Group Rides: Socialize and Train Simultaneously!
Solo rides are part of many cyclists’ routines. These rides allow you to ride at your own pace, choose your own itinerary and enjoy some welcomed “me-time”. Although solo rides bring some peacefulness to our daily grind, group rides shouldn’t be overlooked. Indeed, group rides have many advantages over solo rides, and a good balance between the two is ideal for a rich and rewarding cycling experience.
Benefits of group rides are various, but here are the main ones:
Be Part of the Community
Good news: the wonderful women’s cycling community is growing and thriving! Organized rides are an excellent way to meet the community and to become a part of it. On a bike, strangers become friends.
Combine Social Life and Training
Our lives are active, our minds are loaded and our days are super busy! It is often social life or training that goes out the window when we get overwhelmed. Personally, I love doing a two-for-one by going for a ride with friends or a group because group rides easily allow for a good catch up with friends or meeting new people while getting a good training!
Give Yourself an Extra Dose of Motivation
There are always ups and downs when it comes to training motivation (it’s normal!). A good way to keep up with your training is to participate in group rides (like PEPPERMINT’s rides) and to add them to your schedule. When it’s planned, chances are you will hop on your bike and go for a ride!
Surpassing Oneself
Personally, riding with people that are stronger than me gives me the extra push I need to surpass myself (yes... I do have a competitive side)! For example, if a friend climbs faster than me, I will give everything I have to try and get on top of the hill before her! Getting out of your comfort zone is an excellent way to better your cycling performances.
Develop New Abilities
To ride in a group allows you to develop new abilities that are not necessary when riding alone. Just to name a few, the drafting technique, the different signals, the reflexes and the transitions can only be worked on in a group.
Ride Longer Without Getting Tired
Drafting is so worth it! Riding behind the wheel of another cyclist allows you to save up on your energy level, meaning you can ride faster for the same level of energy spent. It’s a winning formula for long rides because together, we can go further.
Discover New Places
We all have our routine, our usual weekly rides, our favourites. Why not share them? Break the pattern and change your scenery! Riding with other groups also means exploring their favourite routes and discovering places you never thought existed!
Get Some Tips From Experimented Cyclists
Organized rides are often the occasion to ride with more experienced cyclists and even with cyclists that are part of a racing team! Cyclists can benefit from tips and tricks for all things technical, training, bike maintenance, etc.
After Ride
Beer, food, ice cream, hot chocolate, anything! A group after-ride is unbeatable to congratulate, unwind, chat and have fun.
If you love riding solo, I hope I convinced you to try group rides! Join the amazing PEPPERMINT community and come ride with us!
Joannie Desroches
