There is nothing quite like the pleasure of a group ride. I don’t know of any other sporting activity that has the same level of energy and camaraderie as cycling with a group of buddies.
I’m not the only one: This excellent piece about the lost art of the group ride has been making the rounds.
There is no better way to build your bike handling skills and fitness than to regularly ride in a group with accomplished riders. If you are new to group cycling, the best place to start is usually with your local club. For safety, pacelines are discouraged in some clubs, but riding in any kind of group is a great starting point for getting used to riding near others.
If you are joining a new group ride make a point of introducing yourself to the ride leader at the start, and let him/her know you are practicing your group riding skills. The ride leader may ask you to ride at the back of the group and observe, and maybe give you some tips about joining the fun.
If you are a triathlete, leave the tri bike at home. Aero bars are an instant danger signal to the rest of the group. Those aero bars are fast, but don’t have the maneuverability required for group riding.
An important bonus on many group rides is the social snack stop. For many groups it’s a ritual. The stop may be at the beginning (usually coffee), middle (usually coffee but sometimes beer) or end of the ride (usually beer). The groups I ride with are partial to pie stops, but some groups spend time recounting how awesome they are at a microbrewery at the end of their rides.
Whatever path you take, group riding is one of the most enjoyable facets of cycling. I encourage you to develop group cycling skills and find groups that are fun, challenging, and recognize the recovery benefits of a social stop.
