The OBC offers road rides on Sunday mornings, Tuesday evenings and, from time to time, on other days and times. A variety of start locations, destinations and distances will be offered over the course of the season. In all cases, the rides will be posted in the club calendar, so that interested members can sign up in advance.
The OBC’s group road rides are organized in groups of six to twelve cyclists, led by knowledgeable OBC group leaders. The groups are established according to factors such as the speed, ability, and interest of the participants.
These rides enable riders to draft behind one another, saving energy – particularly when riding into the wind – while facilitating social interaction during the rides and during any breaks. And, if you suffer a flat tire or a mechanical problem, others will be with you to help, if needed.
The OBC road rides follow the group riding practices outlined in the Education section of this website. Unless indicated otherwise, OBC road rides follow a “no drop” policy.
Bicycles – Road bikes and some gravel bikes are best suited for club road rides, although some members use cyclocross or lightweight hybrid bikes. While riding a suitable bike is helpful, it is more important that you select a group whose speed you can comfortably match (considering personal fitness levels) for the duration of the ride.
Group Speeds – For the OBC’s regularly scheduled road rides, riders register in advance for a specific group, according to their expected speed. The fastest groups tend to be performance-oriented, so the riders are expected to be fit, experienced, and self-sufficient. The other groups are more social or recreational in nature, so that any rider experiencing difficulty will get support from other riders.
