THE GROUP RIDE. TOO IMPORTANT TO LOSE.

From amateur to professional riders alike, the group ride is considered vital and fundamental to the sport of cycling. The group ride is where you learn how to ride in close proximity to other riders, where you gain confidence and experience, where you learn the importance of pointing out hazards, but most importantly, the group is where you learn to enjoy the sport much more.

From amateur to professional riders alike, the group ride is considered vital and fundamental to the sport of cycling. The group ride is where you learn how to ride in close proximity to other riders, where you gain confidence and experience, where you learn the importance of pointing out hazards, but most importantly, the group is where you learn to enjoy the sport much more.

For the purpose of this article, I contacted people with a much better pedigree in the sport than I have, for an opinion. I am grateful to them for taking the time to reply.

Among the people I contacted, was a former professional, the author of a hugely successful cycling blog, a former national champion, the owners of a top cycling store, a current cycling commissaire and a professional journalist. I asked them a very simple question, what they thought about the current state of the group ride.

Central to all their replies, was just how important the group ride is and that if we lose it, the sport could be in trouble.

September 20th, 2020, Sam Bennett weaves through the group on the Champs Elysees, to win the final stage of the Tour De France and make history. Cycling fans across the country and further afield were willing him to victory. For those of us living in County Tipperary, there was an added significance. Bennett is a local man, as his home town of Carrick on Suir is only half an hour away.

Bennett has a god given sporting talent and natural ability, but picking your way through a crowded peloton takes skill, bravery and patience. He didn’t lick those qualities off the ground, instead learning his trade with his local group, before rising through the ranks from a junior to his status today, as one of the fastest riders in the world.

When he’s home during the closed season or on holidays, it’s a common sight to see Bennett and his predecessor Sean Kelly, as part of the Carrick group on a Sunday morning.

On the morning of my first group ride some years ago, the leader walked over to me, with the following instructions:

“You’ll see people riding up front, doing a turn, before somebody else

takes over. The rider at the front will be changing all the time, you’ll see them rotating, but I don’t want you getting involved. You’re to stay at the back, observe and learn, the time will come when you can do it, but that’s not today”.

I was told that the group was as fast as its slowest rider, that we head out together and arrive home together and that if I had any concerns or worries, to ask somebody.

There were funny moments, as the experienced group observed this total newbie in the ranks.

“Are you wearing underwear?” one of the senior riders asked me one morning.

There was an embarrassing silence, as I absorbed the question, before he spared my blushes, explaining that you never wear underwear with bibshorts.

A few years later, I imparted the same words of wisdom on another novice rider and received the same reaction. We still enjoy a laugh about it today.

The first time I achieved 100km, was with that same group. On the day, I suffered two punctures, my confidence took a battering, but the senior riders stayed with me and literally put their hands on my shoulder, pushing me along. They were the first to congratulate me on my achievement, when we arrived home.

Over time, with my fitness improving and my confidence growing, I found myself contesting the “gallop”, an unofficial race for the last kilometre, to an imaginary finishing line, normally a sign post outside town.

One day last year, I was cycling through the stunning Gap of Dunloe in Co Kerry, Ireland. I met a group of tourists on hired bikes, one of whom had suffered a mechanical. His chain had snapped in quite possibly one of the most remote parts of the route and they were in trouble.

I stopped, took out my chain tool and had the offending chain spliced in a few minutes. My new friends from Belgium were rather surprised that a total stranger would stop and even more surprisingly, would have the necessary skills and tools, to help them out.

Most cycling groups organise bike maintenance nights, where issues such as fixing a puncture, a broken spoke and of course, a broken chain are covered.

How many people reading this carry a chain tool? Do you carry a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands clean in the event of a breakdown? Have you a small piece of tape, to join a broken spoke to another, in order to get home safely?

You don’t pick that knowledge out of the air, that stuff is taught, by experienced people and it’s wisdom that you will hopefully pass on to the next generation.

So, what about the next generation? Where will they come from? Despite all its positivity, is the group ride, as we know it, in trouble?

