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SATURDAY MORNING RIDES (Multiple Skill Levels | 15+ average speed) 7:30am Rollout I’m expected to do my share, right? No. The only thing you are expected to do is return with the group and ride in a safe, predictable way. You have decided to be part of a group – like a big school of fish swimming together – it has an organic flow to it. The school wants to, tries to stay together – remember, IT IS A GROUP RIDE. If the school is split, it forms two schools not one and a bunch of stragglers. I’m always shocked when I see a new rider take the lead position (in the wind) and then push the pace. Or a new rider struggle alone in the wind to get back on after being dropped with multiple riders just 20 yards behind who are willing to help share the work. New to a ride, ride a conservative ride and leave something in the tank as a reserve. If you’re paired up with a stronger rider, don’t let them push you beyond a sustainable effort. Feel the ride speeding up, grab a steady wheel and hang on – minimizing hard accelerations & exposure in the wind. Need to ride a specific workout, or average speed – do that on your own and join us on another weekend – that’s ok. Will I be dropped? Well it depends. Riders will wait for you if it looks like you can make it back WITH THE GROUP. If you are off the back and clearly not going to finish with the group – do you want everyone to wait, repeatedly? You should be familiar with the roads to the point that if you are in over your head you can ride home safely.
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I have done the MS 150 – that’s group ride experience, right? Yes. It is a group of people going down the road on bicycles, but no not nearly enough experience for you to be a safe group rider. We are speaking to the specific skills learned to make group riding safe in single pacelines, double pacelines, climbing, etc. Skills like not overlapping, being predictable, great communication, smooth decelerations, looking before you move, etc.
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