** Ride MKE Core Values:

1. Promote cycling in our area through a unified front.

2. Provide a friendly environment to teach new riders important skills in areas such as group riding, pace line protocol, ride safety, etiquette, etc.   

3. Organize club participation in large events in our area, including UPAF, Trek 100, Horribly Hilly, Wright Stuff, MS 150, Scenic Shore 150, etc.

4. Hold in-season monthly group activities ranging from after-ride socials to Saturday afternoon BBQ in the parking lot to informational meetings with product reps and industry folks.

We offer 5 levels of ride groups. Below are the group descriptions

Group 1:
Cruising Speed: 27+ mph
Overall Average Speed: 24+ mph
This group averages 24+ mph, with many stretches in the 27 - 30 (sometimes faster!) mph range.  Group riding/pace line skills are absolutely required.  This group is made up of racers and experienced riders who are comfortable riding at high speeds in a tight group.
THIS IS A DROP RIDE

Group 2:
Cruising Speed: 22 - 25 mph
Overall Average Speed: 21 - 22 mph
This group will average 21 - 22 mph with many stretches in the 23 - 26 mph range. Just like Group 1, group riding/pace line skills are required. The pace of this group demands that someone be comfortable riding in a tight pack. This group looks a lot like Group 1, with the only difference being the average and cruising speeds are slightly lower.
THIS IS A DROP RIDE

Group 3:
Cruising Speed: 20 - 24 mph
Overall Average Speed: 19 - 21 mph
This group will average 19 - 21 mph with many stretches at 22 - 25 mph.  Group riding experience is also required. This group is likely our largest group. Riders must still feel comfortable riding in a pace line at fast speeds. At the same time, this group is welcoming of those riders that wish to test themselves. However, since it is a drop ride, no whining is allowed if you find yourself off the back sooner than you thought/hoped.
THIS IS A DROP RIDE

Group 4
Cruising Speed: 17 - 20 mph
Overall Average Speed: 16 - 18 mph
This group averages 16 - 18 mph which means some stretches may see speeds of 20 mph.  In this group, it is expected that the rider at the head of the group will ride at between 17 and 20 mph on the flats. Riders that feel this is too slow belong in Group 3. Group riding experience is recommended, but not necessary. This group is perfect for those cyclists that want to push themselves, but aren’t either ready or interested in the high speeds and pressure of Groups 1, 2, and 3. This group is also perfect for those more advanced riders that want a slower ride due to fatigue, tapering for an upcoming event, or are introducing someone to our group and are keeping them company. The Group Ride Leader is chartered with making sure the pace is as advertised, and the group waits for anyone falling off the back. It is the responsibility of each Group 4 rider to help the Group Ride Leader in controlling the pace. If you choose to ride Group 4, you’re to ride at the Group 4 pace, not try and speed things up if you decide you feel better than you thought at the start.
THIS IS A NO-DROP RIDE*

Group 5
Cruising Speed: 16 - 18 mph
Overall Average Speed: 15 - 16 mph (see italic text below)
While there are published cruising and overall average speeds, this group will ride at a pace that allows the slowest rider to still be part of the group.
In this group, it is expected that the rider at the head of the group will ride at between 16 and 18 mph on the flats. This is a good group for those that are newer to group riding skills but are interested in learning more. This group may elect a slightly different route than the other groups, and is chartered with making sure no rider is left behind. Just like with Group 4, it is expected that the Group Ride Leader for Group 5 will control the pace so all riders are comfortable.
THIS IS A NO-DROP RIDE*

HOPEFULLY RETURNING IN 2023
Monday / Wednesday Group 4/5 Only Ride:
Cruising Speed: 15 - 20 mph
Overall Average Speed: 16 - 19 mph
This Monday evening ride is targeted toward Group 4/5 riders. It's a great ride for those that want to get a feel for what Ride MKE Group rides are like. This is a no-drop ride, meaning if you fall behind, the group will wait for you at logical muster points. More experienced riders may choose to use this ride as a recovery ride, which means you'll benefit from their experience and expertise.
THIS IS A NO-DROP RIDE*
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Membership in Ride MKE is free. We ask that you join the Wisconsin Bike Fed as we support their continued efforts to make Wisconsin the most bicycle friendly state. Click on the image to join.
All rides leave from the parking lot of Wheel and Sprocket Fox Point (6940 N Santa Monica BLVD, Milwaukee WI 53217)
*Notes on a "no drop" ride:
A “no drop ride” is, as you can guess, a ride where no one is left behind to fend for themselves. This doesn’t mean the group will always ride at the pace of the slowest rider, but it does mean that either the group will stop at logical points on the ride to allow everyone to regroup, or someone from the group will drop back - usually one of group leaders - and ride with the slower riders for the rest of the ride.


