[ninjajody offline]

Curious to see how many will actually stand and be counted...
I am coming up on my second year catching the fever that is MTBing and been riding with a club as of 6 months ago. I thought I had gotten into good shape riding alone, but only after joining my riding group, I realized how much work I still need to do. I do great the first 2/3 of rides, like clock work, I fatigue and everyone slowly starts to pull away. I ride 2-3 times a week now...just wondering how long it took you guys to keep up wit the pack.
The club I ride with are great guys, just getting a little embarrassed cause I feel I am holding them up at times.

[CFM offline]

As you are finding out cycling is an accumulative sport. The more years you do it regularly the more residual strength you possess as a cyclist. Sounds like you have found a great group to ride with. Don't feel bad about holding anyone up, just ride to your ability and enjoy it. I suspect the other members of the group are happy that you have "caught the fever" and glad to see you get stronger as time goes on.

[maddslacker offline]

I've been riding 8 years and I still bring up the rear.

[CraigCreekRider offline]

I've been riding 8 years and I still bring up the rear.

Right back there with you madd........

Its not a big deal, just have fun.

[revans1961 offline]

Im still pretty new about two years and it took a lot of pain not just cruising but pushing myself harder every time I remember feeling like I was going to have a heart attack . Now its not a problem I the one waiting for others to catch up.

[skibum offline]

My solution is simple
I just volunteer to lead a novice-level ride!

[fleetwood offline]

In my small group I used to be in the front, and now am usually closer to the rear. Those young bucks got faster, and I got slower. I still have a blast though, and that is all that matters to me.

[Gdb49 offline]

In Colorado Springs. Is there a MTB club or riding group? How do you find and hook up with a riding group?

[dgaddis offline]

In Colorado Springs. Is there a MTB club or riding group? How do you find and hook up with a riding group?

Check with local bike shops, many will host a weekly ride. Also google for local advocacy clubs, most will have a forum and people will post rides there.

I'm usually either off the front or off the back, depending on who I'm riding with. I'm sort of stuck in the middle, can't keep up with the really fast guys, but can usually keep out in front of most others.

[mtbgreg1 offline]

I'm usually either off the front or off the back, depending on who I'm riding with. I'm sort of stuck in the middle, can't keep up with the really fast guys, but can usually keep out in front of most others.

I second this. Also, I find that it depends on the month.... if I've been riding a lot, I'll be pulling at the front of the pack but if I haven't been riding as much as I'd like, I might be somewhere mid pack.

Also, in response to the OP, when I first started riding with my local shop I was dead last--every ride. It took me a couple of years of riding with those guys (and doing a ton of riding on my own) to get anywhere close to the front, but now I'm regularly in the upper 3rd.

Also, don't feel too bad about holding everyone else up. While obviously we get pretty competitive as mtbers even on chill rides, it's still just that--a ride, not a race. If some of those guys turned on their race pace....

[bonkedagain offline]

In Colorado Springs. Is there a MTB club or riding group? How do you find and hook up with a riding group?

There are a few MTB related groups in Colorado Springs. There is a biker advocacy group Medicine Wheel and there are a couple meetup groups, like North Colorado Springs Cyclists and Colorado Springs Mountain Biking Club.

[ninjajody offline]

Thanks for the pep doods.