Clifton CC

Reading a few thread it seems that there are a few posts about ride distances and speeds - often raised by newer members. The term 'intermediate' hardly seems appropriate nowadays as this ride is generally the fastest of the regular weekend rides and is therefore misleadingly named given the demise of the 'H' ride (which it has come to resemble).

Would it be sensible - as there generally seems to be 3 groups at 10 on a Saturday - to refer to Easy, Medium and.........'Medium Plus' rides? ('hard' is rather a contentious term!)

Just a thought....

The inter ride is the same speed all year round, not a problem in march but crazy in october when you've got the glass cranks on.

Cyan Skymoos wrote:The inter ride is the same speed all year round, not a problem in march but crazy in october when you've got the glass cranks on.

Some of us have those crystal cranks on our summer bikes too

Seriously I can't understand why there is a fast group this time of year.

I agree,the intermediate ride is hard, the speed is not the issue with me, its the flat out up all climbs and the overall distance. As a person who cycles in addition to other sports, the distance is too far for me, 70 is ideal, not 90-100 as it leaves me too tired to do the traditional runners long sunday run. So I have gone back to the k ride, but I do miss the pace.

Hi

So presumably the 9am is going to be the quicker of Sat's rides?

I'm riding for the first time with the club on Sat but a quick ride with no stops appeals to me.

I'm quite used to doing 70/80 miles on my own at an average of 17+ mph. Would this ride be better for me than the intermediate?

I'm pretty self-sufficient so am will be able to cope if I get dropped by the group.

Cheers

Martin

Just to clarify, I was NOT intending to suggest that the ride be any different in length or pace. Surely there should be a variety of rides to suit all abilities and wishes - one person's 'hard' is another's 'steady pootle' - I was simply suggesting a name change might be helpful in describing the essence of each ride for newer members and more accurately reflect the nature of the ride.

Surely the pace is set by the leader to suit the group, not set by the fastest rider in the group?

"I can't understand why there is a fast group this time of year"

We may differ on many things to do with training, Darren, but on this we agree. However, it's to do with that word "training". If you want to prepare in some sort of methodical fashion for next year's road racing / time trialling season, then I can't imagine any coach is going to say "hammer yourself up hills in November on rides no less then five hours". But if you just want to get out there and give other riders a hard time without the expense of a number on yer back, then go for it.

All of which is a bit of a preamble for the first of this winter's Saturday training rides on 5th November. These will be brisk but steady effort, about three hours, and the aim will be to work together as a group. We've got a few newcomers to the club who are talking about wanting to race next year so it would be good if the rides could be inclusive enough to give a route in for them. And picking up on Tullio's comment, it would be helpful if someone on each ride could shout reminders to keep things in order when necessary.

As previously, they'll get quicker as fitness builds and the season gets closer, although again as previously the assumption will be that everyone who's serious about racing will be doing other, more intense training either on their own or on other rides (the chaingangs, for example).

Dr.Dave's got a point re naming - at this time of year the "intermediates" is probably the hardest weekly ride on offer. B******d if I can think of a better name for it, though.

It's called a saturday social ride, if you want to batter each other best to call it a training ride.

Cyan Skymoos wrote:The inter ride is the same speed all year round, not a problem in march but crazy in october when you've got the glass cranks on.

It *is* crazy Darren for those of you coming off a *big* racing season, but then that's not actually that many of you.

Clubrides (whether you call them a "pootle" or a "training ride") are funny things - all a mixture of social and athletic endeavour.. And as such involve fair bit of compromise - sometimes soft pedalling more than intended, sometimes chewing the stem a bit too often. Its why many riders don't do clubruns, and why you racing snakes have to do your quality stuff alone.

