In a month or two the last hour might want to be a bit harder for those racing I suppose. Going to make a more concerted effort to make these rides every week now, you buggers are getting fitter and I need to stop getting fatter
Training ride, Saturday 8th
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I was in the group yesterday for the first hour or so, and it was a bit large. If I'd have had a pass out for the entire ride, in fact the wife thought I was putting a wash on in the utility room at 8:45am, then I'd have suggested shorter turns once we got on the old A1. You have to be careful with that though as people often use that as an excuse for a burnup, especially down that stretch. Either that or have half the people freewheel for a minute and then keep the other group in sight - without trying to catch them. In that scenario anybody wanting a harder effort can go catch the other group, have a pee stop and do it all again if they want. So long as those that don't want to are not forced into trying to keep up
In a month or two the last hour might want to be a bit harder for those racing I suppose. Going to make a more concerted effort to make these rides every week now, you buggers are getting fitter and I need to stop getting fatter
In a month or two the last hour might want to be a bit harder for those racing I suppose. Going to make a more concerted effort to make these rides every week now, you buggers are getting fitter and I need to stop getting fatter
training ride
4 pages this week.Its only sunday.Take some beating.Cant wait for the Malton ride reports 
Great forum when everyone can have a good discussion to iron out any creases in the rides
Great forum when everyone can have a good discussion to iron out any creases in the ridesTurning into a bit of an epic this thread! I joined the group out on the road this time so don't know what discussion there was in the Square but had assumed we were doing what we did last week. I was at the head of the group when we approached Boroughbridge so led us up to the island where we retraced our steps but sounds like we were being over cautious and could have gone thru B'bridg, onto Crayke, etc.
I agree with Will and Chester 56 about "P***gate" incident. Once it was clear that there was a group that was vanishing into the distance, but there was still riders behind still "sorting themselves out" after comfort break, myself and a few others sat up and waited for the last man - who shall remain namless (he's called John....sorry John )- to finish peeing....Discretion being the better of valour and all that. For about 20 mins it was just farcical out on the road....looked more like a time trial than a group ride. Momentarily, felt slighltly irritated by faster guys taking off but enjoyed the ride on the way back nonethelless. Three of us turned into four, then five,etc until we got to about 8 as we picked up riders along the way.
I am definitely in the camp that says we should do shorter turns. But guilty as anyone else on Saturday. When my turn finally came round I wanted to make the most of it and stayed there too long. Hard to keep everyone happy (understatement) but I think we have to assume that, if you turn up at the square you are wanting to ride with that group and finish with that group unless there is some discussion on the road or some natural selection (and by that I don't mean who is the quickest at having a pee)
I agree with Will and Chester 56 about "P***gate" incident. Once it was clear that there was a group that was vanishing into the distance, but there was still riders behind still "sorting themselves out" after comfort break, myself and a few others sat up and waited for the last man - who shall remain namless (he's called John....sorry John
)- to finish peeing....Discretion being the better of valour and all that. For about 20 mins it was just farcical out on the road....looked more like a time trial than a group ride. Momentarily, felt slighltly irritated by faster guys taking off but enjoyed the ride on the way back nonethelless. Three of us turned into four, then five,etc until we got to about 8 as we picked up riders along the way.I am definitely in the camp that says we should do shorter turns. But guilty as anyone else on Saturday. When my turn finally came round I wanted to make the most of it and stayed there too long. Hard to keep everyone happy (understatement) but I think we have to assume that, if you turn up at the square you are wanting to ride with that group and finish with that group unless there is some discussion on the road or some natural selection (and by that I don't mean who is the quickest at having a pee
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reubenbarrett
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I think Phil's suggestions are very sensible - we have 30 riders out on a Saturday morning so we should be able to have 3 groups with variance in pace to suit everyone. Although I imagine there will be more than one third that want to go in the middle group so could be hard to make group sizes even. For sure, the smaller groups will mean everyone has more turns on the front anyway.
I was out with steadier group yesterday, we started and finished as one group (more or less) with safe and tidy riding all round. I suspect the average effort levels weren't much different than the other group because of smaller group with shorter turns, although without their step-change in effort from armchair to time-trialling after p1ssgate. Enjoyed the A168 most of the whole ride for lack of traffic and mud!
Must say I'm a bit surprised at the group etiquette in Group 1. If the pace was too easy on way out, couldn't someone try to speed up turns or propose splitting up into 2 groups? If there are a few who want to hammer it a bit, can't they tell other people that's what they want to do rather than just head off while others haven't even finished zipping themselves up?!?
