Question Group Ride

[GroupRides.fyi]

Hello all,
Im new here, please let me know if posting this breaks any rules. I did read them, looks like Im ok here?
My partner and I recently launched a website to give a little more transparency to your local group riding community: https://grouprides.fyi/
As we continue to research, we add more locations. Feedback and participation would be very welcome. Our intention is to improve access to the wonderful endeavor of group cycling for all levels/abilities and minority groups. Its all free. There's no signup. Just add rides or request new locations.... and use the site to plan your ride schedule.
We would especially like to hear from riders in the locales we have launched already, to verify our data is correct (Boston, Boulder, Iowa City. Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Diego and Tampa). We have Seattle, New York and Slat Lake City in the works.
Many thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you!
Tom.

 

[GroupRides.fyi]

Any takers? Id be SUPER interested to hear from any other cyclists who enjoy group riding, just any feedback on how useful the site is and if you've any suggestions on how to improve it?

 

[Unchained]

Any takers? Id be SUPER interested to hear from any other cyclists who enjoy group riding, just any feedback on how useful the site is and if you've any suggestions on how to improve it?

It's a pretty good site, sort of has a travel element to it. I am curious to see where you go w listings for NYC. Rides in Central Park and Prospect Park are good for anyone because you have what I describe as the short cut,wait,or double back factor.. Since loops are predictable you can always get back in if you are dropped.. Many of the rides you have listed in Boulder, San Diego and Los Angeles are flesh eating..Rides out of Pasadena, Manhattan Beach, are on!! San Diego ,Swallow and SDBC rides are often hard and fast enough that for the unprepared, people want to sell their bikes after immediately getting demoralized. NYC has many fast people, many CRCA riders have legs like horses and speed to match. Boulder is a place where you go if you absolutely know you are ready and if your wrong, many many riders will make you question your genetic makeup and if you ever trained correctly, even one day!! Absolutely brutal from just minutes into certain rides.
If you list rides that cross the GW bridge and go into NJ again, there is no check for motor doping or if multiple people in front of you took a helicopter or car to create the gap!!
Now that I put in some sarcasm, very little, many of listed rides are fast and difficult and others are brutal because of specific sections made to be difficult, SDBC ride used to feature an additional loop before meet up, if you took it on purpose or accident and are not prepared, you are dropped and ride alone. That goes for many on your list.
So all that said..
The speed should be a column, a category, ability and distance ,separate columns.
GPS or physical address.. Just easier than going off your site to look up Trader Joes or coffee shop or confusion on parking lot. SD Wednesday ride that goes through Camp Pendleton has decent instructors but many people get slammed when they get to a Marine base w no ID and ride is ruined, to be fair, doesn't happen w locals, but for most rides locals don't need the website.
So is target audience people who are interested in cycling tourism?
LA has some rides in Carbon Canyon, Canyon Country and Upland\ Redlands area.
I see a logical thing to do is list fun rides, gran fondo, gravel rides which are ever increasing.
Like I said, good site, I personally don't search for lots of variety, will not travel great distance for training rides, so I get a sort of one and done for the site unless I am travelling. Your site could give me a reason for a bunch of stuff, events, where to buy and rent stuff, links to bike packing service..
Example if you are traveling to NYC you have some logistics.. You are telling them where they can ride( soon) Floyd Bennett Field, Central or Prospect Park..I am in West or South, SD,LA, Boise, Atlanta etc.. Is there a gran fondo, training ride or race I can do while I am there? Do I feel like packing my bike or just bring, kit,shoes,pedals, helmet and rent when I get to a ride your site directed me to..
Without your site, email to friends or calling bike shop have had fun in many places, and had decent success with bike rentals. I did it, it took time and effort, your site can tie in where,when and the details of how..
I think you should ditch Florida all together, because it's Florida!! Anyplace that has a bunch of riders running one by w 52-54 front chainring as only option.. Nah!!.

