Zach’s Bikes Weekly Road Ride – Intermediate

This is an intermediate paced road ride designed around the rider not quite ready for a hammer-fest ride but not looking for a slow ride either. This ride will be starting and possibly ending (we use the same ends of a loop) with a completely beginner friendly ride and it is expected that anybody with experience riding in groups help mentor those newer riders for the short time we’re all together. It’s about 25 miles and should take 1-1.5 hours.

The pace of this ride will start the same as the easy ride and we’ll keep it together the best we can until we get to Homedale road. From there the pace will be lifted to a 16-19 mph tempo pace with minimal surging. Try to keep drafting pulls at about 30-90 seconds maximum and let others set the pace they’re comfortable with (this helps average the group’s abilities out). This ride is about the group not an individual: please do not surge when it is your turn! We will finish this paceline tempo work once we get back to Joe Wright road and it will resume as a social ride.

If you are a beginner rider that is looking to challenge themselves, this is a perfect opportunity! If you get dropped, you will simply get picked up by the slower ride behind. It’s a great opportunity to ride with people that push you and this is a low risk way to try it out.
We will be using and practicing proper riding etiquette. If you are unfamiliar with riding in a group, we recommend reviewing some tips (see store for further resources). There are many reasons riding in a group are beneficial (it’s hugely more efficient, it’s motivating and it’s social are just a few reasons) but safety precautions need to be adhered to.

You are expected to bring your own equipment for this ride though demo bikes are available upon request. Drop bar road bikes with tires in the 23-28mm range are the most appropriate for this ride. Flat bar road bikes do not mix well with paceline work so please demo a bike if you don’t have access to one. Helmets are required and rear blinking lights are highly recommended. Bring your own water (it gets hot and windy out there), flat kit and phone in case you get separated from the group. Please review the course so that you can navigate on your own should find yourself alone.