Group rides can be super intimidating, especially if you are new to mountain biking. Will I be strong enough? Is my bike too crappy? I don't want to hold everybody up. What if I commit some faux pas? These are some common concerns that I've experienced and heard from others.
Knowing the anatomical parts of a group ride, might help you find your groove. If nothing else, it will be a fun game to play in your head, assigning all the parts during your next group ride.
Knowing the anatomical parts of a group ride, might help you find your groove. If nothing else, it will be a fun game to play in your head, assigning all the parts during your next group ride.
So without further ado, lets get this anatomy lesson underway.
The Skin- The Skin holds everything together and connects us all. She is unashamedly extroverted. Everyone knows the Skin and the Skin knows everyone. The Skin knows the importance of applying protection (SPF and knee pads) pre-ride.
The Skin is a welcome presence to any group ride.
The Backbone, launching off a spine. The Backbone- The Backbone is fearless. Sometimes to a fault. She tends to ride at speeds that are ill-advised and launch off of features that he has never looked at. Sometimes this does not end well for the Backbone, but somehow, it always works out (so far).
The Muscle- The Muscle makes us all feel weak. This part of the group powers through the climbs, with his steel single speed, carrying a 30 lb hydration pack and barely breaking a sweat. Then, she flies down the descents, ahead of the rest of the group to a) snap pictures or b) make the rest of us feel weak.
My best attempt at being the Muscle, rigid SS and all.
The Heart- The Heart is essential to the emotional well-being of the group ride. She often rolls with a Jammy pack and insists on multiple photo-ops, preferably a jump shot at a scenic vista. The Heart also is keen on passing around a whiskey flask, cookies or other assorted trail side goodies. He is typically fashion-savvy in the saddle and tends to spread high-fives along with high-spirits.
Some Heart must have negotiated a jump shot
The Brain sometimes bullies her friends into less-than-ideal ride conditions. The Brain- The Brain is not necessarily a natural born leader, but she may be assigned this role based on local-status or by default of having the most riding experience or maybe he is just the keeper of the map/smart phone with the best trail-beta app (GuidePro).
The Dick- Watch out for the Dick. He is the "Debbie-Downer" of the group and has the potential to turn a casual group ride into an epic suffer-fest. Her bike is never working well enough, the trail is always too crowded for him and the Dick is never just happy to be out riding with friends. The Dick's pessimism is without rival and his love for mountain biking is debatable.
Don't be a Dick!
At some point, I have personally been each and every part of a group ride. On every group ride, someone is always going to be the slowest. There is almost always at least 1 mechanical, regardless of how many top-of-the-line, carbon trail bikes show up. And when cycling social mores are broken, well that's the stuff of great memories.
- The truth is that when you ride with a group of stronger riders, you'll get stronger.
- If you're not sure of the rules of the trail, riding with more experienced riders is a great way to learn them.
- Try to remember that everyone was a new guy at some point.
And then delight in the fact that mountain biking is a fun experience that is almost always more delightful when shared with friends.
- The truth is that when you ride with a group of stronger riders, you'll get stronger.
- If you're not sure of the rules of the trail, riding with more experienced riders is a great way to learn them.
- Try to remember that everyone was a new guy at some point.
And then delight in the fact that mountain biking is a fun experience that is almost always more delightful when shared with friends.
