There are many ways to describe a group ride. Here are the most common types you will see available on the Condors Facebook page . The speed and style of a ride can vary greatly due to weather, hills, road conditions, equipment and most importantly riders. As such, these descriptors are only intended as a guide and won’t always provide a perfect picture. The most important thing is to talk with the ride leaders at the start of the ride to make sure there is a common understanding about speed, style and what to do if someone is riding too fast at the front or can’t keep up at the back.
Rides will usually be described by two key features: speed and style. Although there are certain combinations that will be more popular, they all work – any style of ride can be done at any speed.
Speed
Ride Leaders are encouraged to advertise a ride speed on the flat, with a range of 2-4 km/h. This is the speed the group will go on the flat sections of the route. Talk to the ride leader in advance if you’re unsure about the speed of a ride
Style
Social
Social rides will always be friendly, chatty and non-competitive. No one gets left behind on a social ride, and no one minds slowing up if someone is struggling. Social rides will often include a café/pub stop during and/or after the ride.
Strengthener
A Strengthener ride is a harder group ride that sticks together. Riders will take turns on the front, not necessarily as a continuous through-and-off, although this may be used. Riders will be pushing themselves and should expect to work harder than on a social ride but will stay together as a group. There might sometimes be a small split on hills or the final stretch, but it will always regroup.
Screamer
Basically a race. A Screamer is a really hard group ride where the riders in the group go as fast they like from the start, and everyone hangs on as long as they can. If your legs and lungs aren’t screaming at you after half an hour, attack!!
Skills
A Skills ride will have a focus on a specific skill or set of skills. All rides are a great time to think about skills, but these rides will have a particular focus that everyone in the group will be working towards. This focus could be a whole variety of things such as, but not limited to: group riding skills – riding close to others, rotating the front, signals; bike handling skills – braking, changing gear, having a drink; smooth through-and-off or pace-line riding; race skills – leading out a sprint, chasing a breakaway. The ride leader will advertise the skills focus in advance
Ride leaders, you don’t have to use these descriptors, just as long as you are aware of what people are expecting when you do. You’re welcome to invent your own if you’re feeling creative or don’t think your ride clearly fits with one of these 4 styles. Thank you for leading!