Too Fast? Too Slow? Just Right?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Reddog (Cliff) on June 30, 2009 at 1:16pm

I think that you did an excellent job of keeping the mass at a pace that would keep things intact. I spoke with someone who was up front with you for a good stretch of the ride, and he said you were doing a very good job. I was not at the front of the mass until late in the ride, but I kept your peace symbol in sight (about a block or so ahead) for pretty much the whole ride. Sure, it was slow at first, but it is always slow downtown. Once we were away from the loop things seemed to progress at the normal rate for such a large group. I think you did an excellent job of mid-mass modification of the route, and in directing it to go to the beach at the end, because your original end point was not going to be a good Idea as it turned out.
I kinda saw some of the fixie crowd, but I am so fed up with the CCM hooligans that I just ignored them. Not that there is anything wrong with riding fixed, some of my best friends ride fixed, but they are not the hooligans.
I think that you did a great job under difficult circumstances. I am just beginning to appreciate just how much work you and others put into making the routes, and keeping things on track during the route. I watch closely because I harbor dreams of making a route and perhaps leading it one day. but I am not ready just yet.

I say ignore the hooligans, it is dismaying the way they interact with cars, but you, and folks like you, have your supporters in the mass.

Permalink Reply by Davo on June 30, 2009 at 1:30pm

I thought the pace was nice. With that many riders things should go slow at first but when we were going up sacremento or kedzie the pace picked up to a good speed. As far as those kids go, their stupid, if they want to run the route they should make up a map and they would probibly just loose the mass anyway. Maybe we should tell them if its too slow for them ride to the back and ride to the front untill their tired.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on June 30, 2009 at 2:00pm

I lost my cool a few times and was absolutely vicious in my verbal volleys with the fixter kids, which is something I'm good at. However, I'm wondering if it's worth the stress; maybe the ride was too slow? Maybe I should just let it go? Anyone got any thoughts?


Not at all, not in the least. You did good. You should do the same on the next ride.

It wasn't necessary to argue. The peace sign was a good idea, and as long as you were leading for some time I don't think a few fixies racing ahead would have done much to take over the ride.

You're right with someone's suggestion: a few more supportive people are needed up front to pad your emphasis.

The ride was a great ride and many have commented on this.

Permalink Reply by Davo on June 30, 2009 at 3:37pm

or you should tell them to go on a head of you and that we will catch up.

Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on June 30, 2009 at 4:01pm

Steve, Howard, Andrew, and anyone else who plans a route and leads it, Heather and I would be glad to help y'all with Directional Control at the front of the ride. Send me a P.M. with your phone #'s so we can find each other in the Plaza.

Permalink Reply by igz on July 2, 2009 at 10:29am

There were a few moments where it got really slow...but for obvious reasons. Typically bottlenecking. And the beginning is usually tough, yes, also obvious. i was riding towards the middle most of the ride, which is least subject to speed fluctuations, but can be the beginning of the problem. Constant pace at the front is important. A phenomenon that occurs at lights/bottlenecks/forced stops is the "inchworming effect".

You can see this most typically in traffic...cars stuck...cars start moving...car behind takes a moment to start moving...cars behind starts moving late...etc...then there is a gap...then everyone starts speeding up...then cars catch up...and everyone someone slows down...car behind notices brake light...car behind does the same...then everyone starts slamming on the brakes. Repeat. Same thing is happening at the rides.

Its at the point where just towards the middle that the group will get stretched out, thinned out, that we start to lose the mass, cars see the opportunity to cut in, and the group falls apart. Then the middle is playing catch up, speeding up, the rear is still falling behind getting stretched out, and whats worse, is completely oblivious as to what is going on towards the front.

The opposite happens at bottle necks. The front may be maintaining speed, but the mass behind needs merge in. Again, people behind might not understand what is going on.

There is no true remedy for this unless you can manage 1000+ riders to ride uniformly and there are no route obstacles.

Them hooligans had no place to comment...they should really understand the dynamic of a group ride a bit more before they do...or like stated previously, let them make their own ride, route, race, whatev.

Thanks for leading, Steven.