group rides , training w novice riders

[masking_agent]

So we've all been there. Group rides consisting of riders at all different levels. However, I have long rides planned for Saturdays and Sundays this summer, but my specific training partner is a NOVICE rider, but happens to be my financial backer for my new bicycle. So I'm in a difficult spot. They are nowhere near my fitness level. I know they won't even be able to handle a 4-5 hour ride. I'm afraid of not getting any benefit from even a 3 hour ride (assuming they last that long), as I'm not working hard at all ? I can jump on the hills, and power them up, as a bit of a workout, but then will be forced to wait for them. You know how it goes, we've all been there. I was thinking of finding roads and make a circuit out of it, and do laps, so I would be lapping them during our ride. But then they are still "by themselves" for most of the ride.

Suggestions ?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Is it for only a couple of training rides or is he planning to ride with you every time ? If it's only 2-3 times you might just as well stick with him, it's not going to do you much harm... I've done so with a couple of friens of mine and now(thx to their improved fitness level) we're having jolly good fun on the road together

 

[masking_agent]

every saturday and sunday I will have this weekend warrior attached to me like an anchor. I'm thinking of suggesting they ride with another group later this summer.

 

[meandmygitane]

So we've all been there. Group rides consisting of riders at all different levels. However, I have long rides planned for Saturdays and Sundays this summer, but my specific training partner is a NOVICE rider, but happens to be my financial backer for my new bicycle. So I'm in a difficult spot. They are nowhere near my fitness level. I know they won't even be able to handle a 4-5 hour ride. I'm afraid of not getting any benefit from even a 3 hour ride (assuming they last that long), as I'm not working hard at all ? I can jump on the hills, and power them up, as a bit of a workout, but then will be forced to wait for them. You know how it goes, we've all been there. I was thinking of finding roads and make a circuit out of it, and do laps, so I would be lapping them during our ride. But then they are still "by themselves" for most of the ride.

Suggestions ?

Start some hours before the novice will cling on to you? Or maybe if you had a nice lap to train on you could have him try to drop you every lap (when you have ridden to catch on to him) or vice versa. (and then do the same thing the next lap)

I don't know if it is a good training exercise or not (or even feasible) but I replied to settle my curiosity

 

[JayKosta]

Maybe use it for interval training - tell him to keep going at full/cruising speed and you're going to let him get a few 100 yards ahead, and then you sprint to catch him and ride together for a bit & then repeat.

Other option is for you to do a hard session earlier, and then use the ride with him as a recover ride.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[Boeing]

I'm a scratch golfer but my boss is a hack.

What to do?

Hack

 

[DirtyWorks]

..t my specific training partner is a NOVICE rider, but happens to be my financial backer for my new bicycle.

Really? I'd like to hear some more about this. Is this a common arrangement?

... They are nowhere near my fitness level. I know they won't even be able to handle a 4-5 hour ride. I'm afraid of not getting any benefit from even a 3 hour ride (assuming they last that long)...

I have a revolutionary idea. It's called Do Another Ride.(TM) Do one ride very early where you focus on training before doing another, easier, ride with your sponsor.

 

[DirtyWorks]

every saturday and sunday I will have this weekend warrior attached to me like an anchor. I'm thinking of suggesting they ride with another group later this summer.

Suggesting he ride elsewhere sounds like that wasn't the deal you made. The Weekend Warrior fronted good money for his part of the bargain.

C'mon now, man-up and get up early and do the training you need to get done. If you do the training half-way decent, then the second ride is a bonus. Don't be a welcher.

 

[JeffreyPerry]

ride

I'd get up earlier and ride hard, then recovery ride with the $$$. Just curious, this "boat anchor"??? Your spouse?
LOL

 

[delbified]

easy. go out and buy a 20kg steel framed training bike.

why do so many competitive cyclists feel like they have to ride their 6kg carbon spaceship when training?

 

[Polyarmour]

I do a family ride once a week at 21km/h and it just about kills me. Trying to introduce the kids to the sport. When we hit any kind of hill I'm in the highest gear I can handle to tension the legs, but apart from that it's just grin and bear it. I'm lucky though it only lasts an hour... and we are talking about my own kids.

If I were you I would be up front and honest about it. Tell him that your weekends need to be done at max effort in order to remain competitive. If he's a reasonable guy he won't want to be standing in your way either. Find out what the guy is trying to achieve by hanging with you. Is he after fitness or is he just after some reflected glory (be tactful on this one). If he is really a novice you can probably give him a workout in an hour that will wear him out for the rest of the day if not weekend. Or, do the first part of the ride with him and agree to meet him at the coffee shop afterwards. Hit the hills, can you find a circuit where he does one lap and you do three. Just some thoughts.

 

[STODRR]

a lot of good info about riding early or even continuing the ride after you drop him off. however being on the other end of the equation with alot of guys I ride with we normally go out on a hill ride. I ride as hard as I can and they drop me and go to the top and turn around start down and I either continue to the top and they meet me and go back up again or I turn around and we all go down hill together.

 

[hughmoore]

I can jump on the hills, and power them up, as a bit of a workout, but then will be forced to wait for them. You know how it goes, we've all been there. Suggestions ?

Im amazed at this phenomen of having to wait, you dont have to, what you do is power up the hills, turn around and ride back down and then ride back up with your friend.

You can do this a couple of times, sprint off for 400 metres and come back around if its a long hill.

You can also push them up, giving them a brief rest. A couple of fingers on the back will increase your effort and decrease theirs marketly. (This assumes you have good balance)

If you have to wait, your cheating yourself/its your fault, not theirs.

Teach them to draft you properly, so you can push through the wind and they can draft/rest.

One day when your coming back from injury, you my appreciate this from others when your not as strong as you have been, or your riding with better athletes.

Regards


Hugh