A good friend, with lots more knowledge on the sport than I have, told me that he believes cycling is a numbers game and for one Sam Bennett, you could need up to a thousand youngsters. That means getting children out on their bikes, learning skills and coaches, to nurture that talent.

As a parent, I wouldn’t dream of allowing our 14 year old cycle his bike alone on Irish roads. Why? It’s just too damned dangerous. With the exception of a few greenways, a cycling lane in Ireland is a few lines painted on the ground. In most cases, cycle lanes are a handy parking spot for motorists that couldn’t care less.

Compare our cycle lanes to those across The Netherlands and Belgium and then, note the disproportionate number of top level professional

riders those countries have produced compared to Ireland.

When I first joined the group, nobody had a clue what Strava was. Some guys had computers that told us how far we had ridden and how long it took. That was about it, most of the time, we were too busy chatting, to be interested in Strava and stuff.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t a clue what my FTP is or what my average watts per kilo are and for what it’s worth, I couldn’t really care less. I’m 56 years old, none of the professional teams will be calling me with a contract any time soon.

A few years ago, I took part in the Gran Fondo of Northern Ireland. We had a fantastic weekend in Belfast, but my lasting memories of the event will be cycling through small towns and villages, on closed roads, with people standing on the roadside cheering us on.

First person home was top level rider Ronan Mclaughlin in 5hrs 3mins while I was a little bit behind at 7hrs 51mins.

Strangely enough, we both got the same finishers medal.

I asked another friend of mine, a professional journalist for an opinion on cycling, as he has lots of experience, both in his professional and private life.

He works in radio and told me that the moment cycling comes up for discussion, the negative comments arrive at the station. One of the biggest complaints is the refusal of cyclists to give way to motorists, while on the other side of the coin, there’s the accusation of lack of patience among those same motorists.

It’s also known as common courtesy, a quality that’s sadly lacking among Irish road users.

Then there’s the infamous “road tax” which aggrieves so many motorists. Many of them believe that cyclists don’t pay anything and that it’s unfair.

It’s a strange argument, because nobody in Ireland pays “road tax”. You pay taxes based on the emissions of your vehicle, a percentage of which goes towards road maintenance. Obviously, there are no emissions from a bicycle, so the argument is null and void.

Most cyclists are motorists as well, a fact that sometimes goes over the heads of most people.

However, that aggravation and hostility will cause many people to steer well clear of the group ride.

“What’s the point in facing that every Sunday” they ask, quite rightfully.

I did a radio interview a few weeks ago about cycling. I told the presenter that I actually have my own insurance while out on my bike and even have a “licence” through my membership of Cycling Ireland. He was surprised, admitting that he wasn’t aware that cyclists actually take out insurance.

He asked me what we do in case of an accident. I explained that it’s similar to any accident, you contact the Gardaí (Irish Police) and they investigate.

Whether it’s poor infrastructure, an over reliance on technology, or negativity caused by misinformation, cycling needs to stand up, take ownership and save the group spin.

Ireland has enjoyed a fantastic year on the world stage, with riders like Nicolas Roche, Dan Martin and of course Sam Bennett representing the country with distinction and becoming role models for thousands of children to look up to.

The pandemic has seen a seismic change in Irish society and indeed societies across the world. Families are spending much more time together, in particular enjoying time on their bikes. New facilities like Greenways and Blueways are proving more popular than ever imagined and plans are afoot for many more.

Some people are looking at Zwift, asking “is this the way forward?”.

Recently, I attempted the Festive

500. My plan was to do most of the challenge on the road, with the remainder on Zwift. After 4 days, I was well ahead and on track to complete the challenge ahead of target.

However, it’s December and normal Irish weather, with wind and rain duly arrived. Frost and snow followed, sending me into the garage, riding my bike on a computer game. My motivation and interest disappeared and I left the challenge.

There’s no better feeling than riding with a group. A well run group is like a well oiled machine, with everybody sharing the same interest, passion and love of their sport.

If we lose it, there’s nothing to replace it.