I was out with steadier group yesterday, we started and finished as one group (more or less) with safe and tidy riding all round. I suspect the average effort levels weren't much different than the other group because of smaller group with shorter turns, although without their step-change in effort from armchair to time-trialling after p1ssgate. Enjoyed the A168 most of the whole ride for lack of traffic and mud!
Must say I'm a bit surprised at the group etiquette in Group 1. If the pace was too easy on way out, couldn't someone try to speed up turns or propose splitting up into 2 groups? If there are a few who want to hammer it a bit, can't they tell other people that's what they want to do rather than just head off while others haven't even finished zipping themselves up?!?
I think often there is a "put up" attitude something I have been guilty of, we need to get to a point where everyon in the group is confident enough to call it when the pace is too hot, too cold or the group is too big.
18 seems large to me, I have said before I think no more than 12 is about the ideal size but we need talk more!!
We all seem sociable enough and I get bet that if one person is thinking the group is too big, tto slow etc then then there will be others thinking the same!
18 seems large to me, I have said before I think no more than 12 is about the ideal size but we need talk more!!
We all seem sociable enough and I get bet that if one person is thinking the group is too big, tto slow etc then then there will be others thinking the same!
Once I'd finishing peeing I was guilty of just sticking my head down and chasing the lead group on Saturday when, in hindsight, I should have shown a bit more etiquette. I guess the group I was in saw it as a challenge to get back on and didn't think about the guys behind.
I think splitting on the road isn't a bad idea but it'll have to be a bit more pre-arranged than last week.
Anyway, the real purpose of this post was to see if I could push the discussion over 5 pages and create the longest ever post ride review!
I think splitting on the road isn't a bad idea but it'll have to be a bit more pre-arranged than last week.
Anyway, the real purpose of this post was to see if I could push the discussion over 5 pages and create the longest ever post ride review!
Always willing to do my bit for the cause Martin! Andy's right about the etiquette bit. In fact the same happened last week when those without walnut-sized bladders didn't stop. Difference last week was that they didn't go as hard so we caught them up after half a mile or so. This all comes back to the coordination of the group in my opinion. We at least need an agreement pre-ride that we stick together at least until the halfway point. If people want to split after that its less of an issue as at least we're on our way home and everyone is properly warmed up (or not as the case may be!).
What about Saturday, groups of around 12, with an identified coordinator and an agreement that if anyone wants to ramp it up they let the coordinator know first so we can at least be more organised and split into a couple of groups of 6 rather than 12 groups of 1? Maybe a little 'admin heavy' but at least we'll know if it works.
How we doing Martin? Up to 5 yet?
What about Saturday, groups of around 12, with an identified coordinator and an agreement that if anyone wants to ramp it up they let the coordinator know first so we can at least be more organised and split into a couple of groups of 6 rather than 12 groups of 1? Maybe a little 'admin heavy' but at least we'll know if it works.
How we doing Martin? Up to 5 yet?
I wasnt going to bother posting but what the hell!
I'm a very occasional Saturday rider preferring the Sunday ride at this time of year for a few less frequently visited roads. But I had a 6th birthday and a Santa cruise on Sunday so thought I'd give the Saturday ride a whirl. first things first I didnt know the route only that it was the Northerly ride which I've done before. Back to that later. Personally I thought the outward ride out was ok and didnt think the group size an issue. The pace was ok I thought on my winter bike with my winter wheels, tyres and legs. Only when we bypassed Boroughbridge did I start to get concerned. I once packed in a 50 on the A168 because it was too boring - I hate that road. So I wasnt best chuffed when we rounded the roundabout north of BBridge and started heading back! Stopped with the others for a leak which was the first stop on the ride. Got going realised there was a small group heading over the horizon but bodies behind still rearranging themselves so decided to wait. Only then did I discover from Cam that we were now going to retrace yorkshires dullest roads back into York. At that moment in time the Clifton training ride was an embarrasing shambles spread over about a mile of road. In the nick of time I took the left turn for Marton and pressed on over aldwark bridge, Easingwold, Crayke, Stillington and Sheriff so rescued the morning quite well I thought. No issues on any of those roads with floods, ice, locusts and hardly any famine.
I'd have been happy to take a lead on Saturday but as mentioned its hardly my gig at the moment and you king of assume everyone knows what they are doing. I realised too late this wasn't the case. So in big letters and short words can I just make it clear THAT IT IS F*CKIN" DECEMBER, YOU AINT GONNA BE RACING ANYTIME SOON SO JUST KEEP THE CHAIN TIGHT FOLLOW THE ARSE IN FRONT OF YOU, LEAVE YOUR TRAINING PLAN AT HOME AND JUST RIDE FOR THE REST OF THE GROUP.
