I was thinking that training or cycling in a group is probably like doing a group training run.
A few reasons to train (for anything, really) with a partner:
1. When you train with someone who is a little better or faster than you, it can really push you to improve your pace. Training with a partner can be a good change of pace from training alone.There are benefits to training alone too, but it can be good to mix things up.
2. Training with a partner provides you with someone (or a few people!) to talk to. This always help make the workout fly by!
3. A training partner provides you with someone to be accountable to. If you set a meeting time and place, it is harder to back out.
For cycling in particular, other riders can really help you! If you form a drafting line, you take turns up front doing the brunt of the work. When you are in the back, you have some rest time before it is your turn to pull again.
Edited to add: A number of readers have mentioned that riding in a group is also much safer because you are more likely to be seen by drivers. Good point!
I was super nervous going out for this ride because there were a few riders with us who were much more experienced or just naturally faster. I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep up. But, I ended up being able to stay with the group for most of the ride. Sweet!
We made one wrong turn somewhere along the way, I think, so we ended up going about 68-70 miles, but we still hit all the hills. I did a lot better at them this time than a few weeks ago. It's amazing what a rest day can do! We also finished a much longer ride at a faster pace than I usually go. I was so excited!
I wish I had a few photos of the scenery on this ride. It was so beautiful! Sunny. Rolling green hills.
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Here's one from a couple weeks ago just for fun.
This training ride made me so excited for the Tour this coming weekend! I know we are going to have a blast.
Do you train often with friends? Most of the time, I do my runs alone, but Ryan and I like to bike together. As I said here though, it was awesome to ride with more people! Ryan and I help get each other out for our runs and keep each other accountable -- even if we don't actually run together.
Looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteI also think that cycling with other people is much safer than riding solo. I haven't done much group riding, but when I have, I've always felt like we had a much stronger presence on the road. I think that, when running, this matters less (since runners tend to put themselves further off the road, and can move over with more ease, if forced).
I also like to ride with others because I'm a relative newbie in the cycling world, and I can learn a lot from more experienced riders!
Good luck on Tour de Cure! I much prefer to ride in a group. For many of the roads I do long rides on it just feels safer and makes the time go by faster. But I do enjoy my solo bike commutes to work. It feels really peaceful sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBut running I prefer to do alone. Probably because I'm so slow. ;)
How beautiful and fun! I will be in northern CA (road tripping from Arcata to Monterey) in late May and am so excited for the rolling green hills.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your ride and I think cycling in larger groups is much, much safer than biking alone. In Boulder there were always reports of cyclists out by themselves getting hit by cars. Yikes! Be safe out there :)
Aww sounds like so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteI used to swim with others all the time, but you can't really talk and do that at the same time :P Now that I've been running with a friend it just makes everything feel much easier. Also, for me it's nice for long runs because I'm faster so I have to run a bit slower. It's great for recovery :D