Can't ride at the front of a group.

MisterMuncher

Ok, so after a few months without enough saddle time, I'm getting back into decent shape and getting out with the club again. Fitness has snapped back quite quickly, solo 50 mile training ride is taking around 2:35 vs 2:20 at peak vs DNF a month ago. But I can't hold any kind of pace at the front of a group ride. The first upward slope of any significance, and I die on my arse.

The thing is, I get dropped off the back, take a minute, follow on up the road, and can usually catch the group or at least get within a reasonable distance of doing so. Tonight, for example, on a 45 mile there-and-back run, I calved about halfway into the outward spin, but met the group coming back about 30 seconds off the turning point. So I don't think it's strength or fitness that's an issue per se, but I'm definitely missing something.

Is there something I should be doing in the bunch to have me more ready to hit the front? Would I be better off dropping down a gear or two for the initial surge and staying a little lower gear? Any specific training or advice for this issue at all would be welcome, it's really dampening my enjoyment of group riding.

imposter2.0

If you're going into the red quickly when on the front, spend more time training in the red.

supermurph09

Maybe you are pushing too hard when you go on the front, quite easy to go into the red if you are. Are you trying to do too long of a turn? Just do short turns and drop back in until you can do longer. In response to the slope, if you know a hill is coming try to move up to the front, that way you'll most likely just fall to the back, not off the back.

jgsi

MisterMuncher wrote:

So I don't think it's strength or fitness that's an issue per se, but I'm definitely missing something.I.

To be brutally blunt, yes you are missing something, you are just overestimating your current level of fitness.
Maybe ditch riding with this bunch who seem determined to let you hang your guts out every time.
How would you cope racing? Less bloody time on the front , mate, until you can do it and hang them out to dry.

ai_1

MisterMuncher wrote:

...The thing is, I get dropped off the back, take a minute, follow on up the road, and can usually catch the group or at least get within a reasonable distance of doing so. Tonight, for example, on a 45 mile there-and-back run, I calved about halfway into the outward spin, but met the group coming back about 30 seconds off the turning point. So I don't think it's strength or fitness that's an issue per se, but I'm definitely missing something....

I'm a little confused by your question because it seems to me there are only 2 possibilities:
1. You're overextending yourself when you go to the front. i.e. you're not fit enough for the pace you're attempting to set.
2. It's psychological. You're panicing when you go to the front and this is either making you think you can't keep up when this happens or it affect you in such a way that you really can't keep up when this happens (maybe your breathing is effected)

If you're able to catch up again after being dropped then either they reduced the pace or you started doing more work AFTER being dropped. Are you perhaps going to the front, raising the pace, dropping yourself and then when the group slows down again you're able to re-join them?

NeXXus

Not fit enough or in the wrong group

ai_1

NeXXus wrote:

Not fit enough or in the wrong group

Doesn't explain him being able to ride back on again though (unless he's going into the red to do it and struggling to stay there once he does). So, unless I misunderstand what he's saying, I think he must be doing something to make life harder for himself when he goes to the front.

whoof

MisterMuncher wrote:

Would I be better off dropping down a gear or two for the initial surge and staying a little lower gear?

Why are you surging when you get to the front? The person in front of you pulls over, you carry on at the same speed. It will be more effort but you shouldn't be surging. That's not good for you or the people behind you.

BrandonA

Ai_1 wrote:

NeXXus wrote:

Not fit enough or in the wrong group

Doesn't explain him being able to ride back on again though (unless he's going into the red to do it and struggling to stay there once he does). So, unless I misunderstand what he's saying, I think he must be doing something to make life harder for himself when he goes to the front.

Everyone has a different power profile.

I imagine the OP's power profile suits a time trailer in that they are able to maintain a high level of watts/kg for a significant amount of time, hence the good 50km speed. Their power profile though does not suit sprints of hard efforts up hills. They might therefore be able to ride the entire route at a faster pace than most riders in the group by riding at a consistent speed/power level. When however they are riding with a group there will inevitably be surges of power up hills, around corners etc, it is these surges and his particular power profile than means that he gets grouped.

cougie

Yes there should be no surge - look at your speed - keep that up as you hit the front rather than go flat out.
It's harder at the front but not massively. And then you should be going down the other side of the line unless you're riding one up ?

If you're starting to tire - pull off the front but you should be able to hold a wheel no bother.

cycleclinic

Yoj need to do base miles to build your endurance then Interval training. Do 5 hard minutes rest for a few minutes spinning at high cadance and then repeat. Do that 5 times and you will know about it. Recover for a couple of days and then ride again. You can also try high gear sprints up hills to build leg strength. Rebuilding fitness is painful process but you'll get there.

daxplusplus

Learn to pace yourself better. Don't go so far into the red that you drop off the back after your turn at the front. If your getting dropped on climbs then don't do so much work before them.

For sure you do need to get to the front - you won't get fitter just sitting in the group - but manage your energy consumption and how far your going into the red. Keep something in reserve if your having difficulty judging how much you can give.

Just my 2 cents

CrazyRider

Get more training :P

dilatory

If you're flying out of the back of a group and then "catching back up" is it just not possible the group is easing up for you to catch back on?

Either way it sounds like you're just not fit enough for the group you ride with. Sitting in a bunch is a lot easier than being on the front and past experience has taught me guys who are not comfortable riding in a bunch put an unusually large dig in when they come through and tire themselves out even faster.