So I am working with a new group that are slow as they are all beginners. So, on those rides I cant leave them but I still want to get something out of the ride. I really can’t ride off the front and loop back. So I was thinking that I would just ride out of the saddle in a big ring big cog. Is that better than just a slow easy nothing ride?
If you have one, ride a mountain bike, or alternatively, put the biggest tires you can on your rims and run them as low pressure as you dare. When my son was first riding with me, I did this and maintained the quality of my workouts. Then one day he was killing me and I reallized I was getting old.
Chad
Alternatively, plan your training so that those are recovery rides for you. I owe at least 10 such rides to the team/store I race for this year. They will all be recovery rides with respect to my own training. That leaves me completely free to engage and mentor the beginners and actually do the giving back to the sport that I talk about.
Another method is to show up and start 30-50 minutes early and do a hard threshold or VO2 workout after a quick warmup. 1x20-40 or 3x5…then go ride the easy stuff with the group. Again, you’ll have gotten your work done already, so you’re free to really be part of the ride instead of feeling like you’re babysitting them at the expense of your own fitness.
There are many ways to tackle this sort of situation. I happen to think the wrong way is to remain focused on yourself. You’re sure to remain frustrated that you didn’t “get your training in” and it will show to the point that the others will just assume you’re one of those “elite assholes” who likes to show off or complain that the ride is so slow.
Put your biggest gear, in the wind, try to create as much drag as you can and turn your legs at 30/45 rpm (not more). 4 Minutes on, 1 minute spin repeat until rinced.
You can also go at the back and do one leg training.
Push the slowest rider up the hills.
Practice your madison with them (erm, don’t).
G
Hard to get a real workout. Try riding before/after.
… So I was thinking that I would just ride out of the saddle in a big ring big cog. Is that better than just a slow easy nothing ride?
Just a word of caution, I ended up with some painful ITBS issues doing exactly this riding with my wife (who is significantly slower than me) - trying to push as big a gear as I could up the hills (I live in Western NC). I would also ride off and loop back around and that probably would work better, but apparently you’re not able to with this group.
CJ
get some 25c specialized armadillos and add some extra thick butyl tubes
4 full water bottles and maybe a rack
then youll be good to go =)
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Hard to get a real workout. Try riding before/after.
x2 I did this when cycling in college. I’d go thrash myself on the hills doing repeats, and then coach the new members as an easy ride/warmdown.
mountain bike ftw. one of the most painful workouts I ever did was in high school when my road bike had a flat, was too lazy to fix, and took my mid-90s mountain bike on a 60 mile ride with a local bike team. I kept up, but there was pain.
Two rides.
I have a bunch of friends who are new to cycling, and I’m just doing two rides.
As a plus, a slow ride with no concern for speed, distance, power, etc. can be fun and relaxing.
So I am working with a new group that are slow as they are all beginners. So, on those rides I cant leave them but I still want to get something out of the ride. I really can’t ride off the front and loop back. So I was thinking that I would just ride out of the saddle in a big ring big cog. Is that better than just a slow easy nothing ride?
I was in a similar situation a couple years ago. What I did was I just rode my big ring up front, and smallest cog in the back…pretty much the whole time. I attacked short hills really hard and waited for the group at the top. I filled up all my water bottles. And I wore a jacket with a hood that would catch as much wind as possible (this was early spring so it was cold out, so the jacket didn’t get me too hot).
x3 on the mountain bike.I used to take mine out for rides around Penticton, and sometimes the IMC course, if I was riding with people a lot slower than me,that way it was easier for me to just hang out with them and answer any questions they had.On narrow roads you can ride off to the side of the road and still ride up and down the line checking on them.
Tyre selection depended on just how slow they were going to be.
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