Pace Line Flow:
We have decided to have a standard Ride MKE Way for pace line flow. It is not the only way, but to ensure consistency and don’t have accidents or close calls as we’re riding in pace lines, we are adopting the following as our pace line flow.
  • Lane Positioning (From the Wisconsin Bicycle Laws (www.wnbr.org/bikelaws.htm) - "Always ride on the right, in the same direction as other traffic.  [346.80(2)(a)]  Ride as far to the right as is practicable (not as far right as possible).  [346.80(2)(a)]  Practicable generally means safe and reasonable."
    • Don’t let ignorant riders or drivers intimidate you to into riding too far to the right. At the same time, understand you have a 16 lb bike and you’ll lose vs. a 4,000 lb SUV.
  • When leading a pace line, don’t wait until you're exhausted to give up the lead. Everyone wants a chance at the front, so be mindful of the others in the group.
    • As a general rule, we all take pulls that are too long. The idea of a pull is to pull the group for a while, then drop off and rest. It’s this sort of rotation that allows a group to ride considerably faster than any one person in the group can ride alone (unless that one person is Phil, in which case all bets are off!). When done properly, a pace line can be really fast and yet no one gets exhausted. So, don’t be surprised if a ride leader calls you out for hogging the lead. Understand where they are coming from, and give someone else a chance. If you’re hogging the lead because it’s too easy when you’re in the pack - then you should be riding with a faster group.
  • When you signal that you are dropping off the lead:
    • If it's a single pace line - tap your right hip with your right fist and drift slightly to the left, allowing the pace line to pass on your inside, but not changing where they are in relation to the side of the road. Make sure you check for traffic before doing so.
    • If you’re riding two abreast, the outside rider drifts farther to the left (even more important to check the traffic), the rider on the inside stays where they are, and the group pulls through between the two riders. The outside rider must pull far enough out to allow the group to pass between both riders safely without forcing the insider rider to have to move farther to the right. Now, this may seem unsafe to some of you. So, read the next bullet closely!
  • When you are dropping off the lead, you reduce your speed after you pull to the left. Also, since you are now in traffic, drop your speed dramatically (like, stop pedaling). The idea is to get to the back of the line as fast as possible, not ride along side the leaders as long as you can. It’s unsafe, disconcerting to the rest of the group, and, frankly, stupid.
  • The rider(s) now at the front don’t accelerate. They maintain the speed of the group, or if they are not as strong as the former leader(s), they ride at a pace they can maintain for their ‘pull’. If you’re tired, or intimidated to be at the front, just take a very short pull and drop back, it’s perfectly acceptable (unless you’ve been woofing about how strong you are - then you’ll be subjected to unceasing ridicule).  A short pull could be 5  seconds, and that's okay. Also, all the more reason for the leader(s) to drop back fast.
  • If you become a leader after someone who was riding at a slightly slower pace than before, very gradually pick the pace back up. The goal is not to gap the rider(s) behind you - save that for racing and the TuTh group rides at 5 AM.
  • If you are the last rider, as the leader falls back, let them know you are the last rider so they can get back up to speed and easily fall in at the back of the pack.
  • Unless you are the last rider in the group there is someone on your wheel, placing their safety in your hands. You must avoid sudden changes in speed, such as standing up to stretch, or otherwise slowing down. If you feel the need to stretch, check for auto traffic and then drift to the left to stretch. Also, notifying riders around you of your intention is recommended. If you are going to rise out of the saddle to pedal some to relieve some tension, call out "standing". Most recreational riders have their bikes move back relative to their body position when they stand. This can cause the rider behind you to hit your rear wheel, or grab their brakes to avoid doing so. The result can be a chain reaction crash. We'd like to avoid that sort of an event.