FORT COLLINS CYCLING CLUB |
Ride Intensity Levels
Note: Average speeds are rough approximations of ride intensity. Actual average speed will vary.
See all our scheduled rides on the Calendar of Events.
Ride Category |
Details |
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Fast A Rides |
Average speed: 17 to 20 mph or faster on relatively flat terrain with no wind Terrain: Probably to include steep or long climbs Pace-lines: Expected and probably necessary Ride Leader/Sweeper: Never. These are always 'drop' rides Our 'A' rides take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Saturday rides are typically 45-80 miles long and more than 3,000' of elevation gain. Weekday rides average 25-30 miles and up to 2500’ of elevation gain. These are drop rides, know the route and be prepared to ride solo if you can’t keep up with the pace. There will be minimal short regroups and usually a food/beverage stop at some point during or following the ride. There is generally lots of climbing on these rides and pace lines are common. The A rides are friendly and social rides, not races, but regroups are short and the pace is demanding. |
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Advanced B Rides |
Average speed: 15 to 17 mph on relatively flat terrain with no wind Terrain: May have moderate or long climbs Pace-lines: Expected and beneficial Ride Leader/Sweeper: Usually 'no-drop' rides. Our 'B' rides take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They typically follow the same route as the A rides but are sometimes shorter on weekdays. These are usually no-drop rides but you should know the route even if there is a sweep. There will be regroups and usually a food/beverage stop at some point during or after the ride. Pace lines are common. The B rides are friendly and social rides, not races, but the pace can be demanding. |
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Intermediate C Rides |
Average speed: 12 to 15 mph on relatively flat terrain with no wind Terrain: May have moderate or long climbs Pace-lines: Expected and beneficial Ride Leader/Sweeper: Always, as these are 'no-drop' rides. Our 'C' rides take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They follow a route similar to the B rides (sometimes a little shorter) at a slower pace. These are no-drop rides: there will always be a sweep. There will be regroups and usually a food/beverage stop at some point during or after the ride. This is a good place to learn about pace lines. The C rides are friendly and social rides and the pace is a little more relaxed. |
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Social D Rides |
Average speed: 10 to 12 mph on relatively flat terrain with no wind Our 'D' rides take place May through September on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This group prides itself on encouraging riders new to group riding. E-bikes are welcome! Rides typically last about an ninety minutes, cover 13-18 miles with less than 550' of elevation gain, and generally maintain an average pace of 10-12 mph on the flats. These are no-drop rides, but riders are expected to keep up with the pace. Groups stick together and there is always a "ride sweeper" to help out with mechanical problems. |