s sounds great and would love to shed some apparel when I’m out in that temp!! Sounds great
Any recommendations on how to maneuver in these groups if you're starting to drop on climbs? Other than the obvious "becoming a better climber"? I popped out the side of a recent group ride on the climb, knowing I would be a bit slower, and thinking that I didn't want to hold up riders behind. This backfired and I was almost immediately dropped and couldn't catch up after getting taxed by the climb and having to break the wind alone for 5-10 miles.
Well the obvious is to be at front at beginning of climb and sag back when necessary. If you lose contact and never catch up, oh well this is why some group rides are drop rides. Keep doing these rides, eventually you will make the whole ride with the group
Hey man, like the series, I just moved to SF. Can you recommend a good group ride?
Welcome to the area! Are you looking for just a chill one or a competitive group ride?
@@norcalfullraces thanks! Both? Depends what the w/kg cycle is for the competitive group rides are? I’m getting back to fitness currently.
@@adamashfield357 the ride in this video is the spectrum ride, which is fast pace, I definitely would say it’s competitive. 20+ mph average speed for the ride. If you are new, you can hop into the Pen Velo ride on Saturday and Sunday. Starting point is at top of Cañada road and 92 parking lot. You can do that ride and time it with spectrum if you want to get more intense riding in.
"It's cold in CA right now, it's low 50s." Me: *Laughs in Chicagoan* I wouldn't even switch to my fall/spring kit.
it said "9000 subscribers". now i hit the subscribe button. so it's official. ITS OVER 9000!!!!
open your food packages before you ride. Let people in the group know you are new to group rides, or even don't know the route BEFORE the ride.
keep up with the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:24 dude doesn’t have a helmet on. Needs to follow Tip#3
There is some foam protection under the "cap," but I don't think it's CPSC compliant or anything. Longtime Spectrum rider.
Input from grouchy old man.
First, the old rule still holds fast. No group rides until you can ride rollers for at least 45 minutes without needing to touch a wall or support.
Second, no surging or balking at front. Steady speed.
Third, signal intent with plenty of time for other riders to react.
Finally, no overlapping wheels.
Dude so jealous you have Jeff as a mentor! Seems like you guys are building a good friendship too. So great. Jeff seems like a stand up guy! Really enjoying these videos too.
Thanks EJ for the steady stream of content!
He’s a pretty dang cool guy! I’m very lucky!
A very miss organized group ride let me tell you. At times there is riders all over the lane on an open road, and some riding on the opposite side of the lane, I am glad they made it safely but just be careful
Okay mom.
Gotta love Cañada road
Thank you for sharing tips and tricks for group riding. Reading the comments is absolutely awesome too. So many great experiences shared with all.
I'm 60, been riding probably 57 of those years.😁I've tried a few group rides and even attempted cat4-5 racing back in the 90s for a year. I just want to add a bit to the video conversation about riding the white line in practice. Hopefully everyone on the ride has reasonable vision, even if aided with glasses or contacts, I feel it is vital to practice expanding your ability to use your peripheral vision when practicing riding the white line. If you focus too hard on watching the line while eating or drinking, your reaction to something just ahead can be delayed and that can be dangerous. Practice having the white line in your peripheral boundaries, not your main focus. The white line makes this practice so much easier as the color contrast aids the eye's ability to incorporate it into your peripheral vision. Then, once you start to master this concept, put it into practice. You'll start to notice your ability to quickly change peripheral points of location like the seat stays in front of you in relation to your front tire etc., all the while keeping your focus further ahead to any up coming hazards or direction changes.
To this day, on road bikes, I struggle with bike control when out of the saddle. As mentioned in the video about proper equipment, I finally found the ticket to aid my control, but 52cm flared handlebars are NOT group ride friendly.😨 Knowing this, I will be sure to make it known that I will not be in the middle of the pack at time during the ride. If this is not acceptable, then another ride by myself will be had.😄
Hey! What’s the mix you use in your bottles?
I use the GU carb mix!
Why are they all over the road? Keep a paceline
There are places in this ride where pacelines aren’t practical. Narrow and winding roads.
i am perfectly comfortable with colder temps than this, just because you're not, others can be
This is such a completely advanced first-time group ride - kudos to you for getting into it and making it through. Your attitude (and Jeff's) is just fantastic. All of these tips are spot on. I need arm and leg warmers, typically, anytime it's under 60 degrees F; I do NOT like riding cold. I have some white sun sleeves that are good, too, when it's super hot and sunny out; great for not needing to cake on the sun block and avoiding roasted arm for dinner ;-) They seem to work well for keeping a bit cooler, too. I don't do bars while riding in any high intensity group rides, but sometimes gels though usually have been favoring the blocks/chews kind of food format. I can grab the package from a pocket that I've already ripped open, and thumb two in my mouth. I've found that so much faster, less fiddly, safer and just less stressful - so much easier than a gel packet (which needs much more focus and riding a straight line in a group setting). I'll do that every ~20 minutes, which can work better for me during a faster workout than doing something once per hour. But if you take in your fuel just from the bottle, that is the easiest/fastest way to go.
I put a gel under a leg of my bib shorts. Super easy to access
11°C cold??
3:20 competitive through & off group ride... and there's a guy in a baseball cap? Good luck mate!