Handlebar Bicycle Club offers several pace classifications and multiple route options for each of our organized weekly rides. We encourage you to choose the group that best fits your knowledge, fitness, and ability to maintain the required pace.

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Choosing the correct pace group will ensure a fun and safe experience.

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Ride Groups

 

The main group of riders in a ride is called a peloton. Pelotons are separated to aim for 14 riders or fewer per group, with overlap starts of at least 3 minutes in between. The groups below are designed to allow enough overlap between groups as rider skills and abilities develop.

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A Group: For highly-trained and advanced riders.

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• Riders generally follow power instead of speed. Expected pulling power at around threshold power above 3.0 W/kg. May be lower for longer distances.

• Minimum 22+ mph group pace. Pull speed can exceed 24 mph depending on wind conditions.

• Objective: Training for upcoming races. For those blowing up they can fall back to the group B+ and follow the B+ pace rules below
   

B+ Group: For advanced riders. 

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• Riders generally follow power instead of speed. Expected pulling power between 2.0 w/kg to 3.0 W/kg.

• 21-24mph group pace. Pace lines, tight packs, no surging, except for some occasional sprints for those desiring some habanero spice. There are re-grouping spots at intersections and rest stops as needed.

• Pull length generally 3 minutes to a maximum of 8 minutes. Shorter pulls on high wind conditions.

• Objective: Highest avg speed while working as a team.

• While this ride is a social group ride, it can get hot and spicy at times, and you may get dropped. If you are unable to regroup, expect to fall back to the B group behind and follow the rules of that group

B Group. For intermediate riders. 

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• 19 - 21 mph group pace. Pace lines, tight packs, no surging. There are re-grouping spots at intersections and rest stops as needed.

• Pull length generally 3 minutes to a maximum of 8 minutes. Shorter pulls on high wind conditions. Pulls are kept at 19-21 mph.

• Objective: Highest avg speed while working as a team.

• Rides are expected to be social and pace guidelines should be adhered to in all conditions.
   

C Group. For new riders or riders developing skills and endurance. 

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• 16-18 mph group pace. Pace lines, practice group riding skills, re-grouping as needed, rest stops. Pulls are 16-18 mph and should not exceed 5 minutes.

• May exceed 18 mph as an exception (i.e. strong tailwind or downhill requiring less effort).

• Objective: Fun, fitness, and friendship while being safe.

• If you ride by yourself and think 15 mph is too fast, group riding typically adds 1-2 mph to average.

• Safety. First 5 minutes of ride will cover rider safety, hand signals, and group riding basics

• No drop ride.

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Rules and notes for all rides

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• All group rides, except C group, are drop rides but riders as expected to stop for mechanicals.

• Wind conditions may affect the final average speed of the ride.

• Pull length generally 3 minutes to a maximum of 8 minutes. Shorter pulls on high wind conditions. Not all riders are expected to pull. Pull can be as short as few seconds to none (wheel suckers allowed).

• The expectation for each group is to maintain the pace even with tailwind conditions.

• If any rider or the leader increases the pace or sprints, the riders behind do not need to follow. They are responsible for keeping their pace.

• Each group should have a captain that will attempt to maintain the group in cohesion and organized. Please listen and be focused.

• Lights are required for all riders.