| Class | Difficulty | Rate |
| Class A | Difficult, 45 to 100+ miles | 18-20mph average on flat terrain 16-18mph average on rolling/hilly terrain 15-16mph average on very hilly terrain |
| Class B | Advanced, 25 to 90 miles | 15-18mph average on flat terrain 13-16mph average on rolling/hilly terrain 12-14mph average on very hilly terrain |
| Class C | Moderate, 15 to 75 miles | 12-15mph average on flat terrain 10-13mph average on rolling/hilly terrain 9-11mph average on very hilly terrain |
| Class D | Easy, 10 to 25 miles | 8-11mph average on flat terrain 4-7mph average on more hilly terrain |
I’m finally recovered for the most part from a cold I contracted a few days after my Super Awesome Fun 50 mile ride a few weekends ago. And I’m looking – itching – to get back out and ride. This weekend is supposed to start nice and gradually decline into cold and rainy.
It’s Saturday and I have time for a ride with some decent mileage. So I pursue the local cycling group pages, searching for something either in my area or in my confirmed speed range. There is a ride scheduled for 10:30am (PERFECT!) at the local bike shop (EVEN BETTER!) at 15+mph average (well junk).
In the group ride community, most of the rides have average speeds set to 14+mph averages. My guess is the assumption is that if you are group riding, you are a more serious cyclist. You have the skills and knowledge to go longer distances in shorter amounts of time. And you want to be with other similarly leveled cyclists to keep you motivated … because inevitably someone will be faster or more graceful or training for a longer/hillier ride.
That’s not to say there aren’t rides for the C-level cyclist. The problem is me.
I want to ride with other people since I don’t know the area very well.
I want to start relatively close to my house so I don’t have to load everything into my car and drive first.
I want to ride on the weekends. Between work and being a mom, weekday rides – daytime and evening – just aren’t in the cards.
I want to improve my skills, speed, and distance (in that order) with friendly people who have similar goals.
In short, I miss cycling with my friends back in Colorado. I knew where I was going, didn’t generally have to drive to a starting point, and could have a very enjoyable time while improving.
In all fairness, I never did a group ride in Colorado because I didn’t have a road bike. I just rode with my friends at whatever pace we were feeling that day. We made terrible decisions sometimes – but we had a great time. I’m looking to recapture that magic.
It will take time and I will continue to look. I signed up for the Sturdy Girl Beginner Cycling clinic in two weeks to improve my skills. Doesn’t help me ease the manic desire to GO RIDE MY BIKE today, but will be beneficial in the long-term.
There are more C-rides planned coming up through Philly Bike Club. I just need to be more flexible in my approach and seek out the rides that I know I can do , have a good attitude, and be willing to make mistakes and have fun.
Someday a 15+mph average won’t be the reason I can’t do a ride.
Just not today.
wife. mother. awesome girl. 