From 2014

Marc Bertucco said:

Two nice weekend rides with Kissena. I don't know what this winter is going to be like, but I was grateful to have dry, if chilly, conditions to ride in.

On Saturday, a solid group including Dave S., Kayt M., Jeff C. and Vlad P, and myself rode north and hit up some top-secret climbs in Alpine before cruising into Piermont where we warmed up a bit at Mattie's shop. Cruised home on 9W with a detour through Columbia's northern campus.

Today, Sunday, as described by JP.

Quick notes/reminders about the weekend group rides. Over the years I've heard various "things" about our group rides. I'll address those with my very own FAQ section.

I'm slow, can I still come on the ride?
YES! Especially on Sundays, the first part of the ride, to Piermont is largely flat and goes a pace that all can manage. Many, especially from Brooklyn, take a coffee break at Mattie's bike shop and return home.

I'm awesome, and going to upgrade to PRO this year, should I still come on the ride?
YES! This ride typically splits up and for those who want extra efforts, you can "go long." Today JP and I cranked out for 3.5 hours, in a headwind all day long. By the time we hit the final climbs through Englewood Cliffs, I was begging for mercy. And I'm sure, if there were tougher guys on the ride, the pace on "Part II" of the ride would have been sufficiently post-ride "nap inducing" for them too.

I'm nervous about riding in packs, should I still come to the ride?
YES! Kissena is a club that is here to help you grow as a rider and racer. One of the best places to develop pack riding skills is during our group rides. Winter typically you'll see at least 5 and often 8 or 10 KCC riders show up for a group ride. There will always be an experienced rider that will be there to make sure you're comfortable. Often that rider will be one or more of the KCC mentors.

It's the off season, shouldn't I take it easy until March?
NO! Even if you aren't a spring classics kind of rider, and have later season goals. The winter "off-season" should better be called "training season." If approached correctly, you can make your biggest gains in fitness during this period. A good winter of training directly correlates to a good racing season.

I drank too much and got home too late and I need to sleep in, should I come to the ride?
YES! Because you drank too much and you got home too late, you REALLY need to come to the ride to remind yourself why it's not always an awesome choice to drink too much and stay out too late. Seriously though, I'm not a total boring-ass prude. I get it. But honestly, weekend "detox rides" can be fun.

Alright gang, that's it for now. Please keep an eye on this thread. Many of us are traveling for the holidays and won't be around for the next weekend or so, but plenty are in town and will be riding. Get out there while the weather is nice, because soon it's all going to turn to shit and we're going to be stuck on trainers for 15 months like we were last year.

There are multiple turn-around spots for people who are concerned about their endurance, hall pass, skills, or the cold.  Basically, there are hills that lead from the low road up to 9W.  you tell us you had enough or are out of time, we point you up the next hill, and you'll make it home.  And for those who get to the GWB totally blown out, there's a subway stop just on the NY side, and there's nothing wrong with taking the train home.

For newbies, the goal of winter riding could well just be doing the distance with the group.  Go a little longer each week.  You don't have to take a single pull, and if you get to the front, you can always pull off.  Eventually, you'll do the entire distance and be stronger for it.  Another goal could be going from surviving to doing well.  These goals can even be combined.  For many, they look at winter riding as first developing endurance, then developing speed. 

For more experienced and stronger riders, not only go longer on Sunday, but ride harder on Saturday as well.  Take longer pulls.  Ride slower tires and wheels.  

Riding long on Sundays is about fitness. But it's also about skills.  Pack riding is huge--this is comfort in chaos, trusting the people around you, knowing when to brake, when to shift, how to suck wheel, how to ride hard when you're tired, and much more. Efficiency is not simply muscular or aerobic, it's cadence management, wind management, and beyond.  

Then there are the intangibles. Knowing your teammates, not only who they are but how they ride and what their strengths are. Riding through fatigue.  Learning to recognize when you're hitting the wall.  Dressing for the cold.  Riding longer and harder in worse weather than you can ever imagine doing in a race.  When Battenkill or whatever big race comes up, you'll have no fear of the alleged difficulty or distance because you've already done it in training.  And don't worry, if you race long enough, you'll end up racing in truly shitty weather.

Always bring two full bottles, a bar for every hour of the ride, at least one caffeinated gel (this will save your keister some day), money (enough for a meal, a coke, and the subway).

If you never crack on a ride, you'll never find your limit.  The only way to know it's too much is to actually experience too much.  

Besides, it's so much fun, it ought to be illegal. (and sometimes it is; I got chewed out by a cop today for riding on the wrong side of the road)