Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => The Dark Side => Topic started by: DuncanM on 24 July, 2018, 11:45:39 am

Title: Group riding?
Post by: DuncanM on 24 July, 2018, 11:45:39 am
I need to get my behind in gear and finish my recumbent trike. One of the reasons I've not done much on it recently (read in the last year!) is because I don't think I could keep up, or fit in with the group rides for the club I ride uprights with.  What's the best way to find a local group (or individuals) who I can ride my trike with? Does anyone know of any in/near Oxford (I don't think any of the multitude of local bike shops do recumbents)?
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Kim on 24 July, 2018, 12:00:14 pm
In my experience, YACF.

You're unlikely to find a group of purely recumbent trike riders who will want to ride at a similar pace, simply on account of the rarity.  A Wacky Races style mixed group ('bent and upright trikes, bikes, tandems, etc) where people agree to stick to a socaible/audax pace is more achievable.

It might be worth posting on the BHPC forum if you're looking for other recumbent riders in your area.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: DuncanM on 24 July, 2018, 12:12:04 pm
I will have to join the BHPC. I'd been waiting until I finish my trike, but that day will never come if I don't get my arse in gear!
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Tigerrr on 25 July, 2018, 01:24:49 pm
I tried but failed to integrate with DF cycle clubs, and in the end left because it simply didn't work. Once I moved to recumbent, a sort of barrier seemed to go up. I would be told to ride at the back of the group because I might get in the way, there was no draft benefit from me, I might be unsteady - all sorts of guff. In fact, on all but uphills my recumbent speed was way ahead and it was just frustrating.
I was very unpopular for spanking the club's racing fraternity spectacularly on a nice bit of road near Guildford and after that I knew my days were numbered.
YACF rides were much more welcoming in general of unusual bikes.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: ElyDave on 25 July, 2018, 03:14:29 pm
I tried but failed to integrate with DF cycle clubs, and in the end left because it simply didn't work. Once I moved to recumbent, a sort of barrier seemed to go up. I would be told to ride at the back of the group because I might get in the way, there was no draft benefit from me, I might be unsteady - all sorts of guff. In fact, on all but uphills my recumbent speed was way ahead and it was just frustrating.
I was very unpopular for spanking the club's racing fraternity spectacularly on a nice bit of road near Guildford and after that I knew my days were numbered.
YACF rides were much more welcoming in general of unusual bikes.

^^^^ I used to be a member of my local club, however when my interest in club Tuesday TTs and every weekend waned, and when I couldn't make every Sunday club ride, the disdain from certain sections was clear, and that's before I started riding recumbents.  Let's face it, some people are not cyclists, they are simply ar$eholes who ride a bike.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Wobbly John on 25 July, 2018, 04:32:47 pm
Just remember that there is a huge difference in recumbents too.

Riding my Dutch CLWB with 7 gears was a nightmare, on a hilly ride with recumbent trikes. They could change down to the granny ring, and then stop half way up a hill on the steepest bit, for a breather, right in front of bikes forcing them to stop and do a more difficult 'hill start'.  >:(

The trikelists didn't have the problem of getting a foot back on the pedal, while balancing, with the first pedal stroke.  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Kim on 25 July, 2018, 04:40:27 pm
And if you get some speed up, there can be all sorts of differences in what can draft what: Uprights make a nice big hole in the air, and pretty much anything can get some draft from them.  Uprights can get a bit of a useful draft off a high recumbent, but nothing much from a low one.  Low recumbents get surprisingly little from higher ones.  And anything with a rear fairing glues the air back together behind it and it's almost as if it isn't there.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Charlie Polecat on 25 July, 2018, 04:48:38 pm
Quote
.  Let's face it, some people are not cyclists, they are simply ar$eholes who ride a bike.

Yup, and you usually find them riding in pelotons along narrow roads with their arses higher than their heads.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Kim on 25 July, 2018, 04:55:24 pm
Quote
.  Let's face it, some people are not cyclists, they are simply ar$eholes who ride a bike.

Yup, and you usually find them riding in pelotons along narrow roads with their arses higher than their heads.

I reckon they're more easily found jumping red lights and undertaking large vehicles on their commute, but that's just because they're in a more concentrated area.

(Incidentally, getting one of those on your tail is one of the hazards of riding a recumbent in That London.  They hide in your blind spot, don't expect you to stop for the lights, and are oblivious to the fact that a recumbent can out-brake them...)
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: DuncanM on 25 July, 2018, 09:52:20 pm

I reckon they're more easily found jumping red lights and undertaking large vehicles on their commute, but that's just because they're in a more concentrated area.

(Incidentally, getting one of those on your tail is one of the hazards of riding a recumbent in That London.  They hide in your blind spot, don't expect you to stop for the lights, and are oblivious to the fact that a recumbent can out-brake them...)
Sounds like just the job for a rear fairing - glue the air together, and impale anyone who doesn't understand! :)

PS I am in a club that deals with upwrongs, but I don't think my trike would work on a group ride as it's twice as long, loads wider, much lower, and climbs like it weighs as much as a small car!
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Tigerbiten on 26 July, 2018, 09:13:04 pm
Find a good cheap campsite near a good pub.
Work out a good circular route from it.
Post on the forums with some probable dates.
Finalize and meet up for the win.

That probably the easiest way to meet up.

I know of probably 5-6 bent riders about 50 miles.
There's a small group of bent riders that meet up once a month over winter based near Newmarket.

Luck ........  ;D
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Wobbly John on 26 July, 2018, 10:18:34 pm
Hey DuncanM, How about trying to get over to Mildenhall Rally in a month's time and meet some lowlife recumbenteers and maybe grab some inspiration and bargains to complete the trike build?  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: DuncanM on 01 August, 2018, 11:01:44 am
Mildenhall sounds great - sadly I'm booked up that weekend. :(
I will have to come down to one of the next BHPC races at Hillingdon though - that's not too far from me.
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: Von Broad on 01 August, 2018, 06:27:42 pm
Mildenhall sounds great - sadly I'm booked up that weekend. :(
I will have to come down to one of the next BHPC races at Hillingdon though - that's not too far from me.

I really like going to Hillingdon - although I haven't been as a rider for some years. Nice place to just wander around while the racing's going on. There are normally two sessions a year, at the beginning and end of the season, so you'll have to wait until October now, but that's enough time for you to finish your trike in time for a spin round the track there :)

As regards group riding, I've never been part of a cycling club so wouldn't know, but I'd imagine the reactions are pretty universal.
For me personally, I'm really not that bothered about being part of a group [that doesn't want me as a member], but the only downside to that, and it is a big one, is that if you want to make advances with fitness, then working with others is the way to go. Making progress alone is of course possible, but requires a shed load of discipline and motivation.

I could do with getting my arse well and truly whipped as well - I've had a project in 'gestation' for some 11 years. I've [tentatively] just started it! It wouldn't be so bad if those 11 years had been spent brain-storming some revolutionary idea, but no, it's just another recumbent that looks the same on paper as it did 11 years ago. I'm finding one minute I'm full of best intentions, next minute I'm sitting in a pub talking about my best intentions. :facepalm:

Hope you manage to finish the trike. Do it not for group riding, but for you... and your daughter :)
Title: Re: Group riding?
Post by: ElyDave on 01 August, 2018, 07:46:14 pm
Best intentions, I have a complete balsa wood glider fuselage, wings and tailplane. Its been waiting at least eighteen months for a vertical stabiliser. I've built at least one bike since then.