Chain gang Rules | What did i do wrong?

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 1 тра 2024
  • After a message from someone on eBay i join a local group ride for their chain gang. Turns out meeting a bunch of men in lyrca round the back of a petrol station outside Slough can be a lot of fun.
    Thanks to the Berkshire Gregario's for hosting.
    Find me on:
    ▶️ Instagram - / maxwilko
    ▶️ Strava - / strava
    ▶️ Zwift Power Profile - zwiftpower.com/profile.php?z=...
  • Спорт

КОМЕНТАРІ • 73

  • @alexwoolley5173
    @alexwoolley5173 Місяць тому +9

    I used to do weekly chain gang nights which started me into the racing scene, the impact on my fitness was immense. The best way to get fast is to ride with faster riders.
    My old course was on a loop which came in handy in the first few weeks/months because when I used to get dropped I could soft pedal and wait for them to come round again and then have another dig, week by week I got stronger and stronger until I started putting in little "attacks" of my own.
    The anxiety bit is normal and still get it now, just the apprehension of the pain to come 😂

  • @simondeath7708
    @simondeath7708 Місяць тому +6

    Loved this. Very relatable content for a lot of cyclists I imagine. It bought back memories of when I rocked up at a group ride knowing no one, and no experience of CG or pace line. It turned out to be a great group that got me into racing and trips to Spain. It is a great way of progressing your cycling journey. Well done Max

  • @thegoodwheel
    @thegoodwheel Місяць тому +6

    Well done. There definitely needs to be more of this type of content on UA-cam

  • @frankiefivethousand
    @frankiefivethousand Місяць тому +5

    im 34 and still lay out my kit and spares the day before and get there half hour early for an group ride to quell the nerves

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +2

      I’m heading back tonight. Kit is ready

  • @chrisdavie8617
    @chrisdavie8617 Місяць тому +2

    Nice video and it’s comforting to know that our club is similar in set up for these rides to others. A chainy for us is the 2 parallel rotating lines (counter clockwise) whereas we would call your ride a pace line. Good advice during the ride though. 42kph+ is a very good lick. We have 34, 37 and 42kph averages so again similar. Love our Wednesdays here in north Cambridge !

  • @harrybroaks9725
    @harrybroaks9725 Місяць тому +2

    Good vid, Max! I think this kind of content will go down well and you obviously enjoyed doing it yourself.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Loved it. Back again this evening

  • @phil_d
    @phil_d Місяць тому

    Looks like great fun, Max. I too share your feelings about riding with new people, to the point I have never done it! I end up out very early on a Sunday and get it done before breakfast!
    I do think I might see if I can do some Crit races at Bovingdon and get a little more social.
    Keep the content coming 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

  • @davidcarino6500
    @davidcarino6500 Місяць тому

    Nice to see group rides! 👍

  • @Gixer750pilot
    @Gixer750pilot Місяць тому +11

    3 groups and a name . Sounds like a club to me

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +3

      Haha I mean if it looks like a duck…
      Maybe just takes some of the responsibility out of road riding in a group

    • @Gixer750pilot
      @Gixer750pilot Місяць тому +3

      @@thewattlife it’s true . Saves on a lot in internal politics and meetings !! Just turn up and ride on the night . Simple

  • @tefer1982
    @tefer1982 Місяць тому

    Great ride, good you found more local riders. I know group riding can be intimidating but normally bigger groups or clubs have different levels so something for everyone so people should check out the local clubs and meets.

  • @LeedsJimbo82
    @LeedsJimbo82 Місяць тому +1

    Riding on the flat looks amazing, wish I had more of that!

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +1

      Haha I’m thinking about building a 1x 😜

  • @GingerWarriorCyclingClub
    @GingerWarriorCyclingClub Місяць тому

    Great Video on a positive random meet up. Looking to do similar soon near Rochester as yet to do a road ride in the UK, this has given me more incentive. Cheers 👍

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Perfect for a warm sunny evening

  • @dustinsanders2175
    @dustinsanders2175 Місяць тому +3

    When rotating at the front it helps when the guy who is currently the head of the group yells out "Clear!" when you're safely ahead of him. If everyone does this it helps riders who are less aware of their immediate relation to the front rider's wheel and tire, so hopefully it cuts down on folks overlapping and causing an accident.
    If there are guys in the group who are new or just less experienced it can give them confidence to rotate and give them the sense of purpose because they're helping everyone go faster, ride smoother and stay safe.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +2

      I’d love to hear people’s opinion on this- because I’m a bit clueless.
      BUT- in a chain gang with 30-45 sec pulls you rotate clockwise so the front wheel moves out of the line and solo drifts to the back.
      On “up & off” rides then you’ll have to let people know when they have cleared your wheel and you’ll typically rotate counter clockwise.
      They seem like two different things to me. What do you think?

