Here’s another question to stir the pot: What exactly is the point of group rides when training for a triathlon? I assume most people ride in groups for sociability or to draft. Far be it from me to tell other people how to train, but since both of these things go out the door for most triathlons, it seems to me that many people are doing themselves a disservice by clinging to wheels and getting an unrealistic expectation of their power and distance they can go. And yet this continues. So… why DO people ride in groups so much?
I ride 4 - 5 times a week, 1 of those will be a group ride.
I ride to be social and keep things interesting.
Sometimes I need to be in a group ride (a hammerfest) to keep myself honest.
Working out on your own all the time, for me, can lead to cheating myself and taking workouts a little easy at times.
I ride like to ride with a small group (3-5) because of the social aspect and the fact that we motivate each other. The chatting during the easy sections make miles more pleasurable.
Simply, a bike ride with friends is one of my favorite ways to spend the day.
Riding with a group is also a bit safer. when people get in accidents with cars, they are usually riding solo.
It all depends on the group ride. On ones own, most riders will tend to ride within themselves and not push their limits too much. In the right group ride, where there are aggressive riders and sprints for town limit signs and things like that, one can be pushed way beyond normal limits.
Most people go out on their own and train day in and day out at … say … 18 mph, then wonder why they can’t go 24 mph on race day. Duh … you never trained to go 24 mph! Those folks would be well served to start mixing it up in some potent group rides where they see stars from time-to-time trying to keep up.
Note that there are many group rides that are not “the right group ride.”
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Somebody has to pull the roadies through the air
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A good group ride gives you instant feedback, especially when the road tilts upwards and there are a few strong climbers in the group. Sprinting maybe doesn’t matter quite so much to the average tri-geek, but climbing certainly does.
Somebody has to pull the roadies through the air
LOL - Amen!
Group rides are great for keeping you honest. One just has to be sure to be in the right group,
10years ago, I rode around these parts with the only sunday group out there. It was full of ex-domestiques, 2nd tier pros and top local IM guys! DOH. Steve Farrell (4th at IMNZ one year) Terenzo Bozone when he was 15/16 and a roadie that won the Quebec City to Montreal bike race a couple of times
I remember being able to hang in there for the warmup a few times before I got dropped. After a couple of years I could actually manage to such their wheel for 60 of the 100km ride most weekend.
I ended up respecting their cycling abilities and they ended up respecting my ability to suffer and my incredible ability to hurl profanities at 50kph while playing lanterne rouge! That made them laugh every week. I remember one ride when I averaged 172BPM for 3 hours! Thank god the cafe was at the 3 hour mark!
Now I ride with guys my own ability. Easier but doesn’t make me as strong 
I do 95% of my cycling in group rides. These rides often have 50 to 150 riders.
Why
- Safer in groups- in my area with traffic- even on the rural roads
- Road handling- you can learn great technical skills- most triathletes have horrible cornering, passing skills- you learn this quickly in hard core roadie group rides. Even pro triathletes in the ITU draft legal races- many are not very good at drafting.
- Ability to draft, pull, or be off the front pulling or choose to be slightly off the back- by your 3 bike length rule (a bunch of triathletes in our groups choose the off front pulling or off the back choice. This allows you to break away- to keep the main pack at bay- if you are strong enough… or it allows you to ride with better riders in a pack- if you can’t ride at the front.
- With a faced paced ride- you either stay with the group or get dropped- it’s great for training, motivation, improving your strength- in almost a coaching type aspect.
- Use a HRM and Power Meter and you can definitely get strong workouts integrating the above.
- Social Aspect- great part of it.
- Make the roadies suffer
Lastly- my bike splits are typically in the top 3 overall in my regional races- so group riding doesn’t seem to hurt it that much.
If training wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do what I do. I love riding with groups. I don’t do it all the time, but I get the BEST workouts when I’m with them. And I have the most fun. And I feel much more safe. And I made dozens of friends. And I learned a hell of a lot about riding.
Some people are loners, and that’s fine. Some people are social. That’s fine too. There is more than one way to train and get better. Every person has to find their best way.
Jodi
want to get faster? ride with people who are faster than you.
if all you’re going to do is ride at a medium effort & chat with your buds, then there doesn’t seem to be much training benefit to riding in a group. but if you’re red-lining to stay with your group & you’re 10 riders back there’s a huge benefit.
group rides are what you make of them.