Chain Gangs

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nammynake

Original Poster:

2,587 posts

172 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
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Been riding (road) for 3 years and recently out with a local club on their Sunday rides. Decided to join their chain gang tonight to see what it's all about. The club has a lot of riders and there were enough for 6 groups tonight. I joined the last group of 10 (slowest pace) together with mostly complete newbies like myself.

After some initial instructions we set off at a very modest pace to practice the technique and shouting of instructions. We gradually cranked up the pace and everyone got tighter and smoother with the changes. We did 30 rolling miles at just under 20 mph which included the slow start and a slow section at the turn around point.

The pace was manageable and I didn't find it too tough so I'll probably try the next fastest group next time. Overall a great experience, good workout and I can see this becoming very addictive and a great training boost!

nammynake

Original Poster:

2,587 posts

172 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Shameless bump.

Second chain gang last night. Decided to move up a group as I found the pace in the beginner group pretty comfortable and I was happy with the technique and communiction. Unfortunately the communication was utterly ste last night! Loads of gaps, non consistent pace and generally just poorly executed. I'd say at least 4 or 5 of the riders had no clue and should have been in the beginner group.

This all culminated in an inside rider slamming on his brakes causing the guy behind to collide and scrape along the road. Just cuts and grazes and after checking he was OK the whole group then just fked off to complete the chain gang. I rode back with the guy and let him draft me most of the way. We actually got a decent pace going and started gaining on the group near the end.

Pace up until the accident was fine again. Think I'll try the next group up next week, mainly in the hope that it's better run and smoother. I also want to find my limit and will keep moving up groups until I get spat out the back. I think the fastest group averages 25mph over the 30 mile out-and-back route.

I'd like to try a race towards the end of summer and this is my first step towards that.

Rolls

1,502 posts

176 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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You'll get muppets there whatever the pace IMO! They're good fun though.. Stick with it, and you see improvements nice and quickly!

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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I did my first chain gang on Monday with my club.

There were 2 of us. We still managed 22miles in an hour which is fast for me 😃.

Steve

JQ

5,691 posts

178 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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Have been doing it recently with my mates - group of 6, and am loving it. However, it's amazing in that outwardly very intelligent people just can't get it. Of the 6 of us only 3 really get it. We've explained it, but it just doesn't sink in.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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I'm also amazed at now bad people are at it, even apparently experienced riders... They just can't help accelerating when they get to the front, and that's what kills the cohesion.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 23rd July 2014
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JQ said:
Have been doing it recently with my mates - group of 6, and am loving it. However, it's amazing in that outwardly very intelligent people just can't get it. Of the 6 of us only 3 really get it. We've explained it, but it just doesn't sink in.
It might just be that they get it, but can't implement what they are aupposed to do whilst try are doing something else (riding a bike). So some people it's a brain bandwidth issue.

The trouble with chain gangs IME is that it only takes one person to decide that he's going to show the group how strong he is for the whole thing to become a giant clusterfk. I'd rather ride hard on my own.

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Probably true, but I find it rather worrying if people don't have enough 'brain bandwidth' to ride a bike and think at the same time smile

WRT strong people, cohesion and all that, my thoughts:

A chain gang usually needs a 'leader' who will call the odds; that's probably why the 'beginner' group worked and the next one didn't. While it can work really well no communication when the right group of people hit the front and work hard... most of the time you need someone shouting - but only one 'leader' please!

Not everyone who rides off the front is being a dick - it's an acquired skill to ride checking backwards all the time, and one of the last things people pick up. Usually when they hit the front they're feeling some pressure and want to ride hard enough not to be the weak link. Having someone to holler 'ease up a bit', works wonders here (see previous point). If they're really being a dick, let them go and resume rotation behind them; it doesn't need to kill the cohesion.

While I don't want to encourage people to 'hog' the front, I always emphasise that you take a turn in proportion to how strong you're feeling. Hold the pace, and if you tire, swing off early. If you're utterly broken when you hit the front, swing off immediately (but stay in the rotation) If you're feeling good, take a longer turn but swing off after a suitable time anyway to give everyone a chance.

I've also found that a single line with people swinging off and fading right back is a lot more practical/easy to maintain than a true 'rotation' of two lines, one up and one down. Probably got a lot to do with the being aware of what's going on behind issue.

Finally, yeah, riding hard on your own is good too, but it's a different proposition. If you want to go further, faster using a group simply works. When it comes together it can be a massive buzz to be flying along absolutely flat out in perfect co-ordination smile

okgo

37,857 posts

197 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Our club one got a bit too big and people were having accidents, one guy broke his hip at one point.

I started to just do them in a max group size of 4 with a few guys I know well, much safer, and faster as didn't have the slower riders mucking up the tempo.


TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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outnumbered said:
I'm also amazed at now bad people are at it, even apparently experienced riders... They just can't help accelerating when they get to the front, and that's what kills the cohesion.
Part of it is that you ride in the wheels, then get to the front and feel like it should hurt more - so push til it hurts, thinking that's the same speed you were riding 1min ago but in the wheels. Takes a bit of practice to get it right, I think smile

okgo

37,857 posts

197 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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The key isn't the speed you're riding at, its how smooth you are to get to that speed.

If someone very strong comes to the front and drops the hammer right away then the guy who just did a turn is going to go out the back, if he accelerates smoothly to that top speed it won't cause an issue, same applies in corners, i.e. don't sprint out of them...

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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I'm keen on having a go at a chain gang but feel like I'll get dropped on the first decent hill. Did you find that the pace adapted to the guys behind, or was it quite dog-eat-dog?

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Ah I'm with you - yes, I've been behind some of those!

okgo

37,857 posts

197 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Usget said:
I'm keen on having a go at a chain gang but feel like I'll get dropped on the first decent hill. Did you find that the pace adapted to the guys behind, or was it quite dog-eat-dog?
Normally they need to be vaguely done to ability. Or it won't be a workout for the stronger guys.

SoliD

1,112 posts

216 months

Thursday 24th July 2014
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Need to get myself along to some chain gangs once the TT season starts tailing off! Any body here ride on the South Coast(Portsmouth/Southampton area)