rbent Forum - Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall

irodguy

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #15 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 3:30pm

Quote from season on Mar 12^th, 2009, 7:30am:

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Mar 11^th, 2009, 8:19pm:

Quote from season on Mar 11^th, 2009, 2:49pm:

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Mar 11^th, 2009, 9:34am:

I haven't done this rally, but I would imagine it brings out all KINDS of inexperienced riders... Smiley

I'm an inexperienced rider. I'm looking for experience riding in rallies. I tried riding with a GDB "beginner" group, if that was for beginners then I'm a pre-beginner. Do you have any suggestions where an inexperienced rider should get experience?

Which group did you hook up with, and when? Sorry I missed you...

It started in Mesquite at Poteet High School. I'd been riding for two weeks at the time. The label "beginner" got my attention; it turned out that I was the only beginner. The group decided to change it from a 20 mile ride to a combo 30 or 40 mile ride. I've been riding four weeks now. I've made amazing improvement. I have 200+ miles on the road and another 6 hours on a trainer. I'm finding it difficult to find support for actual beginners, not just people that can't ride fast or far.

I will ride Tour Dallas; and, I'll take your advice to start at the back of the pack. I look forward to improving to the point where I can ride in the mainstream rallies and meet all of you.

If you are looking for an easier easy ride I wouild look at the GDB easy ride out of Park Cities. I have done this a few times and have not had an issue. Our speed seems to normally stay around 13 or 14ish miles an hour depending on who is there. http://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=456&dat e=20080223

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Tim C.

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #16 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 9:38pm

13-14 mph-ish is still a big jump for most novice riders. I ride around the neighborhood at look down and am doing 12 mph and think that's OK. I think if this group is going to help the beginning half of us riders, then the thinking is going to have to adjust to what will help us. I want to do much more but I can't automatically adjust upward to the pace kept by the vocal part of the group. We talked about building up to a century but the steps need to be small enough to benefit the largest group of new riders. I am not asking anyone to suppress their style or riding habits, just to think about what might help us, not them, achieve our goals. Thanks.

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aikigreg

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #17 - Mar 12^th, 2009, 9:44pm

Quote from Tim C. on Mar 12^th, 2009, 9:38pm:

13-14 mph-ish is still a big jump for most novice riders. I ride around the neighborhood at look down and am doing 12 mph and think that's OK. I think if this group is going to help the beginning half of us riders, then the thinking is going to have to adjust to what will help us. I want to do much more but I can't automatically adjust upward to the pace kept by the vocal part of the group. We talked about building up to a century but the steps need to be small enough to benefit the largest group of new riders. I am not asking anyone to suppress their style or riding habits, just to think about what might help us, not them, achieve our goals. Thanks.

If you're doing 12 on your own, you'll do 14-15 with a group. I spent a while on my own back when I was a newbie too, and then started joining in the pay rides. My speed went up just from having other riders on the course to talk to and be envious of. Heck, even NOW when I ride by myself i'll usually end up at a 15-16mph, but when I'm chatting along enjoying Steve or Bud's company I'll be rolling at 18-20 and not even know it.

So long as you don't overstep your body's TRUE ability, you'll be surprised at what you can do. Hell, I can remember "gee, I can't believe I just did 15 miles. That's as good as it can get." And a month ago I did 303. Nearly everyone on here constantly amazes me with their accomplishments. It's not about what you can do versus others - it's what you can improve in yourself.

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Bud_Bent

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #18 - Mar 13^th, 2009, 9:22am

Quote from Tim C. on Mar 12^th, 2009, 9:38pm:

13-14 mph-ish is still a big jump for most novice riders. I ride around the neighborhood at look down and am doing 12 mph and think that's OK. I think if this group is going to help the beginning half of us riders, then the thinking is going to have to adjust to what will help us. I want to do much more but I can't automatically adjust upward to the pace kept by the vocal part of the group. We talked about building up to a century but the steps need to be small enough to benefit the largest group of new riders. I am not asking anyone to suppress their style or riding habits, just to think about what might help us, not them, achieve our goals. Thanks.

Starting to do club rides is a bit of a catch-22: riding with groups will make you faster, but you have to reach a certain speed before you can come close to staying with the group. Some groups will have someone who's going to stay with the slowest rider, some don't, and some are inconsistent about that. Keep trying different groups, and working on your own to improve, too.

