We're going to yell at you.
#2851
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Exactly my experience. In fact, just the other day, I was wondering what happened to this thread...And now, here it is again.
#2852
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Yell all you want. My hearing is bad and getting worse.
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Going to join a group ride tonight that I used to do when I was young and fast. There's a good chance I won't be around long enough to get yelled at.
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2859 posts confirming why I don't do group rides.
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#2859
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If you did group rides you would understand some of the posts better. You might also see why some of us keep doing group rides after decades of doing them. Or not, riding solo is ok, too.
It always surprises me how many people on the forum say they only ride solo, especially in the 50+ forum. .
It always surprises me how many people on the forum say they only ride solo, especially in the 50+ forum. .
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I got my fill of group rides when I did road motorcycles. The more people, the less I liked it. Always someone wanting to stop, lingering at stops, riding after drinking, having poor skills, riding unpredictably, etc. Bicycling groups may be different and for those who enjoy group rides, good on ya. I do ride road bikes regularly with one person my age, 76. We have similar goals and fitness level.
The rides I enjoy the most for myself are solo rides on the dirt roads near my home. Almost no car traffic. Have never seen another cyclist on any one of the dozen or so different routes I take. Have seen deer, antelope, coyotes, swift fox, raptors.
I suppose I might be a bit antisocial.
The rides I enjoy the most for myself are solo rides on the dirt roads near my home. Almost no car traffic. Have never seen another cyclist on any one of the dozen or so different routes I take. Have seen deer, antelope, coyotes, swift fox, raptors.
I suppose I might be a bit antisocial.
#2861
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Is there nothing during your lifetime that you can look back on and say "I'm glad I never did that"?
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I got my fill of group rides when I did road motorcycles. The more people, the less I liked it. Always someone wanting to stop, lingering at stops, riding after drinking, having poor skills, riding unpredictably, etc. Bicycling groups may be different and for those who enjoy group rides, good on ya. I do ride road bikes regularly with one person my age, 76. We have similar goals and fitness level.
The rides I enjoy the most for myself are solo rides on the dirt roads near my home. Almost no car traffic. Have never seen another cyclist on any one of the dozen or so different routes I take. Have seen deer, antelope, coyotes, swift fox, raptors.
I suppose I might be a bit antisocial.
The rides I enjoy the most for myself are solo rides on the dirt roads near my home. Almost no car traffic. Have never seen another cyclist on any one of the dozen or so different routes I take. Have seen deer, antelope, coyotes, swift fox, raptors.
I suppose I might be a bit antisocial.
#2864
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Late-'90s until I quit riding in '05, Montrose was my Saturday ritual. Since I've been back on the bike (Dec 2019), I haven't been out there yet. Part of it is not wanting to be with groups that big yet. Part of it is knowing I don't have that kind of intensity in my legs right now. I'm hoping to make a return at some point, but it might be with the early "old guys" group.
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There are bicycle groups with the same turnoffs. If that's the only group rides there were, I would ride solo, always. I joined a road club in 1989. 500 members of all persuasions. It definitely takes some sorting to find the ones you're comfortable riding with and people are coming and going all the time.
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#2868
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People tend to regret the things they didn’t do much more than the things they did.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#2870
Senior Member
I've been riding in groups for almost 35 years. The "rules" of group riding have been the same for that entire time. There's an unquestionably right way to do it. I had a coach in high school who was an experienced racer. He rode with us, taught us the ropes and was unafraid to call us out if we were riding dangerously. He was polite but firm: this is how you do it, do what I say. We had formal post-ride reviews where we'd talk about what went well and what could have gone better. These reviews were again respectful but firm. To me, that's the right attitude. There's no reason to be a jerk on the road, but riding in a group is a serious matter. Riding in a group is assuming mutual responsibility for each other's safety. It's not a "snobbery" thing, it's a safety thing. The second you stop respecting the rules of riding on the road in a group, you will pay a harsh penalty. If you ride long enough, you'll see these lessons learned the hard way.
To some new to road cycling, joining an established group can be intimidating because too many roadies famously can be very "vocal" if you do something dumb. Personally, I have no problem with newer riders who are learning and make mistakes. On the other hand, I do have a problem with those who should know better, don't listen, and continue to ride erratically. I know some people who have been riding in groups for years and just refuse to follow the rules. They also refuse to listen to the group about their erratic / dangerous riding, get annoyed if anyone calls them on it and continue doing stupid crap.
There's obvious stuff to avoid like blowing through stop signs, riding much faster/ much slower than the group's agreed pace, failing to hold your line etc. Then there's the more subtle but equally important stuff. A recent early season group ride reminded me of a few of the more subtle things that I see people do wrong on group rides:
1. People who can't ride smoothly. Pedal/coast(ratchet sound)/pedal/coast(ratchet sound)/pedal. On/off/on/off/on. Stop it.
2. People who can't sit back down smoothly when climbing out of the saddle in a paceline. Similarly, people who dramatically back off the effort before they crest a hill.
3. People who lead the group straight into avoidable potholes while pulling. This is often followed by a flat/crash and a mumbled "sorry guys".
4. People who blow themselves up on a pull and stop pedaling before they come off the front. Or people who come off the front way too dramatically, slamming to the left without warning. Or people who completely blow after a pull and can't get on the back of the group causing everyone to wait for them.
5. People who shout too often about obvious or trivial "hazards". If you're constantly yelling about everything, nothing gets noticed.
6. People who ride too far to the right, right along the curb, because it's "safer".
Etc.
If you're a new rider, it can be hard to swallow your ego and listen to what more experienced riders say. If the more experienced riders are being jerks, it's even harder. Still, if you're a new rider you should try to learn proper group riding technique. If you're an experienced group rider, don't yell at new riders but do politely call out non-obvious mistakes.
To some new to road cycling, joining an established group can be intimidating because too many roadies famously can be very "vocal" if you do something dumb. Personally, I have no problem with newer riders who are learning and make mistakes. On the other hand, I do have a problem with those who should know better, don't listen, and continue to ride erratically. I know some people who have been riding in groups for years and just refuse to follow the rules. They also refuse to listen to the group about their erratic / dangerous riding, get annoyed if anyone calls them on it and continue doing stupid crap.
There's obvious stuff to avoid like blowing through stop signs, riding much faster/ much slower than the group's agreed pace, failing to hold your line etc. Then there's the more subtle but equally important stuff. A recent early season group ride reminded me of a few of the more subtle things that I see people do wrong on group rides:
1. People who can't ride smoothly. Pedal/coast(ratchet sound)/pedal/coast(ratchet sound)/pedal. On/off/on/off/on. Stop it.
2. People who can't sit back down smoothly when climbing out of the saddle in a paceline. Similarly, people who dramatically back off the effort before they crest a hill.
3. People who lead the group straight into avoidable potholes while pulling. This is often followed by a flat/crash and a mumbled "sorry guys".
4. People who blow themselves up on a pull and stop pedaling before they come off the front. Or people who come off the front way too dramatically, slamming to the left without warning. Or people who completely blow after a pull and can't get on the back of the group causing everyone to wait for them.
5. People who shout too often about obvious or trivial "hazards". If you're constantly yelling about everything, nothing gets noticed.
6. People who ride too far to the right, right along the curb, because it's "safer".
Etc.
If you're a new rider, it can be hard to swallow your ego and listen to what more experienced riders say. If the more experienced riders are being jerks, it's even harder. Still, if you're a new rider you should try to learn proper group riding technique. If you're an experienced group rider, don't yell at new riders but do politely call out non-obvious mistakes.
Last edited by Hiro11; 03-08-21 at 10:04 AM.
#2871
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