Does what it says on the tin.

[Alan M]

Adam, maybe its time for you to research the era into which you were born.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatcherite

[Sylv]

Everyone get a powermeter like Paul and we rename the groups 200-300-400 Watts - If you go above you get an electric shock

[huw williams]

We've been here before quite recently:

It's quite simple, the fast guys need to go fast but plenty of others need a group they can depend on. In a club run the size of Addiscombe there shouldn't be a problem catering for all tastes without restricting the fun with Blairish or Thatcherite stricture

My suggestion.

Training group 22+ mph. All attacks and breakaways allowable and actively encouraged. Free for all through and off, sprint to Charlwood sign. Anybody arriving at the pine cafe with an average of less than 23 will be forced to leave the club and join the Annerly CC. If you go with this group and get dropped, tough, that's racing, only faster

Training group 21+ mph (which I've been doing most recently and we've averaged 21.5 - 22mph) attacks and digs on hills but recovery and regrouping after climbs - no one gets dropped until at least the drag up to Rusper and even then regroup before the Dual carriageway. Structured through and off, sprint to Charlwood sign. Anybody arriving at the pine cafe with an average of less than 21 will be asked to leave and join the CTC. If you go with this group and get dropped, well done for trying, each week you'll be able to hang on that little bit longer.

19-20mph - For people who want structure - does what it says on the tin, group leader analyses what's going on, if everyone is comfortable going a bit quicker than go for it - if people are struggling to hold 19, suggest they drop off and wait for the following group

17-18mph - does what it says on the tin (as above only a bit slower)

slower groups - decide what speed you want to go at the start and stick to it, shouldn't be dropping anyone.

We should be able to fit everybody into one of those!

[Grahame]

I pretty much agree with what Huw says.

[quote="huw williams"]Anybody arriving at the pine cafe with an average of less than 21 will be asked to leave and join the CTC.

[huw williams]

Indeed they do - and while we're on it - Tim Wainwright's 130mile Battle and back ride is this weekend isn't it?

[Elliot M]

While we're on the subject, can we discuss what happens post cafe?

Assuming you're not going via Box Hill, I'm not sure if you're supposed to reform the group you arrived with or not, certainly it doesn't often seem to happen that way and you sometimes get a vast strung out line of riders... should we make more effort to group up?

[Ian A4size]

Yes George this is my favourite thread at the mo.

Sen, how about organizing your own 19? People will trust you!

Wot Huw said.

More of a police state now than when maggie was in fer sure.

The only bloke who was in parliament with good intentions was Guy Fawkes.

[-Adam-]

[quote="Ian Munnery"]
More of a police state now than when maggie was in fer sure.

The only bloke who was in parliament with good intentions was Guy Fawkes.

[Andrew G]

Billy Connolly: "The desire to become a politician should bar you for life from ever becoming one".

Bit of a lazy anachist meself, don't like the politicians but can't be arsed to do anything about it.

[David Lombari]

'Politicians should be changed as often as a baby's nappy........and for the same reason'

[Robh]

Do what they do in motor racing, if your too quick, the following week you have to carry ballast to slow you down.

[Brian Nolan]

Nice one Dave ! how true ...

[Paul H]

I think Alan M has the best idea. It is impossible to guarantee a speed and there was a tailwind last Saturday which increased the average.

I cant see a problem if people get dropped its happened to me before and probably did me some good. Getting beaten up is part of growing up.

I have also noticed some of the slower groups seem to be more dangerous with people swerving around and braking suddenly. Working a bit harder closer to your limit tends to reduce this. I guess not everybody wants to do this though which is fair enough.

[Steve B]

When I joined the club 4 years ago there were 3 groups, 15, 17 & 19mph and on occasions the racing boys would turn up and go in a 21 group. Then the speeds were quite close to that stated and I used to have the view that this should be so.

However the club has moved on a mile since then. Now there are at least 5 large groups each week but to be honest, I dont think the numbers mean much any more. I agree with Alan in that the groups should be called A, B ,C, D, E or 1,2,3,4,5 etc.

I think that unless you are a newbie, everybody knows the ability of most of the riders in the club and whichever group you ride in, you know if you are comfortable, working hard or struggling. So making a decision whether to move up a group, or not, is quite simply an assesment of your fitness or willingness to push yourself.

Obviously over the last couple of years, by the size of the 18 & 19 groups, lots of people have pushed themselves and now ride in a 'faster' group than before. Brilliant!. If they hadn't tried it they would still be where they were. Ok, there may be times when a faster group guy jumps down a group and highjacks it, blowing it apart, but that is quite rare. As Alan says, there are too many variables to keeping a certain speed, so dont even bother starting with one.

Sean, well done for going with the '19' group. Stick it out , cos eventually you will get there. And don't be mad with everyone else going too fast, be mad with yourself for not hanging on for another 200m, and then the next week another 200m, and before you know it, you'll be leading out the sprint to the Charlwood sign

On a personal note, I was quite happy riding with the '19' group, doing 21mph rides, and they were hard rides. But since I've started to race at Crystal Palace and have found it extreemly hard to hang on to the group, dropping off each week and watching the rest of the Addiscombe boys go away from me, I've come to the conclusion that I need to ride in the training group. This decision was very difficult as I know how hard they go, and that I'll get dropped. I knew it was going to hurt - alot, but not finishing the races hurts more. So I'm in for lots of pain if Saturdays ride is anything to go by

So anyway, ditch the group speeds, push yourselves (if you want to), ride hard, don't moan , ride safe and above all, enjoy

Steve