Group Ride Etiquette for triathletes!
*If you are planning to join in on group rides you MUST follow the rules of each ride. If you have never gone with a group before you need to start with a beginner group and LEARN first. Also, these are all FREEWHEELERS RIDES so if you are not a member (which I highly recommend) you should probably ask if it is ok for you to ride with them BEFORE showing up. Here are a few of my group riding tips for triathletes:
1. NEVER get on your aero bars when you are in a group. The ONLY time you can be aero is if you are in the front maintaining pace.
2. If you have a rear bottle holder that tends to “eject” bottles then you need to either wear a cycling jersey and put it in your pocket or put it on your frame.
3. When you are riding along NEVER cross the yellow line – NEVER EVER – NO MATTER WHAT!
4. When you are riding 2 abreast this does not mean 1 rider is over on the edge and one over at the yellow line. You need to get reasonably close together.
5. DO NOT try to ride with a group that you know is too fast for you. Typically in a group ride you will ride a little faster than when you are on your own but I am talking maybe going from 14-15 mph to 16 and at most 17mph. BE REALISTIC!
6. Group riding can be really fun and add an element of education to your training. USE the rides that are available. There are MANY more rides out there but these are all of the ones I get notifications about. The Greenville Spinners have lots of rides too. I am just not as familiar with theirs.
Anderson’s Monday Medley Ride
Monday night we will have 3 groups.
Location:
Chris & Gloria’s farm – 1956 Moore-Duncan Hwy., Hwy. 290, Moore, SC 29369
Monday Evening 6 PM – LEAVING/ROLL OUT!
Contact: Chris 864-542-4035
Group 1 : Andrew will lead the “A” group this week.
Route: Modified Babe Woods route
Pace: 17-18 Distance: 30 miles
Group 2: Bryan will lead the “B” group this week.
Route: Vineyards
Pace: 16+ Distance: 28-30
Group 3: Chris & Bob F. will lead the “C” group.
Route: Vineyards Horse Loop
Pace 14-15 Distance: 22-25, Returning BEFORE DARK
Safety Requirements:
- ID with Emergency Contact info required
- Helmets required (glasses recommended)
- Rear Daytime Blinker lights
- Headlights
- No earbuds
- Obey Safe Cycling Practices
- Obey the Rules of the Road
- Be open to Safety Feedback–communicate info forward and back. The ride leader cannot see everything.
- Do Not engage/respond/react to angry motorists. Document-video/pictures/write to tell authorities, if needed.
Watermelon Ride– they serve Watermelon in the warm weather!
Tuesday Night Ride
Lake Bowen Baptist Church
404 Sugar Ridge Road
Inman SC 29349
6:00 pm every Tuesday, weather permitting
Contact: Cheri 864-494-4463 or Ricky 864-542-4415
Terrain: rolling, hilly
Distance: 25-32 miles, depending on route
Group A: avg 19+ Karl Johnson leader
Group B: avg 17+ Ricky/Cheri Tutterow leader (needs substitute leader, email for info)
Group C: avg 15+ Larry Hart leader
Group D: avg 14+ Jason Seay leader (needs substitute leader, email for info)
BEGINNER RIDES
Wednesday Nights
If you are new to road cycling or your bike is ready for the unemployment line (cuz you’ve been uhhh…”busy”), this ride is for you! We have a lot of fun. We stick together and help each other get stronger to move up to other rides. Come out and join us!
When: Wednesday 6:00 pm (recurring every Wednesday, weather permitting)
Where: Ingles Market, 2375 Chesnee Highway, Spartanburg SC 29303. About 1/3 mile north of I-85 exit 78. This is north of the I-85/Business-85 connection. Park on the left side of parking lot as you are looking at the store…on the side with the gas pumps.
Contact: Larry Hart 864-316-5189
Distance: about 12-14 miles…no one left behind!
Pace: probably about 12-13 mph, dependent on the group. We will increase the speed and distance as we make progress.