Can I also just ask why there has to be this long discussion every week even before the ride about the weather who coming and who isnt? I think we managed the Tuesday chaingangs all year without a single post and always had a ride even on some truly appalling evenings. We are all grown ups and capable of making out own decisions. Just rotate the rides and try to stick to them.
That should push it to about 6 pages I reckon?
I'm a very occasional Saturday rider preferring the Sunday ride at this time of year for a few less frequently visited roads. But I had a 6th birthday and a Santa cruise on Sunday so thought I'd give the Saturday ride a whirl. first things first I didnt know the route only that it was the Northerly ride which I've done before. Back to that later. Personally I thought the outward ride out was ok and didnt think the group size an issue. The pace was ok I thought on my winter bike with my winter wheels, tyres and legs. Only when we bypassed Boroughbridge did I start to get concerned. I once packed in a 50 on the A168 because it was too boring - I hate that road. So I wasnt best chuffed when we rounded the roundabout north of BBridge and started heading back! Stopped with the others for a leak which was the first stop on the ride. Got going realised there was a small group heading over the horizon but bodies behind still rearranging themselves so decided to wait. Only then did I discover from Cam that we were now going to retrace yorkshires dullest roads back into York. At that moment in time the Clifton training ride was an embarrasing shambles spread over about a mile of road. In the nick of time I took the left turn for Marton and pressed on over aldwark bridge, Easingwold, Crayke, Stillington and Sheriff so rescued the morning quite well I thought. No issues on any of those roads with floods, ice, locusts and hardly any famine.
I'd have been happy to take a lead on Saturday but as mentioned its hardly my gig at the moment and you king of assume everyone knows what they are doing. I realised too late this wasn't the case. So in big letters and short words can I just make it clear THAT IT IS F*CKIN" DECEMBER, YOU AINT GONNA BE RACING ANYTIME SOON SO JUST KEEP THE CHAIN TIGHT FOLLOW THE ARSE IN FRONT OF YOU, LEAVE YOUR TRAINING PLAN AT HOME AND JUST RIDE FOR THE REST OF THE GROUP.
Can I also just ask why there has to be this long discussion every week even before the ride about the weather who coming and who isnt? I think we managed the Tuesday chaingangs all year without a single post and always had a ride even on some truly appalling evenings. We are all grown ups and capable of making out own decisions. Just rotate the rides and try to stick to them.
That should push it to about 6 pages I reckon?
Can we make it 6 pages I wonder?!
I think that Phil's suggestions are very sensible too. Smaller groups cause less traffic congestion and irritated drivers so that's a good thing too.
I have to admit that I was one of those in the naughty group. At the P stop we slowly ambled along commenting that we thought the pace could be a little quicker but there was never any intention of taking advantage of the situation, so to speak. When we picked the pace up I looked back and saw what I thought was the main group back on the road so assumed we'd probably be picked up some point soon but it never happened.
What would also have helped was a nominated leader so that decisions could have been made on route choice after we started off. I sort of felt that the route choice was decided when we set off and there seemed no flexibility in changing it given the numbers of people. A smaller group with a nominated lead could have helped.
I think that Phil's suggestions are very sensible too. Smaller groups cause less traffic congestion and irritated drivers so that's a good thing too.
I have to admit that I was one of those in the naughty group. At the P stop we slowly ambled along commenting that we thought the pace could be a little quicker but there was never any intention of taking advantage of the situation, so to speak. When we picked the pace up I looked back and saw what I thought was the main group back on the road so assumed we'd probably be picked up some point soon but it never happened.
What would also have helped was a nominated leader so that decisions could have been made on route choice after we started off. I sort of felt that the route choice was decided when we set off and there seemed no flexibility in changing it given the numbers of people. A smaller group with a nominated lead could have helped.
You need to RSVP to join the Saturday group don't you know?paulM wrote:
Can I also just ask why there has to be this long discussion every week even before the ride about the weather who coming and who isnt? I think we managed the Tuesday chaingangs all year without a single post and always had a ride even on some truly appalling evenings. We are all grown ups and capable of making out own decisions. Just rotate the rides and try to stick to them.
That should push it to about 6 pages I reckon?
If any groups go off on a burnup I'd probably join em, I don't know what it is, I can't ride steady unless with a group going steady, almost all my rides are around 18 and I did the Leeds loop on my own yesterday averaging 20mph, I just end up battering it, perhaps I've got an OCD.
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Cyan Skymoos
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