Ride Culture
Finding a group of riders that you feel comfortable riding with is a key component of a successful outing with your local cyling club. Most organized clubs have different designations for each level of riding. Silver Wheels is no exception. Our chart is posted below and can be helpful in considering what type of ride you have the skills to take on. It is no fun to ride beyond your skill level just as it is no fun to be staying behind a group pace when you would rather go faster. However not all the information on a class of rides can be measured in distance and time. The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the other considerations that will help you decide which classification best fits your riding style.
When it comes to cycling there is no one-size-fits-all solution. When you consider the variety of bike sizes, styles, and materials the configurations are many and varied. Club riders are equally varied in ability, desire, and experience. The chief aim of the Silver Wheels Star Chart is to help sort and organize the club’s ride characteristics and connect riders to the right type of ride. Refer to it for particulars like average speed, elevation gain, and length of ride. For example, one rider, after considering the array of options, chose a 3* ride as a guest and found it to be just right -- for that day. On other days the rider enjoyed a 2* and an occasional 1* or 4*, but found that 3* was the typical sweet spot. Pedal pushers and open speed categories are also club options, that are found at each end of the speed/distance/landscape continuum. You may want to try other star rides for a variety of reasons. One reason being the recent emergence of e-bikes. E-bikes are especially helpful in hilly terrain, but they also can boost your flat route average speed a couple of miles per hour to bump yourself up a star or two, if you feel like putting in the work. E-bikes allowed by Silver Wheels are pedal assist only. At no time should an E-bike compensate for the rider’s skill level. If you are usually a 2* rider, just because you can go at a 4* pace does not mean that you can “move” up. It is just not a safe cycling practice. Regardless of star group we are all cyclists and that alone unites us with a sense of shared interest. As we gather in a pre-ride group, the Wednesday evening and other all-star gatherings provide a good opportunity for regular riders of one star group to consider whether they might be encouraged to try another star group. The Star Chart does a very good job of identifying expectations for a given ride but personal contact with other star riders can fill in the gaps. The section below will give some examples of the cultural issues you may encounter if you choose to try a star ride outside your usual typical choice. The following information is formatted in a Q&A manner. Hopefully it coincides with some of the questions you may have had, or may lead you to ask some questions of your own. You can add your thoughts to the topic box at the end of this article. |
Question: So, what is it like to ride with the 4*?
Answer: Most find the 4* riders to be focused, confident, alert, independent, serious, and intense.They are like solo riders from different teams that happen to be riding in a group and a competitive vibe can emerge. They start with a bang and do not let up. Often, they are just short of "too breathless to chat." They stay alert and watch fellow riders closely because things come up fast. After the ride they love to talk about their speed and time.
Question: How are they different than the 3* riders?
Answer: The 3* rides are less intense, but no less alert. There is some emphasis on speed, and alertness is given priority. Achieving 3* speeds, especially at the upper part of the 3* range, requires sometimes moving at 4* speeds. The highest cumulative mileage riders are typically 3* riders. They often pace themselves on downhills and open roads.
3* is somewhat like 2* but typically some emphasis on speed, with more effort required to maintain average speed. Drafting and paceline behavior pops up, but typically wind noise and single file riding is more likely to discourage chatting. There is a sporting-fun vibe found in 3*.
Question: And the 2*’s? What should a 1* rider expect when they join a 2* ride? Answer: First and foremost, they should expect to be riding on a road in traffic and secondly moving at a consistently faster pace. They also need to be alert, but generally more concerned about their fellow riders by calling out more routine road hazards than any other group. They are more sensitive to fellow riders falling behind than 3* and like to cluster and stay behind but close to the ride leader. They are more like riders on the same team with a good social vibe, at a touring pace. The 2* ride leaders more typically appoint a rider to the sweep position. |
Question: And what should a rider expect with the 1*’s? Answer: You should expect a relaxed, social, stick-together type vibe. They are not competitive but out to enjoy riding for the sake of riding. The 1* rides almost always take place on a trail so auto and truck traffic is absent and surface conditions are usually good. However, riders stay alert for other bike riders, various walkers, and joggers. The lack of vehicle and wind noise is conducive to hearing and chatting. |
Choosing a star level that is best and most comfortable for you can take some experimenting.There is nothing wrong in trying to move up a level, but try to select a ride that is advertised as a “star chase.” When a Star Chase is indicated on the schedule, two or more rides of different star levels will be using the same route. Unlike a typical club ride, the leader(s) will not slow down to accommodate lagging riders, instead leaving them to be picked up by a trailing star group. The lowest participating level will leave no one behind. Keep in mind that experiencing different star levels is a great way to challenge yourself and improve your riding skills and endurance |
Do you have any comments or questions about the various ride levels? We would love to hear from you. The section below is for your input. |