Terrain: some of the flattest roads in the Upstate
Reidville Elementary School Rides
Wednesday’s
Time: 6pm
Location: Reidville Elementary School
300 College Street Reidville, SC 29375
*DO NOT ENTER THE DRIVEWAY BESIDE THE SCHOOL WITH YOUR CAR OR BIKE (THIS IS AN OUTGOING ACTIVE LANE FOR AFTER SCHOOL FUNCTIONS)
2 – PLEASE PARK YOUR VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE PARKING LOT (PARK NEAR THE BIG GRASS AREA OR NEAR THE DUMPSTERS)
Ride leader: Tony McAbee – tonymcabee@yahoo.com
Distance: 30.1 miles
Pace: 17-17.5 mph AVERAGE!
SAFETY is and must always be 1st … Be Seen!
*Attention – anytime you are on the front pulling please callout sticks, rocks, potholes or other debris in the roadway
Safety Requirements
1 Minimum Riders: 2 or more (minimum of 4 for night ride)
2 ID with In Case of Emergency contact – required on your person/bike (not on your mobile phone). Many different options, just have one.
3 Helmets required (glasses recommended)
4 Rear Daytime Blinker Lights: REQUIRED – BE SEEN. A “Daytime” Blinker hurts your eyes if you look directly at it from arms length. Make sure that your light is charged. Lights need to point directly back (not to the ground or to the sky)
5 Headlights: Highly recommend. Be seen by oncoming cars and drivers turning
6 No Earbuds – to hear cars and fellow riders
7 Obey Safe Cycling Practices
8 Do Not engage/ respond/ react to angry motorist. Document – video/ pictures/ write to tell authorities if needed
9 Be Open to Safety Feedback – we need to watch out for each other.. The Ride Leader cannot see everything, and can need feedback too.
Bowen’s Landing Restaurant Ride – just past Lake Bowen.
Wednesday Nights 6PM
Distance: 30+/-
Pace: 16-17+/- avg
https://www.strava.com/activities/372690065
Scott Sisk – 864-494-3567
This is a rolling course.
*IF WEATHER IS A FACTOR THIS WEDNESDAY. WATCH THE RADAR AND FOR EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENTS. RIDE IS ON IF NOT RAINING AT START OR IMPENDING DOOM APPROACHING.
We’ll ride approximately 30 miles. Pace will be around 16-17 +/- miles per hour. No one left behind. Regroups at stop signs as needed. Helmets required.
*This is a “B+” group ride.
Tail Lights are REQUIRED! Please be considerate too, of mounting locations of the lights to allow for good visibility and to get the attention of drivers, while NOT blinding your fellow riders. Thanks.
We’ll enjoy good food and beverages after the ride at Bowen’s Landing Restaurant. They have been providing us with great appetizers lately at no charge. Come join us.
Location:
Bowen’s Landing Restaurant Parking Lot (rear), 8681 S Carolina 9, Inman, SC 29349 From Spartanburg take I-26 to Hwy 292 North (turn right) to Hwy 9. Turn left on Hwy 9 and drive approximately 1 mile, cross Lake Bowen. The restaurant is 1/4 mile on the left. From Boiling Springs, follow Hwy 9 North, crossing Lake Bowen; restaurant 1/4 mile on left.
From NC take I-26 E towards Spartanburg; take Exit 5 which is Hwy 11 left towards Chesnee. Follow Hwy 11 approx 2.5 miles to Hwy 9. Turn right on Hwy 9. The restaurant is approximately 1/2 mile on the Right.
*Park behind the restaurant.
Safety Requirements
- Minimum Riders: 3 or more
- ID with In Case of Emergency contact – required on your person/bike (not on your mobile phone). Many different options, just have one.
- Helmets required (glasses recommended)
- Rear Daytime Blinker Lights: REQUIRED – BE SEEN. A “Daytime” Blinker hurts your eyes if you look directly at it from arms length. Make sure that your light is charged. Lights need to point directly back (not to the ground or to the sky)
- Headlights: Highly recommend. Be seen by oncoming cars and drivers turning.
- No Earbuds – to hear cars and fellow riders
- Obey Safe Cycling Practices
- Do Not engage / respond / react to angry motorists. Document – video / pictures / write to tell authorities if needed.
- Be Open to Safety Feedback – we need to watch out for each other. The Ride Leader cannot see everything, and can need feedback too.