 

[GroupRides.fyi]

Thanks Sevenall, thats a very helpful response. To answer a couple of questions/points you bring up:
Whos it for? Short answer - Everyone.
1 - the beginner/casual/family ride: we will list community rides, senior citizens, the family village outing, etc.
2 - the group-curious soloist: when you first get into cycling its nearly always alone. Or at the behest of a friend who's really into it. In my case I always played soccer, I got injured into it. Going to your first organized group ride can be daunting. This site is supposed to assemble all the local options with various details to enable a sensible decision.
3 - the 'what else is there? 'group rider, who has been on a few club rides but know there must be other things going on
4 - the regular group rider that likes to switch it up. This is me, btw. There are tons of rides in chicago, thee are multiple groups going out every day of the week. I like to go on all of them and test myself, or relax, or meet specific friends etc.
5 - the Organiser: if there's one central place everyone looks for rides, it takes the weight off the bike shops, the clubs, the leaders. They just list it, they will get the right eyeballs.
6 - the traveller - you touched don this... its good to know whats in your vacation/business travel location.

But... we can only find the very visible rides. We NEED local help, listing events and rides that happen without any real public fanfare. The word of mouth rides, etc. We have rides on there that have been cancelled, have the wrong route, that have seasonally adjusted start times, etc. Only locals can help us keep it correct and well stocked. So, we'll keep adding cities and see if it takes. off. We've put in a lot of work (and a little money) to get this far, so I think we'll keep pushing for a year or two before fatigue sets in if it aint working.
Help us out, spread the word, join our Strava group, list a ride.
Thanks again!

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

Thanks Sevenall, thats a very helpful response. To answer a couple of questions/points you bring up:
Whos it for? Short answer - Everyone.
1 - the beginner/casual/family ride: we will list community rides, senior citizens, the family village outing, etc.
2 - the group-curious soloist: when you first get into cycling its nearly always alone. Or at the behest of a friend who's really into it. In my case I always played soccer, I got injured into it. Going to your first organized group ride can be daunting. This site is supposed to assemble all the local options with various details to enable a sensible decision.
3 - the 'what else is there? 'group rider, who has been on a few club rides but know there must be other things going on
4 - the regular group rider that likes to switch it up. This is me, btw. There are tons of rides in chicago, thee are multiple groups going out every day of the week. I like to go on all of them and test myself, or relax, or meet specific friends etc.
5 - the Organiser: if there's one central place everyone looks for rides, it takes the weight off the bike shops, the clubs, the leaders. They just list it, they will get the right eyeballs.
6 - the traveller - you touched don this... its good to know whats in your vacation/business travel location.

But... we can only find the very visible rides. We NEED local help, listing events and rides that happen without any real public fanfare. The word of mouth rides, etc. We have rides on there that have been cancelled, have the wrong route, that have seasonally adjusted start times, etc. Only locals can help us keep it correct and well stocked. So, we'll keep adding cities and see if it takes. off. We've put in a lot of work (and a little money) to get this far, so I think we'll keep pushing for a year or two before fatigue sets in if it aint working.
Help us out, spread the word, join our Strava group, list a ride.
Thanks again!

Good to know, but the very helpful and informative response is from Unchained, not from me. I only liked it.

 

[ManicJack]

As a life long Boulder resident who is very active in the cycling community, I can tell you that you aren't going to get much help from people around here. Most have the attitude that "their" group rides are just fine without anyone showing up randomly. More likely that someone who is new to the sport will be told to show up to the Bus Ride (which your route link is obviously someone that showed up and got dropped before the fun even began), just to "teach them a lesson" or some such nonsense. Just the nature of the beast. Good luck.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Any takers? Id be SUPER interested to hear from any other cyclists who enjoy group riding, just any feedback on how useful the site is and if you've any suggestions on how to improve it?

Is it regular rides only, or is it adaptable to spontaneous rides? We are looking for something like that in Nevada County, CA (may not ring a bell, but anyone who comes here, ends up loving our terrain and trails). Not really any regular rides, but lots of rides decided in the week. We have MTB and Gravel mostly, but some Road rides as well.