Hey all. I'm still pretty much a newbie... I have about a thousand miles under me this year. How can I know if I'm ready to Ride in an organized ride event?

 

This is more of a general question than an Evo question. You should post it in the General section, where you will get an abundance of completely contradictory advice.

Personally, you couldn't pay me to ride in anything like an organised event. (I've been riding over 30 years and have at least a couple hundred thousand miles under me.) JMHO and all that. I'm not much into riding in groups. At most, small groups of people I know and trust.

I do think that when it comes to almost anything, if you are asking if you are ready, you probably aren't.

BTW, welcome to club Evo!

 

Just do it.
I guarantee you that there are people there with less experience than you.

Damn good reason for staying away from group rides IMO.

 

I agree.

 

Don't do it....not much fun even after 40 years unless u like to parade. Most times it's not even u you have to worry about. Lol

 

Group rides tend to fall into two types: formal organisation, with leaders up front and sweepers behind; or informal, where the larger group tends to split into smaller sub-groups, but following the designated route. Get to the start point in plenty of time, so you can meet and greet, also find out how they organise themselves. A useful clue is that the lady riders tend to be more cautious while riding, so if there is a small group including a couple of them riding solo ask if you can join - having established that they are not feared by the rest for their speed!

I don't enjoy riding in groups either, but you have to find that for yourself. Don't be put off by the chaps above! You may well find you love it and you have a new way of enjoying your bike. Mrs B and I joined a small group last week, just eight bikes in the pouring rain, and had a great time covering around 150 miles. We all belong to the same Club and operate an informal system, which works fine in small groups, as long as everyone travels at a similar pace.

 

I agree...just do it...till you get more experience...try to ride as far back in the pack as they will let you.

 

Go for the ride!

 

Yup, after 35 years and 320,000 miles I've learned to avoid group rides. Especially where I don't know the people involved, and their competence level. I've seen too much bad stuff go down too quick on those things.


I only go on one group trip a year these days, and it's with a small group of friends I've ridden with for over 20 years.

 

Ever watch the "highlights" of a bike race where some dork kisses the biscuit and wipes out 20 other people? Multiply that by a thousand and that's what will happen if some noobsausage does something silly during a big group ride.


That's the worst thing about having the loudest bike among your friends...you have to ride at the back of the pack and hope that nothing goes pear shaped in front of you!