    • @jonathancooke542
      @jonathancooke542 Місяць тому +1

      @@thewattlife”through and off”/ “up and off” is single line, lead rider holding for pre determined time and then moving off to the right and to the back of the line. Have to be careful when moving right for passing cars. There won’t be a signal but you should see him check his right shoulder before moving over.
      Chain gang is two lines of riders, those slowing/going back on the left and those faster/moving up on the right. As the 1st fast rider passes the 1st slow rider on the front, the slow rider should shout “clear”when it is safe to pull in front of him. At the back of the chain the last slow rider will move over to the fast lane of riders on his right. He does this following the rider that passes him calling “last man”, this is sign that you need to be prepared to get up to speed and move into the fast lane.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +1

      This is exactly the explanation I needed. Thank you.
      I’ve got a bit confused with my terminology

    • @ridley8340
      @ridley8340 Місяць тому +3

      @@thewattlife That's one way to do it, but often with a skilled group the rotation should change depending on wind direction so that you are moving up sheltered by the guys dropping back.
      So if wind is from the left then you move up on the right (rotate anticlockwise) if the wind is from the right then you move up on the left (rotate clockwise).
      Somebody would often call the change of rotation when necessary.
      Also in a big chain gang it can help to shout "last" or "last man" when you start moving up again, especially if some are missing turns.

    • @secretagent86
      @secretagent86 28 днів тому +1

      @@ridley8340exactly. Wind dictates the rotation

  • @EmrysJones
    @EmrysJones Місяць тому +1

    this looks like so much fun

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      I can confirm on a nice evening it was a lot of fun

  • @paulinnesgraphiteart6051
    @paulinnesgraphiteart6051 20 днів тому

    These are my old training roads, been a while since i have been over yhem. Used to do a chain gang with a group of guys. Great fun. Hopefully i can get back into it soon.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  16 днів тому +1

      I’ve come to really enjoy the Tues night group rides. Just need to weather to sort itself out

  • @robb9uk
    @robb9uk Місяць тому

    Nice vid (BGFN well known to me). "What did I do wrong?". Half-wheeled twice @7:16 and @7:25 on the Drift Road section, which is one of the fastest sections, where fatigue is setting in as it is in the last 5-10k of the course. Tbf, you are coasting mid paceline, and for sure you certainly want to avoid braking, but noticeable that no one ahead was overlapping despite the concertina. At Drift Road speeds, especially with the Thames Velo hot group pulling on the front, if the guy on your inside, turns even slightly right connecting with your wheel, it could get ugly real quick.

    • @ridegreen78
      @ridegreen78 27 днів тому

      It is not wrong to briefly half wheel. This keeps from having to coast and causing the rubber band effect through the rest of the pace line which can be even more dangerous. It's only when you're constantly half wheeling that it becomes an issue. You have to be aware of what's going on around you when you do it though.

  • @Gary-le7dz
    @Gary-le7dz Місяць тому

    Good ways to meet people is join a club , and find a decent local shop and chat to the guys there …. Chain gangs are great way to get race fit as motivation to not get dropped means you push yourself much much more than a standard coub ride … great video

  • @struancochrane753
    @struancochrane753 Місяць тому

    Good video, it is nerve wracking joining a new group. We, in the local clubs I ride with, tend to let the fast ride go first then the 2nd, followed by the 3rd. This for me works well as you don't get the faster group passing you, which inevitably ends up with a surge in the slower group holding onto the back of the fast group, which blows the 2nd group apart. As someone that spends a lot of time hanging on by the skin of my teeth, even a 1kph uplift can be enough to blow me off the back.
    42kph Ave for a 40km ride seems very fast and quiet a jump from 27kph. I would be anchored in group 2.

    • @matthey545
      @matthey545 Місяць тому

      Completely agree, fastest group goes first. Don't know the roads in this video but a line of 13 riders, when the two groups join up, is pretty long for cars to pass safely.

  • @leedorney
    @leedorney 27 днів тому

    I used to ride these and loved them super fast ride way beyond your level - nothing like the experience of these, super super thrilling 😍😎 truly beautiful days - used to do the faster group as no one screwed around and just rode no pretty scrapping

  • @Walk_Run_and_Cycle
    @Walk_Run_and_Cycle Місяць тому +1

    Hey, nice vlog. I'd say stick the faster group off first, then you'd avoid getting tangled up, a big group is probably a bit unsafe on the road. Else, just keep it the same, but if the faster group catches you, let them go so you're out of their slipstream, then continue at your pace.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Happy to pass this comment on, I think as the group gets bigger it’s defintely the safer thing to do

  • @matthias2447
    @matthias2447 14 днів тому +1

    How do you like the sunglasses for cycling? Looks like Sungod Airas? How do they deal with wind at high speeds?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  14 днів тому +1

      I always ride with the SunGod Vulcans or the Airas.
      Full disclosure I was their first ambassador but have always used them and stand by their quality. The Vulcans are my favourite as they sit up against my helmet and don’t leave a gap and you get absolutely no wind sneaking behind them at high speeds

  • @Bikerider52x11
    @Bikerider52x11 Місяць тому

    The more organized (and faster) pace lines I’ve been in will have the front rider start to pull off as soon as he gets to the front. In other words you aren’t really taking a pull as much as you are just pulling through. Be careful not to surge when you get to the front other wise that will start opening gaps. Also ….when you are at the end of the of the line and start moving forward, let the guy drifting back that you are last rider. You can simply say “I’m last” so he knows to start sliding over and get in the draft of the line moving forward. Also….dont necessarily pull off to the same side. Pull off into the side where the wind is so you shelter the line that is pulling through.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Yeah I think it can depend on the group size and the amount of time they’ve ridden together. Short hard pulls are definitely faster, hopefully get there a bit later in the summer

  • @ColoCX
    @ColoCX Місяць тому +1

    0:46 so Taylor, Bernie, and Constance 😂

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +1

      Took me a while to get this. 👏🏻 😜

  • @crossrich
    @crossrich Місяць тому

    Great video, i definitely relate to the anxiety point about new group rides, well done for raising it! couple of minor things since you asked 😅 i would say that this is a group ride, riding as a pace line (great) and not to me a chain gang. Also i would consider using "they" or "rider." As opposed to "his" or "guys" to try and help encourage more inclusivity and participation in the sport?
    I know it's not your group but having the faster groups go off first might be better because if people drop from the fast group they can join the mid group etc and you don't have this sketchy overtaking a big group stuff.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      I’m quite new to this so I only found out the difference between a chain gang and a pace line as a consequence of making this video.
      Always happy to try to be more inclusive and in fact working on some projects focusing on exactly this

    • @crossrich
      @crossrich Місяць тому

      @@thewattlife Nice one, keep up the great content!

  • @fwschnaar3179
    @fwschnaar3179 Місяць тому

    Reminds me of going out to my first Local Group Ride, and I got yelled at 3 or 4 or 5 times, for a while 🤔😂… Well over the Years I became the Ride Leader, and the Boss of the Rides, and was the one doing the yelling (kinda) 🤔😳👍🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴🏻‍♀️🚴‍♂️

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Im trying to avoid getting shouted out! haha next time ill try the fast crew and see how that turns out

  • @robb9uk
    @robb9uk Місяць тому

    Also, FYI last year Robbie McEwen (he of the TdF Maillot Vert) came out on the BGFN. Rumours of Adam Blythe possibly joining the Tuesday fun this season.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Will be trying my best to make as many Tuesday sessions as possible

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +1

      Had the pleasure of riding with Robbie this evening

    • @robb9uk
      @robb9uk Місяць тому

      @@thewattlife excellent! Cheers for letting me know. Saw from the feed of some of the guys that he’d joined again. Large turnout it seems. Interestingly, Adam and Dan Lloyd cycled the FN loop early last weekend. Hmm 🤔. Unfortunately, I’ve not been out for a few seasons due to injuries from a near fatal cycling (car) accident catching up with me 😔. Maybe soon…

  • @ds6914
    @ds6914 21 день тому

    wind dictates direction you pull off. move up sheltered, drop back in the wind

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  16 днів тому

      Makes sense but on open roads and groups who don’t regularly ride together it’s best to keep things easy for everyone to understand. Or at least that’s the way I look at it 👌🏻

    • @ds6914
      @ds6914 16 днів тому

      @@thewattlife it's not hard to understand and way harder to pull through if you've a cross wind on the wrong side - which in itself is more likely to create problems. Imo anyway

  • @bitminerbob6731
    @bitminerbob6731 Місяць тому +1

    Nah, do the fast group next time. Good prep for your first A grade Zwift race. :)

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому +1

      Next time for sure, just have this 100 mile run on the wkend and wanted to look after my legs at least a little bit

    • @sigfreed11
      @sigfreed11 Місяць тому

      Agreed! When you don’t have big events coming up a video of you attempting to keep up with the fast group would be entertaining

  • @thefollandgnat8628
    @thefollandgnat8628 Місяць тому

    Where are the rim brakes?

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Still a good few riders using rims.
      These are being phased out in the west but I know Asia still has a huge rim brake market

    • @thefollandgnat8628
      @thefollandgnat8628 Місяць тому

      @@thewattlife Ah, I'll have to look closer. All the ones I looked at on your ride seemed to be disks.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      Mostly disc for sure- guy who beat me in the sprint was on a rim Boardman 👌🏻

  • @timtaylor9590
    @timtaylor9590 Місяць тому

    Thinking about the possibility of getting murdered when invited to a group ride, lol.

  • @stuartmclean3843
    @stuartmclean3843 Місяць тому +1

    Should really be 20 to 30secs, 1 minute is too long a turn

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      I think as the season goes on things will get more drilled

  • @paddymurphy-oconnor8255
    @paddymurphy-oconnor8255 Місяць тому

    I gave up cycling club because of all the pettiness and jealousy from grown men just because I was a lot better than they were. Utterly sad.

    • @thewattlife
      @thewattlife  Місяць тому

      I think there’s always a group/club that will suit your needs. Just have to find it I guess