Strawberry Hill Ride
Thursday, 6:00pm
Strawberry Hill 3097 Highway 11 Chesnee, SC
Contact:Sandy (864) 431-6713
Group 1 ~ 28-30 miles @ 18 – 19 mph ~ Ride Leader ~ Ricky/Cheri
Group 2 ~ 25-28 miles @ 16 – 17 mph ~ Ride Leader ~ Sandy
Group 3 ~ 20-25 miles @ 14 – 15 mph ~ Ride Leader ~ Open
**Weather Permitting** I’ll check the weather forecast, if it looks iffy, I’ll call the ride by 5PM. So check back for updates.
- Safety Requirements for all rides:
- Minimum Riders: 2 or more…may be required, see postings.
- ID with In Case of Emergency contact – required on your person/bike (not on your mobile phone). Many different options, just have one.
- Helmets required (glasses recommended)
- Rear Daytime Blinker Lights: REQUIRED – BE SEEN. Set them to night mode.
- Headlights: Required – we are riding in the dark.
- No Earbuds – to hear cars and fellow riders
- Be Open to Safety Feedback – we need to watch out for each other. The Ride Leader cannot see everything, and can need feedback too.
Green Pond Baptist Church Ride
Thursday’s 6 PM
Leaving from Green Pond Baptist Church
300 Chicken Foot Creek Road, Woodruff, SC 29388
Contact: Ronni (864) 216-2327
“1” – Various Leaders pace 18 – 19 mph (28-32 miles)
“2” – Various Leaders pace 17 mph (28-32 miles)
“3” – Leader Needed pace 15 mph (24-28 miles) Group 3 riders will regroup at stop signs and turns.
Our groups will work together to maintain the posted pace and the pace will increase as we move
forward into the ride Season…make sure you chose wisely the group in which you will ride.
The “1” nor “2” groups are NOT “no-drop” groups. You will be expected to keep the pace.
The groups may take different routes and therefore, we cannot guarantee that you can simply
fallback into the slower group it is unfair to the others in the group not to ride at the posted pace
and that will be our goal each week.
Weather Permitting this is a regular Weekly Ride! After the ride, join us at Los Mexicanos
(on highway 290 across from Ingle’s) for food and fun!!
Safety Requirements for all rides:
Minimum Riders: 2 or more…may be required, see postings.
ID with In Case of Emergency contact – required on your person/bike (not on your mobile phone).
Many different options, just have one.
Helmets required (glasses recommended)
Rear Daytime Blinker Lights: REQUIRED – BE SEEN. Set them to night mode.
Headlights: Required – we are riding in the dark.
No Earbuds – to hear cars and fellow riders
Obey Safe Cycling Practices
Obey The Rules of the Road.
Be Open to Safety Feedback – we need to watch out for each other.
The Ride Leader cannot see everything, and can need feedback too
Broncos Ride
Thursday’s 6PM
Broncos Restaurant, 1560 Union St, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Park in the back right.
Pace: Zones (3)
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29482356
Leader: Karl 864-542-6058 – but can vary from week to week.
Zones: Whitestone out, Hwy 9 into Pacolet, and Whitestone in. We will paceline in the zones & try and keep most all together. Don’t want to wait too long at end of zones – steady pace in between. Bring lights in case we get back later than anticipated. Try to average 19-20 mpg overall. As daylight grows, we will concentrate on the zones and easier in between.
- Minimum Riders: 2 or more…may be required, see postings.
- ID with In Case of Emergency contact – required on your person/bike (not on your mobile phone). Many different options, just have one.
- Helmets required (glasses recommended)
- Rear Daytime Blinker Lights: REQUIRED – BE SEEN. A “Daytime” Blinker hurts your eyes if you look directly at it from arms length. Make sure that your light is charged. Lights need to point directly back (not to the ground or to the sky)
- Headlights: Highly recommend. Be seen by oncoming cars and drivers turning.
- No Earbuds – to hear cars and fellow riders
- Obey Safe Cycling Practice
- Do Not engage / respond / react to angry motorists. Document – video / pictures / write to tell authorities if needed..
- Be Open to Safety Feedback – we need to watch out for each other. The Ride Leader cannot see everything, and can need feedback too.