My best advice for trying out a group is (1) get a cue sheet or map and be certain you can get yourself back without help if needed, and (2) find a friend to join you on group rides, who's near your own speed.

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« Last Edit: Mar 13^th, 2009, 11:31am by Bud_Bent »

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FlyingLaZBoy

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #19 - Mar 13^th, 2009, 10:16am

A group ride also has the characteristic of "pushing" you to a higher level of effort than you would otherwise attempt by yourself when you're just "out for a ride," just due to the dynamics of keeping pace with the group. That additional effort, if done regularly, results in improvement.

John S., what sort of typical rolling speeds does the Clown Ride group keep on the trail and around the lake?

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irodguy

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #20 - Mar 13^th, 2009, 11:16am

Quote from Tim C. on Mar 12^th, 2009, 9:38pm:

13-14 mph-ish is still a big jump for most novice riders. I ride around the neighborhood at look down and am doing 12 mph and think that's OK. I think if this group is going to help the beginning half of us riders, then the thinking is going to have to adjust to what will help us. I want to do much more but I can't automatically adjust upward to the pace kept by the vocal part of the group. We talked about building up to a century but the steps need to be small enough to benefit the largest group of new riders. I am not asking anyone to suppress their style or riding habits, just to think about what might help us, not them, achieve our goals. Thanks.

Another good option for you if you live around Plano is the PBA Wednesday night dinner ride. It's likely as not that the speed will be 12-13 very conversational pace. You do need a light because it starts @ 6:30 ride 14ish miles then eat.
http://www.planobicycle.org//index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&am p;agid=23&year=2009&month=03&day=18&Itemid=27

And of course it's supposed to be back around 80 this coming week.

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jcsadowski Five Star Member Clown #1 Posts: 1199	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #21 - Mar 13^th, 2009, 12:56pm Quote: John S., what sort of typical rolling speeds does the Clown Ride group keep on the trail and around the lake? About 10 to 12 MPH, depending on who is riding and how hard the wind is blowing. Not to mention how many walkers we have to dodge.
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slowpoke

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #22 - Mar 13^th, 2009, 4:24pm

Don Johles Bike world on broadway in Garland has a beginning ride every sat. at 9:00 give the shop a call fir details http://donjohlesbikeworld.com/. I rode the tour dallas http://www.tourdallas.org/ the last four years the money goes to For The Love Of The Lake it is a good beginner ride almost all the pay rides have a great beginner distance the Mesquite rodeo ride ten mile ride would work well for you. You will find that the riders and volunteers are very supportive and there is always some one you can ride with that is the same skill level as you. Cool

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Patti Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 876	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #23 - Apr 1^st, 2009, 2:48pm Got signed up today. Hope the weather is cooperative.
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Opus the Poet Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 1353	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #24 - Apr 1^st, 2009, 9:08pm I will be a course marshal in the WRL area for Tour Dallas, see you there.
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Patti Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 876	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #25 - Apr 1^st, 2009, 9:31pm Quote from Opus the Poet on Apr 1^st, 2009, 9:08pm: I will be a course marshal in the WRL area for Tour Dallas, see you there. Super! Hope to see you.
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slowpoke rbent member Posts: 30	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #26 - Apr 7^th, 2009, 3:01pm How did your ride go?
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Patti

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Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall
Reply #27 - Apr 7^th, 2009, 11:40pm

The weather was a tad chilly, but the ride was fun. There was good police coverage for the event and the route was quite easy, with very few hills and minimal potholes. Pretty nice party afterward with free pizza and various other snacks and drinks to sample. Richard has posted pictures in the Photo section.

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jcsadowski Five Star Member Clown #1 Posts: 1199	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #28 - Apr 8^th, 2009, 8:01am I have a few photos here: http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/photo2009/04_Tourdallas/page.htm
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Hurricane Dan Boom chika wow wow... Posts: 296	Re: Tour Dallas: 8:00am April 4, Dallas City Hall Reply #29 - Apr 17^th, 2009, 11:55am Wow, somebody made an impression. Alright, which one of you was it? http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/mis/1108872307.html
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