M1 Today - Hi Five!

[Frances]

Hi All,

Hi five to everyone on the M1 today. We made a few changes to normal that everyone adjusted to really well while we were riding, which was great. Thanks for putting up with my 'suggestions' along the way. Loud voice from me does not equal angry voice - just trying to get messages across. Everyone responded really well. The way things went today I'm sure we won't need a (OK, self-appointed) Bunch Nazi for long!

A few of us are hoping that the speed of the bunch will be maintained a bit quicker than it has been recently. Cause I'm really organised I haven't bought new batteries for my speedo but someone said we averaged about 32 today? Hoping to bring that up a bit more in the coming weeks, at least for the TGA loop. We won't be trying to be as fast as the fast bunch, but will be quicker than we seem to have become accustomed to.

This will hopefully mean we will be able to add the gallop in at the end of a TGA loop, and include the end of Mugga as well as Red Hill in the lumpy version of Friday's ride, etc. If the pace is steady for the whole ride we should be able to fit more in. It's gunna be way cool.

Aim of the M1 is to feel like we've had a ride at the end, not just sat on our bikes and turned our legs over. Absolutely no problem if you want to do that every now and then, but for those times the M2 will be for you.

Couple of things to keep in mind:
- keep the pace steady at the front. This will go some way to alleviating the yo-yo effect towards the back, and making sure we all have a solid ride. We don't do 'easy' on the front any more. If you can chat up there, you're not working hard enough. Work your guts out till you're about 80% done and then roll off safely. This means shorter turns at the front for everyone. Don't wait until you're toast - roll off before you're done. With everyone taking shorter, harder turns it'll be your turn again in no time. If you're not up to a turn on the front that's OK too, but please don't get up there and find you've got nothing and slow the bunch down. Last thing on this one is to keep pedalling if you're on the front of the bunch! Had a couple of coasters this morning - no good. Keep pedalling on the front.
- do a head check before you roll off the front! Check for cars behind us.
- if the front riders are rolling (after doing a head check of course to look for cars) and a car then catches us, let those who are rolling in - don't leave them hanging out four abreast with a car behind us. Keep it tidy and safe.
- no half wheeling. Keep working to keep your handlebars level with the person next to you.

Anyway that's probably enough. I say all this with great enthusiasm and anticipation of some awesome rides for us coming up. It's meant to be helpful and constructive rather than critical, so if you're reading something here that could be taken a couple of ways, take it the way that makes you feel good!

If we up the pace a bit and keep it steady and safe we're in for some good times. :)

Happy Friday!

[SimonD]

A few of us are hoping that the speed of the bunch will be maintained a bit quicker than it has been recently. Cause I'm really organised I haven't bought new batteries for my speedo but someone said we averaged about 32 today? Hoping to bring that up a bit more in the coming weeks, at least for the TGA loop. We won't be trying to be as fast as the fast bunch, but will be quicker than we seem to have become accustomed to.


That's good, so we have some more even steps up in pace between the bunches.

[Avi]

Well said Frances, you did an awesome job taking control today, im sure we will start to get a lot more smoother in the rides to come. Considering the size of the bunch today, things went really well.

[_ABC_]

Perhaps something else we could try is doing a paceline along Lady Denman Dr up to the roundabout at Cotter rd. There aren't a great deal of opportunities to safely roll off along there, especially before the lights at the Parkway turnoff, which means people end up taking longer turns waiting for a bit of road that isn't on a blind corner before rolling off.
Yes - I'm putting my hands up as one of the guilty ones.

[bosworth*]

"High Five" is spelled with a "G" and a "H", unless you are talking about the children's musical group.

[mikeyc]

Tidy work Frances, nice one.

[Andrew]

Yes, much Kudos to Frances for reigning it in =]

Is there a chance that we could run two smaller groups or is a bunch that size OK?

[j_young_80]

I'm not too keen on having 4 bunches along Denman that cars have to contend with. They are going to be mighty unsympathetic to cyclists come the 3rd/4th bunch they get stuck behind.

M1 should be enough if the pace is right, if you get dropped by M1 wait for the M2 bunch, or TT yourself to a point where you can try rejoin M1. Next week - hold on for longer.

Despite the apparent stigma attached to the last bunch to leave - you'll probably get a better workout riding the whole ride with M2, than getting spat early on M1 and shortcutting half the ride.

PS: That damn roundabout must have been sponsored by a bike shop - I counted about 8 punctures and 2 lights!

[Andrew]

Fair enough. My concern was that it's difficult to get everyone the chance to pull a turn.

By the time the front two cyclists were done, they're having to squeeze in front of someone else because we had a car coming up behind us, so getting back up the front wasn't as easy as I'm used to :P

[j_young_80]

How many did you have in the M1 bunch this am and what road were you getting the traffic difficulties? I would have thought there would be turns a plenty to be had on the way up Mugga, unless someone is having a cruise on the front.

If there's an issue with people rolling from the front in that bunch - we can try SimonN's paceline rolling method next week. it will require some co-ordination from a leader in the bunch though and I think it will be very difficult to control in that bunch with so many differing levels of fitness.

[alex]

"PS: That damn roundabout must have been sponsored by a bike shop - I counted about 8 punctures and 2 lights!"

And at least one bidon, even after trying to slow down in anticipation!!

Frances - the pace was good this morning (I also got 32 km/h average on my computer) and there's nothing wrong with bunch discipline!

[Frances]

Hi Five!

(Boz, that's just how I roll)

[katev]

yeah

[SueP]

If there's an issue with people rolling from the front in that bunch - we can try SimonN's paceline rolling method next week. it will require some co-ordination from a leader in the bunch though and I think it will be very difficult to control in that bunch with so many differing levels of fitness.

Our bunch rides also used to be about developing bunch SKILLS. I reckon any of the bunches should be able to handle a paceline roll no issue. I still find rolling off to be 4 wide a ridiculous thing to be doing. If someone gets cleaned up we won't have a leg to stand on because its against the road rules.

[BlacknRed]

From one of the cyclists from the back of the bunch and my first time back in ages, things really seem to go well. Yes there was the usual whip lash affect but it wasn't as bad as I expected. One thing to remember is to peddle while going down hill too, as there was a lot of breaking from the cyclist at the back on down hill which really should not be happenig if the lead cyclists are working on the front.

Overall loved the ride, for such a large group it was pretty safe with everyone riding with confidence.

Looking forward to next week!

[Andrew]

How many did you have in the M1 bunch this am and what road were you getting the traffic difficulties? I would have thought there would be turns a plenty to be had on the way up Mugga, unless someone is having a cruise on the front.

I'm not sure on numbers, certainly the largest ride I've been on.. 30+ easy?

As for issues with cars.. mostly Denman?

From Mugga onwards, it was good.. we seperated out (not so good) after Carnegie St, so it wasn't much of an issue with pulling turns...