Current NFC Ride Ratings:
A, B, C and S designators indicate the intensity of the rides and suggest an average speed the group will maintain. Rides often split off into several subgroups depending upon the pace.
A = 18-21 MPH
B = 14-17 MPH
C = up to 14 MPH
S = Social Ride.( The emphasis is on the social aspect of the club, so the speed will be that of the slowest rider in the group.)
These speeds assume that there is no wind and the road is flat & level. If going downwind or downhill we would expect the speed to be slightly faster and going upwind or uphill we would expect the speed to be a little slower.
Does this mean that you can’t go faster than 21 mph on a NFBC club ride? It actually means that the fastest speed a Ride Leader will maintain on an A level ride is 21 mph. Riders can go off the front at a faster pace but they should realize that the Ride Leader is not going to join them at the faster pace.
Why?
The NFBC advertises specific speeds, distances and routes for our rides. Thus if a rider shows up for an NFBC event, the rider should not be surprised by unadvertised changes in speed, distances or routes. Not-as-advertised rides is one of the main reasons visitors don’t come back a second time.
By the way, the club has had recent complaints from visitors that Ride Leaders rode at significantly faster speeds than advertised.