This fourm has been empty for too long...

[TechniKal]

No mountain biking roadies in Austin? Hell, even I have a road bike now - something I swore I'd never buy - and I even ride it quite a bit. Still got my hairy legs, though.

My favorite loop is the 'Dam' loop or a modified version of it. I live on 620, so I'll often just ride out from the house, out to 71 and back. That's about 35 miles and lots of good climbing. This Sunday, we did a loop that took us down 620 to Jollyville to 360 to Rob Roy to 2244 to 71 to 620. 45 miles, lots of climbings and less traffic than you experience on 2222.

A short hard ride can be had by going down Commanche Trail at the Oasis off 620. That's the only time I've ever actually used the triple on the road bike - and I still wanted to get off and walk. I imagine Shepards Mount and Jester would be similar challenges.

I'm also doing a weekly ride east of 35 with my workgroup. 25 miles at a good, hard pace. I'll manage to stick with those A groupers one of these days...

So - where are the other closet roadies riding? Any good routes to recommend?

[J]

<slowly raises hand>

I live on 620, as well. Excellent road riding out our way. :)

I used to ride on the road a lot, but I've got my own personal reasons why I don't anymore. Some of them make less sense than others. Traffic and bad driver attitudes are on the rise, and I don't like Ms. Soccer Mom Cell Phone passing me at 70 mph not even knowing or caring that I'm there. I have hairy legs and a ten year old bike. I have full finger gloves and a visor on my helmet. :rolleyes: :D Can't argue that it's a great departure from mtn biking, as mtn biking is a great departure from road riding.

I'll get back into it, slowly, here and there. My road bike is a little big for me actually, and I considered selling the whole thing. However, I rode it last week and now I'm not selling it, heh. I'm going to keep the parts and maybe sell the frame and get something that fits. Don't ever ride a bike if you're considering selling it, especially if you just put Ergo on it.

I'll state this, and it's certainly not to be offensive to any roadies, but it seems that every time I go on a road ride, the 'roadie asshole' syndrome seems to manifest itself somehow. What is stated as an easy ride ends up me getting dropped, or some asshole cuts me off, or whatever. It sours the interest in road riding pretty quick, unfortunately. I think it was TechniKal who mentioned a 'casual' work related road ride turned into a hammer fest, dropping all but the big-legs.

It's a great way to get your legs strong, especially out my way at 2222 / 620. I just can't stand to be out that long in the sun, it'll kill me. I'm not a reptile. Back to work.

[TechniKal]

Some roadies are snotty. Some are downright arrogant. Of course, some mountain bikers are the same way - jerks ride all types of bikes. I think a lot of it comes from the fact that you ride so close to each other and depend so much on each other on group road rides. If you get a dufus or 'non-conformist' in the group, you can have a lot of people lose a lot skin. Still no excuse for being a jerk, though.

I'm also begining to re-evalute my feelings on being dropped. It's now become a challenge - I want the fast guys to try and dump me. One of these days, I'll stick with them to the end, and I want them to be trying to drop me the whole way. I'm not there yet, but it's my goal to stick with them by the end of the summer.

And that's one other thing I've noticed. On average, roadies are fitter than mountain bikers. I don't know whether it's the miles or the style of riding or what, but jeez - I consider myself to be in pretty decent shape and I struggle to stay with the leaders of B group on a lot of nights.

[Crusty]

roadies are fitter than mountain bikers, most expert mtb riders race cat 3, that makes 2 levels above in speed.

You can't expect roadies to cruse all the time and saying there A$$ holes for droping you is lame.

And unless your good in a pack they will push you around to make you leave because road rash sucks, another tactic is droping people who can't ride in a pack.

If your new to pack riding set in the back untill you are used to it.

Ride smooth (mtb riders many times wiggle all over the place) and take a pull if you can.....

