group riding skills and tips Archives - Page 4 of 4

Nuances of Route Planning

Mapping a route

Route planning is something every cyclist eventually has to tackle. While the idea of just going out and riding whatever roads strike your fancy that day is exhilarating, sometimes planning a route may be a necessity. Maybe you have a few friends joining you, maybe you have a club ride to plan or maybe you have some training that you need to plan a route for. In any case, planning a good route is more than just putting (virtual) pen to paper, and we're going to explore how to ensure a good plan and a good route.

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Tags: bike, cycling, planning, riding, road|

Getting fried in the Devil’s Kitchen

Before I even say anything, the Tour of the Catskills one day race was a disaster for me. I felt good, I was staying well positioned in the group (riding up with the first 5 riders) and everything was going perfectly. I stood up and accelerated to chase an acceleration off the front of the group and felt a pull and a shot of pain on the outside of my right knee. Each pedal stroke for the next 5 miles was just like some sadistic devil sticking an ice pick into my knee joint.

Needless to say, with 'cross season coming up, I climbed off and accepted a DNF. Fail. Maybe I shouldn't have swapped cranks, maybe I shouldn't have swapped pedals, who knows. Next year, Catskills, next year.

Anyway….

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Tags: climbing, facepalm, racing|

Group Ride Etiquette

For new riders and even seasoned saddle jockeys who ride solo, the prospect of a group ride can be an intimidating thing. Questions such as “what if I make a mistake?” “what if I embarrass myself?” “what if I cause a crash?” “what if I get dropped?” are all common ones for new group riders. But with a few simple guidelines, you'll be ready to roll and should have nothing to fear from your first group ride.

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Mistreated Millbrook: Cycling Through Time

Last night's group ride took me up and down the Shunpike, locally known as a hilly set of rollers in the middle of bustling Dutchess County. It also took me past an awesome old urban ruin: the Bennett School for Girls in Millbrook, NY.

Originally founded in 1890 as a six year institution. Sometime in the early 1900s, it switched to a 2 year school, and due to poor enrollment, attempted to become a 4 year school in the 19702. Originally female only, part of it's downfall was the emergence of co-educational facilities, which was another matter necessitating the change to a 4 year institution. Unfortunately, the financial stress of adding a 2 year curriculum, campus improvements and construction combined with poor enrollment numbers, causing the college to enter bankruptcy. Plans to merge with nearby Briarcliff Manor (also in bankruptcy) never materialized and the college was closed 1978. Untouched since then, 33 years of neglect have taken their toll on the beautiful architecture of the main building.

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