“Maybe I can make the break this time, maybe I can hold on a little further. Maybe this time I can launch a counterattack that sticks. Maybe I get dropped! But the chance to ride that hard, roll the dice, and know that you’re amongst friends and on your home roads makes it rewarding every time. “ - Jamie Sullivan The first cycling race on record was May 31, 1868, in Paris. It covered 1,200 meters and was won on a wooden bicycle with solid rubber tires. Racing has come a long way since then, with the likes of grand tours, single-day classics, and ballooning team budgets. It’s aspirational and unrelatable. Yet far from the high-flying glitz and glam of the World Tour, the basic principle of riding hard and fast is alive and well at countless grassroots events around the world. “The weekly group rides in the Upper Valley are how I first made friends When moving to the area... When I first started riding, my goal was just not to get dropped. Now I enjoy practicing different race tactics to see if I can animate the ride, hang on a little longer, or be more strategic.” - @sarahwlange If there are people who ride, there are also people who race. From California to Arizona to New Hampshire, they’re always looking for one more to join in. This is the simple, powerful beauty of the local group ride. Continued at link in profile. Velocio.cc