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[Closed] What's the optimum group size for a good ride?

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[#599308]

I was a bit shocked to read about group rides with 50 people on here, maybe I'm a bit antisocial but that seems bloody massive. For me it goes like this...

One person = Great, especially if I know the way already.
Two = Probably my preferred number.
Three = Nice, but not the magic number.
Four = OK, but chances of a mechanical now increasing dramatically.
Five = Tolerable, but faffing will reach critical mass.
Six = About the limit.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:12 pm
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I'd say 2 if you are going for it and 3 for having a laugh.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:16 pm
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I'd say it depends who the other people are.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:17 pm
 ton
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33 with 2 leaving at the halfway point................ ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:20 pm
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Regularly do night rides of 4-6. It's fine as long as every-one understands the pace, and the route, do social weekend rides with that number sometimes too, close mates so it's fine.

Sometimes it's great to be in a gang, and have a laugh and a natter, sometimes it's also grand to be on yer own, and set the pace and route to suit yerself.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:21 pm
 Drac
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Depends on infrequent get togethers big groups are fine, weekly rides of 4-6 are great fun but nice to ride with just 2 or 3 for chilled time.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:22 pm
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3 is good. If there's a major drama, one can stay with the casualty, one can go for help. Good for chatting, bit more friendly competition, plus 2 people in a ride photo looks better than just one (well, sometimes...)

Any more than about 5 and the faff factor increases exponentially.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:23 pm
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I think it was all a bit tongue in cheek ๐Ÿ˜‰

It really depends on where you are riding. In some areas it is not practical to have a large group of people where the route is not obvious. Common sense and confidence in the organisor prevails ... maybe ๐Ÿ™„


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:23 pm
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3 for a blast, up to nine for a social pootle, more for showing the area and making day of it making new friends, etc.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:30 pm
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4-5


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:31 pm
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with large groups doesn't everyone just end up riding with a smaller subset of people anyway?

I mostly ride around brighton and I can see groups of that size causing quite a lot of trail conflict unless it was a nightride.

the faff time must make up about 90% of the ride as well...


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:32 pm
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less than 10 I feel a bit lonely :o) No, really, whoever wants to go is fine with me, but less than 5 is sparse.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:34 pm
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1, tops.

HTH


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:38 pm
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Upto 20 on Mondays some times, generally 2-5 on most other rides.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:41 pm
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94 if your a bogtrotter


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:42 pm
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One.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 7:49 pm
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Half a dozen for a fast paced road ride.
Three or four for a fast paced XC MTB workout.
Two or three for a trail ride.
One or two for a recovery ride.
One for exploratory route finding.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:01 pm
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3-4 is a good size IMO.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:04 pm
 IHN
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Any size is fine, but fannying about potential rises with numbers.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:07 pm
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1 if it's a recce & your'e doing the recce'ing. Probably up to about 6 after that. I've devised many a route where there was 4 or 5 of us only to find half of it unrideable, got loads of stick for those!


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:09 pm
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One if you are going for it.
Two is great.
Three(of the right choice)is also great.
It allows the other two to talk amongst themselves whilst I tell crap jokes.
Four and above is always too many.
You are only as quick as the slowest one.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:13 pm
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94 if your a bogtrotter

quite a few Bog Trotters don't like big groups either! Me, I'm just happy to see people having fun :o)


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:23 pm
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Depends on the group and the conditions, sometimes 10 can be OK, sometimes it can be a nightmare of unfitness, wrong turns and mechanicals. if the weathers good an no one is in a rush to get home a big group ride is OK.


 
Posted : 02/06/2009 8:37 pm