If you like to ride your bike, you have come to the right place! The FVBSC is a group of people with all skills and backgrounds that are passionate about cycling. From March/April through October/November, our event calendar is full of ride opportunities - although rides can be scheduled anytime weather permits, even in January!
All cyclists must adhere to the FVBSC Group Ride Guidelines. FVBSC assumes cyclists participating in group rides will use good judgment regarding their eligibility and agree to the guidelines.
FVBSC offers approximately 12-15 regularly-scheduled standing rides per week, ranging from beginner to advanced. There is something for almost everyone!
Newer riders are encouraged to start in the novice or casual groups to learn basic cycling techniques, safety protocols and group ride dynamics. Many members advance to intermediate rides, where skill, strength and endurance building happen. Experienced riders push faster speeds, longer distances and higher elevations, often in a single or double pace line. All of our rides (except Advanced) are “No Drop” rides, meaning you will not get left behind.
FVBSC classifies their rides into 6 skill categories:
1. Novice: 8-10 MPH, 5-10 miles, flatter elevation, mostly trails, some roads – NO DROP (STAY TOGETHER)
2. Casual: 10-12 MPH, 10-20 miles, flatter elevation, mostly trails, some roads – NO DROP (STAY TOGETHER)
3. Intermediate Low: 12-14 MPH, 15-40 miles, flatter elevation, trails and roads – NO DROP (REGROUPING)
4. Intermediate: 14-16 MPH, 35-75 miles, moderate elevation, mostly roads – NO DROP (REGROUPING)
5. Intermediate High: 16-18 MPH, 35-100 miles, pace lines, any elevation, roads – NO DROP (REGROUPING)
6. Advanced: 18+ MPH, 35+ miles, strict pace lines, any elevation, roads - DROP
(Note, at this time, we do not offer rides in the #1 or #2 categories due to a lack of ride leaders. We are always looking for volunteers!)
Q. How do I know which ride is best for me?
A. You need to select a ride that matches your speed and distance capabilities.
Our rides are shown on the Ride & Event Calendar. They are color-coded by pace/speed and the ride listing will contain the distance in miles as shown in the attached route file. Please always download the route to your device (or print yourself a paper copy).
Please note that the ride pace or speed is the average miles per hour (MPH). Your average pace would be calculated as such: Total ride time: 90 minutes minus 10 minute rest for a total ride time of 80 minutes. 20 miles / (80/60) = 15 MPH. Note: All bike computers from the basic $25 Cateye to the $800 Garmin will give you your Average Pace for a ride.
Let's use an example
You sign up for an Intermediate Ride 12-14 MPH. This means that at the end of your ride, your total overall average speed or pace will be somewhere between 12-14 MPH as shown on your bike computer or device. During the ride, there are times your ride may go faster than 14 MPH, for example going downhill or with a tailwind. There are times your ride may go slower than 12 MPH, for example, going uphill or into a headwind. During your ride, you may go from 1 to 18+ MPH given all of these various conditions. But at the end of the ride, the overall average (excluding stops) should fall within the advertised range, for example 13.2 MPH.
Below please see a Strava snip of a ride that shows the concept of average speed. This was a very hilly ride, so speeds are exaggerated to be very slow and very fast going up and down hills.
Your ride leader will do his/her best to deliver a ride at advertised average pace. Please ensure that you can maintain the advertised pace for the length of the ride. We all get tired as the miles grow, but the pace should remain relatively constant for the duration.
- The ride leader will stick with the pack going the advertised average pace (again, may go slower or faster at times but the overall average is the goal).
- If you want to go faster than the advertised pace, please be sure that you have the route as the ride leader will not chase you down if you get lost zooming ahead.
- Conversely, if you cannot keep the pace, please consider switching to a slower ride - or - find a few others that are willing to go slower with you.
- If you are the only person going much slower, it is the ride leader's job to "sweep" the slowest rider so that nobody gets left behind.
- Regrouping at major intersections is a good way to gather everyone back together again.
However, if on a particular ride, ALL the members are going faster than the advertised pace, then the ride leader will go with the flow.
If you cannot find a ride that fits your needs, please consider volunteering to become a ride leader for the ride that YOU want to do. Anyone can be a ride leader as long as they pass our Bike Safety Quiz and can demonstrate good cycling handling skills, situational awareness and best safety practices. Rides can be put on the calendar "ad hoc" by reaching out to our Ride Director, Jerry Shields, at rides@fvbsc.org
Be safe ... and enjoy the ride!
Who leads the rides