Anyways, I too have left DDs original question. And going further away:

There were apparently 39 riders in The Square last Saturday (thirty nine!) Poor Kevin will be having a nervous breakdown soon. There has never been a better time to split things up into more like-minded groups. If you have a deviant urge to head south, or you want to be back by lunch, or you want to try a bit of Rough Stuff at Kiplingcotes, then why not offer, on this forum, to lead such a ride? Its best to post by Wednesday to give warning. Jess has taken a splinter group this week, chapeau. The Big K will not be offended. Come on, let's see a DD ride gojng out!

"..if you want to batter each other best to call it a training ride"

But that's my point - at this time of year it's not training. Call it something else! It's kind of social - they talk in the cafe, don't they??

I agree with Rob though - smaller groups will be a better fit for what individuals want, and will also clutter up the roads less and upset sensitive car drivers less.

My rambling thoughts, for what they're worth, are that having been on the last few intermediate rides they definitely meet a need. Not having raced this summer and being in the process of building my cycling fitness the intermediate ride is good for me as it lets me push myself in terms of both speed and distance.

I fully understand the arguments about not needing to ride hard this at this time of year, but for me the intermediate rides have enabled me to step my riding up a level and build a good base from which to start joining the training rides from November, with a view to having a go at racing next year.

Of course the other issue is that, having previously only focused on sportives, the intermediate rides, even at this time of the year, are the right pace and distance for me with some sportives still to come (such as in Richmond on the 11th Nov). Not everyone is in this for the racing season challenges.

Is there any issue with calling the three Saturday SOCIAL groups steady, medium and hard? At least people will have an understanding of what they are getting in to. I accept that the three terms are all relative- what's 'hard' riding for me will be no more than a steady to medium pace for others, but at least the name gives an indication of what to expect?

This would also take some of the pressure off Kevin who does spend some of every Saturday morning valiantly trying to herd cats into appropriately paced groups without the benefit of any clear groupings at times. If people express which of the three groups they want to ride with this would surely make K's life a little easier?

I'm pleased Dr Dave brought this subject up. The replies have been interesting and it's clear to me that there should be 3 rides on a Saturday given the increasing numbers and widely differing abilities and expectations.
I joined the club 3 years ago and the K ride attracted 3-10 and the distance was about 60-75 miles all year round - a social ride and to introduce new club cyclists of all ages to the art of group riding.
Due to vision problems I've been out much less, but also notice that the distances advertised on the Thursday before have been increasing this summer and the K ride is regularly 80-90 miles. This puts me off with the visual difficulties.
Why not the following;
Group 1: 70-100 miles depending on season and weather at a fast pace with cafe stop.
Group 2: 60-80 miles depending on season for experienced cyclists just wanting a slower and more sociable ride with some breath reserved for chatter and the cafe stop.
Group 3: 50-70 miles depending on season and flexible enough to travel at the comfortable pace of the slowest rider on the day. No breakaways allowed. Would suit younger, older,new and relatively unfit members for an enjoyable day out.
I'm not sure what Kevin thinks about all this. The demise of the H ride has put a big strain on the system, but we all need to chip in here and help Kevin, as the numbers are growing and we must do something to ensure this trend continues and we all get a chance to enjoy a safe and enjoyable ride in a smallish group. I'll be back in late November when I know the distances will be shorter, but no darkness processions home for me anymore.

At the end of the day the social rides are not there for a substitute for training in my view. Even when the racers among us ride them they only want a steady ride for base fitness and like a few others have mentioned they should be doing there own specific stuff for race fitness.

Also your always going to get a wide range of fitness and ability amongst who turn up at the sq. so the speed and pace of the ride should be based on whose out etc. One issue is even if your a regular inter rider like me from week to week you can feel different on rides. I liked to think however at least on a social ride your not going to get left behind.

A good example was yesterday for me on the ride round Cockayne I was struggling on the homeward leg and lost touch with the group at Stensall but Tony G dropped back and waited.

I'm generally happy with the pace of the inter ride but your always going to have some regrouping stops again depending whose out. Afterall none of us are in the pro peleton, yet and out on a training ride.

Jon