Group riding is a unique part of cycling that comes in many forms, yet there are often misunderstandings about its purpose and value. My hope with this article is to clear up some misconceptions and convince more of you that group riding is both fun and beneficial—especially if you’re focused on the competitive side of the sport. Even if you’re just aiming to maximize your finish time rather than race for the podium, the benefits still apply.
The Skillset of Group Riding
Group riding requires specific skills, the most apparent of which are maintaining your line and keeping a consistent gap to the riders around you. While these skills may seem simple, mastering them often takes years of regular practice to feel relaxed and confident in a fast-moving or large group.
Maintaining Your Line
Being predictable in a group is crucial. Staying on your line—your current trajectory—helps everyone ride safely. For instance, if you’re at the front and suddenly take a sharp left with no warning, it could disrupt the group and even cause a crash. Even smaller actions, like swerving to avoid a pothole at the last moment, can create chaos. Experienced group riders know to stay aware and communicate changes in direction or pace clearly and predictably.
Maintaining Consistent Gaps
Riding efficiently in a group means staying close enough to benefit from drafting—often within inches of the rider in front of you. In pacelines or double pacelines, this can also mean being just a foot or so from riders to your left or right. For beginners, this proximity can feel exhausting due to the constant effort of adjusting pace and managing tension in their body. Over time, experienced riders learn to modulate pedal pressure to maintain perfect gaps while staying relaxed. They’re even comfortable brushing shoulders with other riders, although that’s more a testament to their confidence than a goal to aim for.
Group Dynamics
With regular practice, you’ll begin to sense changes in the group’s pace—slowing or surging—and respond smoothly. You’ll also learn to navigate obstacles with limited visibility ahead and handle these challenges with confidence. These skills aren’t developed overnight and require consistent exposure to group riding. Not every ride needs to be a high-speed slugfest; the foundation of group riding skills is often built during casual endurance rides.
Fitting Group Rides into Your Training Goals
Group rides aren’t essential for every cyclist or goal, but they’re invaluable in many contexts. For a road racer, pack skills are non-negotiable. Success in road racing depends on navigating the peloton with ease. Similarly, competitive gravel racers aiming to stick with front groups need the same skills. If your gravel goals are more personal, like beating your own best time, the need for pack skills decreases but still offers benefits. Better pack skills make event starts less stressful and help you work efficiently with small groups during the race.
For disciplines like cyclocross or mountain biking, group riding offers less direct overlap. However, the occasional group ride can still help with fitness, social connection, and the rare moments of pack riding that occur during races.
During Group Rides, Focus on the Group
When it comes to group rides, your personal goals shouldn’t dictate the group dynamic. In a race-style ride, sure, you can aim to win the sprint. But for most other rides (especially Move Up rides), the primary goal should be contributing positively to the group. If you’re feeling strong, take longer pulls at the front or help weaker riders stay attached by offering a draft or even a small push on climbs. If you’re struggling, focus on conserving energy and maintaining the group’s flow.
Even the weakest rider can have a positive impact on group dynamics. A larger group benefits from stronger drafting effects, enabling everyone to ride faster. For example, during Gateway Cup, a professional peloton of over 100 riders can average 30+ mph with riders pushing less than 250 watts. This is because the combined drafting effect allows everyone to conserve energy while maintaining incredible speeds. Conversely, trying to force personal objectives—like hitting a specific wattage target—can disrupt the group. Instead of focusing on metrics during the ride, consider reserving data analysis for afterward. If a particular ride consistently feels too hard or too easy, reevaluate your participation or approach rather than trying to mold the group to your needs.
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Choosing the Right Group Ride
Finding the right group ride starts with assessing your fitness and goals. For example, the Move Up Sunday Club Ride is an endurance ride with a steady pace and no racing dynamics. To determine if it’s a good fit, consider the typical pace and your fitness level. For example:
- A 170-pound rider with a 340 FTP will find an average 200-watt pace (~60% FTP) manageable for 60-70 miles.
- A 180-pound rider with a 275 FTP, however, would be working at ~76% FTP at the same pace, making the ride significantly more challenging.
On the Move Up A-group ride, the average speed is typically around 19-20 mph. This steady pace allows riders to build endurance while honing their group riding skills without the surging dynamics of a race. Knowing these benchmarks can help you decide if the A-group or a more relaxed B-group ride is the better option for you.
These are general examples, but they illustrate how understanding group dynamics and your fitness can help you choose rides wisely. When in doubt, start with a more relaxed group, such as a B group, and adjust as needed. You’ll meet new people and gain valuable experience either way.
Conclusion
For many cyclists, group riding is as much about social connection as it is about fitness or skills. Whether you’re on the road, gravel, or trails, group rides offer a unique blend of camaraderie and challenge. At Move Up, we’re dedicated to fostering a community that helps riders improve their health, fitness, and skills. When you join a Move Up ride, you’re joining a group focused on growth and shared success. Embrace the group dynamic, and you’ll find both enjoyment and improvement in your cycling journey.