[J]

I don't think that all roadies are a$$holes. You're right in that you've definitely gotta know what you're doing on a road ride, as wrecking at 20+ mph is no fun for anybody. Rather, there's ways to handle intermediate level riders on road rides, and my most recent rides weren't fun at all - There's always someone in every crowd or sport, whoever, that's gotta screw things up for other people. In retrospect, I think it was more the individual than anything. The point I was trying to make is that it can scare people away from the sport when it happens, and cycling needs all the support it can get as we face trail closures, increased traffic.. and I heard that there was a bill as recent as last year that was going to ban group rides on some roads around here? Good thing it got shot down..

Hey, this board is getting some discussion now!! Is anyone watching the Giro?

[TechniKal]

Pack riding is a new experience. Giving up my line of sight and depending on the guy in front of me to keep me safe from road obsticals is still hard for me to get used to. It's even worse in double pacelines where I don't feel like I have anywhere to bail if something goes wrong.

I'm getting better, though. I've learned to regulate my speed when I'm pulling and how to 'sit up' to slow down in a pace line as opposed to tapping the brakes. I can hold my line pretty well, too - until I glance back over my shoulder to drop out of the lead or whatever - then I find myself getting a little squirlly. Still getting the hang of drinking from water bottles on the fly as well - and I need to learn to spin better - I have a tendency to want to mash it up climbs.

Over the last month since I decided to move to sport class, I've been trying to do at least one longer (2+ hours, 45+ miles) road ride each week. I've also been doing the fast paced group ride with my work team on Wednesdays. That ride is only about 25 miles, but we're consistently averaging over 20 mph including stop time for stop lights on a windy course. Those long, sustained, 25 mph+ segments right at LT feel so freaking good - and I know it can only be beneficial for mtb racing. My legs are liking it - I'm building more strength and endurance - good stuff. It doesn't seem to give the anerobic workout that mtb does - but I'm sure I can get that when I start riding with faster groups.

I did the Dam loop this morning. My legs were shot after a 3 hour mtb ride yesterday - but it still felt good to get out there - and the weather is -perfect-. Too bad it can't stay like this all summer.

I haven't watched the Giro - don't have OLN...

[chongo]

Kyle, you should come out the Tues night road ride out of Cycle 360, a few of your co-workes come out every week. What started out a few years ago as a decent workout for 5-6 of us has turned into a hammerfest with about 10-15. We avg over 20 on the "dam loop". There has been talk of starting a "B" group but, I'm with you, I like trying to hold on to the fast guys as long as I can.

[TechniKal]

I've been wanting to try that ride - but it's difficult for me to make it across town in time after work. It'd also be hella-difficult for me to average 20 mph on the dam loop... ouch...

Does the ride start right at 6:00, or is it usually a little late getting started?

[chongo]

I guess your co-workers are on a different schedule, they are usually te first ones there! I know what you mean about averaging 20, by myself I could never do it but, with a good pack it's easier than you think. It's hard to hold on once we start climbing out of the dam, some of those guys are strong! Good thing they wait at the Walgreens before we head down 2222.
We usually roll out at 6:00 sharp, if your there and "almost ready" they'll give ya a minute

[TechniKal]

I'll have to schedule an 'offsite' meeting next Tuesday afternoon and give the ride a shot...

[Weeg]

Originally posted by TechniKal
Pack riding is a new experience. Giving up my line of sight and depending on the guy in front of me to keep me safe from road obsticals is still hard for me to get used to.

Amen Bruther...Especially when the dude/dudette in front of you doesn't wag a finger down toward the ever pesky pot-hole, etc.

When up front, scan ahead, and "wag" a finger for hazards:D

[J]

I think there was something about this in some other threads, but isn't there more than one type of paceline? Other than the typical pull for a bit up front, drop to the side, etc?

[TechniKal]

Double Echelon: Two elongated circles constantly rotating - riders on the inside move up, take the lead for a couple of seconds, and the rotate back on the outside. Looks pretty cool - though I don't trust myself enough in tight packs to participate.