Saturday Chevreuse loop at gruppetto pace (65km at 20 kph)

• When -- 8h30 Saturday, Sept. 13
• Where -- Place de la Porte de Chatillon
• Strava route link -- PCB Chevreuse loop 64km (incl. Madeleine)
• Length -- 65 km
• Average speed -- 20 km/h

A forecast for showers much of the day Sunday is forcing my hand to schedule a rare Saturday ride for the "gruppetto group," which is the Italian name for the group of cyclists on the grand tours that often forms on mountain stages behind the peloton and is typically occupied by sprinters and domestiques just trying to survive to ride another day. We will be going even slower, of course, than the pros.

The route takes us south to Chevreuse where we will climb the dreaded Madeleine and, shortly thereafter, find a coffee stop in Voisins-le-Bretonneux.

By the end we will have averaged about 20-22 kph, with higher speeds on flat stretches of the route and much slower up the climbs. If you're looking for a longer and faster ride, check back to see if another group ride has been scheduled Saturday that typically has a pace of about 25 kph.

As always, please check the following before you arrive Sunday:

• do you have the cycling fitness and experience for this ride? no half-wheeling, try to stay around 30cm away from the wheel in front of you.
• safety comes first: no helmet, no PCB ride.
• this ride is for road bikes/velos de route, not for VTT etc.
• bring spare tube, bidons, energy bars, gels, etc.
• bring money/card in case you need it.
• let the ride leader know if you do not have GPS

REMINDER*: PCB rides are no-drop with a focus on staying together. Our rides fill a niche and are designed for people who want to ride in a group, together, at a medium pace with others who are more interested in the experience than in riding as fast as possible. We regroup at the tops of significant climbs and key turns, so no one gets left behind.

If you are looking for something different, perhaps a weekend training ride with a fast group of cyclists who compete in races and triathlons, then this is not the group for you. I recommend checking out Paris Cycling Group, which typically feature rides at an average speed of 25-30 kph. There are other groups, as well, which are organized by several bike shops in Paris.

For more information about Paris Cycling B-group, please check out our What We Are About section on our MeetUp landing page.