Every strong cyclist has the same origin story: they started riding with people slightly faster than themselves. No training plan replicates what chasing a better wheel does to your fitness.
Why it works
Riding with faster cyclists forces higher power for longer than you'd choose alone, teaches you to draft efficiently, and normalises speeds that used to feel maximal. Your ceiling becomes your cruising pace within months.
The dose matters
The trick is slightly faster — one pace band up, not three. If you ride moderate (21–26 km/h), join fast rides (27–32) occasionally, not racing ones. CycleBuddy's pace labels make the right dose easy to pick.
Recover with your own pace
Mix one harder group ride a week into your normal riding. Use the easy and moderate rides for volume and recovery — and for enjoying cycling, which is the point.
Find your next level
Open CycleBuddy, filter one pace above yours, and join one ride this week. Uncomfortable for an hour, faster for a lifetime.