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Building up to club riding for a newbie

by Groggy PM
Sun, Aug 09, 2015 12:28
10

Having ridden MTBs through my 30s, I haven't ridden anything for at least 3 years. I've just pulled the trigger on a new road bike and wondered what a reasonable distance was to begin with to build up to club rides / sportives etc.

I have a decent level of basic fitness, but I do remember getting dropped big style by my riding mates who were also roadies on big Tarmac climbs 7

Cheers for any thoughts and advice 16

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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Thanks guys, really appreciate all thus information and advice - so useful! I'm going to look into all of those different options.

Knowing the guy who got dropped by my local club, he won't have started with a beginners ride - he'd been riding on his own for a while and had a nice bike - big hat, no cattle syndrome.

Just one thing: what the hell is a 'noddy hat'? 24

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Woldsman replied to Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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Groggy PM wrote:

Just one thing: what the hell is a 'noddy hat'? 24

Presumably a term used for a cycle helmet by those who choose not to use one.

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Groggy PM replied to Woldsman | 9 years ago
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Woldsman wrote:
Groggy PM wrote:

Just one thing: what the hell is a 'noddy hat'? 24

Presumably a term used for a cycle helmet by those who choose not to use one.

How dull? It was much funnier in my head.

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Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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This will be on my commute and is something I can incorporate into some timed rides - there's a few options for getting there and back as well.

Thanks Simon.

http://veloviewer.com/segment/3640938/Terrington+Bank+-+steep+bit

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Simon E | 9 years ago
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A local club with no-drop intermediate rides sounds ideal. Give it a try.

If riding solo why not think of it in terms of time as well as / instead of distance?

Find a couple of roughly 1.5-2 hour routes you can manage (for variety as much as anything). Once you've ridden them then try to ride each more quickly.

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Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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Cheers doc, there's some good stuff on there!

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Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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Eeeep! Better get on the bike then! 3

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Woldsman | 9 years ago
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An event at the end of the holidays not too far from you if you are at a loose end:

http://eastyorkshirectc.org.uk/september-6th-2015-challenge-rides

Not mountainous, but a few hilly bits away from the Vale of York 1

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Groggy PM | 9 years ago
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Thanks. My local club looks pretty cool, judging by their page - they have steady rides, but with fitness as a focus as well as learning about group riding. People don't get dropped on these (although I've been told to take thus with a pinch of salt by some).

For the next four weeks, I'm planning to do around 100 miles a week (teachers' holidays are awesome) after that it will depend on work and weather, but I'm planning to do my 14 mile commute pretty regularly, so that should see me right.

Thanks again.

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KirinChris | 9 years ago
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Check the local clubs you're planning to ride with and see what they do would be the be first step.

Most clubs will have a range of rides from say 60-70km starter rides to 100-120km group rides, but even they will range from moderate to hard pace. A sportive may be a bit easier because you can do it at your own pace.

The starter rides will be no-drop so that's a good place to see how you go and get some feedback face to face.

A rule of thumb I've found is that whatever your average weekly riding total is, you can ride up to half as much again in a single ride.

So if you're doing 80km a week on a regular basis you could manage a sportive of 100-120km. You might not crush it but you'll get through.

Bump that weekly up to make it a one-to-one ratio and you should get along comfortably.

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