Tried out Group Riding

Yesterday, I rode with a cycling team to try them out. The overall pace was good (16.8 mph). It felt a bit too easy b/c I was drafting the whole time. Since I am new to group riding, I was relegated to stay at the back and learn, so I didn’t do any pulling. I did feel challenged on a couple of hills where I had a little trouble keeping their pace and got dropped on one long climb. That made me feel like a wuss.

Overall, I find it annoying to keep someone else’s pace: I have to constantly adjust my pace to stay on the other guy’s wheel, and I can’t fly down hills. I really love being free to do whatever I want when I ride.

Also, I can’t listen to music* when riding in a group, so it was kind of boring. I was in the back by myself behind four guys**. They were friendly enough, but I was sort of the fifth wheel.

I want to learn from these guys, so may try again next Saturday. The best bike splits at my triathlons are often made by members of this team. Even though I’m great on the bike, I feel I can still get better. (read the part above about how I felt like a wuss!) There are a few females on this team, who were away at a bike race today. Maybe it will be more fun with more riders.

*yes, I listen to music when riding my bike. I only wear one headphone, and it’s not loud, so I can still hear cars and stuff. probably not the safest way to ride, but, well, I choose to do it anyway!

**I greatly enjoyed the view: male cyclists are so buff! Speaking of buff male cyclists, here’s a photo from 1999 of Lance: