Bicycling is a wonderful fitness activity, but it has its hazards. Riding in a safe group is a terrific way to develop your skills, and confidence on the bike. The Santa Clarita Velo has been on the road since 1991 and was the starting place for many of the excellent riders in Southern California.

Regarding our Saturday rides, It is very important to set some expectations. 

1. The Saturday ride is for “serious cyclists.” It is not a gingerly pedal-around-the-city ride. While we would never dissuade someone from trying the Saturday ride, we’ve been suggesting our Sunday ride as first ride to get a feel for riding in a group. Sunday has become more of a chatty, recovery like ride that has a more mellow pace, but still may put in 40 miles plus. Be aware. Even this ride can be challenging (e.g., climbing Bear Divide at a reduced pace).
2. Ensure you check our Saturday ride posts and study the route. You need to understand how much distance and particularly, how much climbing is involved in the route. If you have ridden the outskirts of Santa Clarita, there are no flat rides. You need to be fit! You need to be able to easily, comfortably ride at least 50 miles at a pretty brisk pace and have the legs to do a good bit of sustained climbing.
3. Riding in a bunch and on canyon roads for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience. You’re riding elbow to elbow with folks you don’t know on roads with sometimes narrow shoulders that cars often pass too close. You need to develop a new mindset to deal with it. It takes time and practice. Above all else, while in the group, just hold a straight line. You need to be predictable and all the riders behind you will appreciate you. See below for more dos and don’ts.
4. You need to be your own bike mechanic. Be self-sufficient. Bring tools, tubes, patch kits, CO2 cartridges etc. to deal with minor issues on your bike. At a minimum you need to be able to change a tube and fix a dropped chain. Typically, as a group, we stop for all mechanicals, but if you get dropped, you need to be able to deal with it by yourself, on the side of a road. Many times, you may be out of cell range.
5. Speaking of dropped, on any group ride, at some point, everyone experiences getting “dropped.” You run out of gas and watch the group ride away from you at ever increasing speed. Don’t despair, simply keep pedaling. Eventually, you’ll catch the group at a “re-group” point. (or you may want to evaluate turning back if way over your head).
6. On longer rides, plan ahead and pack enough food and water! Protein bars, nut bars, gels, energy chews, peanut butter and jelly sandwich… you get the idea. Most riders will bring a variety of food to eat on and off the bike along with two bottles of water and/or electrolyte/energy drinks. Familiarize yourself with the science behind staying properly hydrated and carbed up during rides to avoid “bonking“, which can be a dangerous health hazard.
7. Lastly, have a tough skin and be tenacious. Once you’ve attained fitness to be able to stay in the bunch for long periods of time and to be only a few minutes behind most folks at the re-group points, you’ll get a satisfying sense of accomplishment.