What would you have done?

[makbike]

I participated in a 50 club ride this morning in foreigh territory. The cue sheet for the ride was only partial - milage stopped at 20 and at the bottom it simply said "backtrack to starting point - You can do it!" I will admit I am directionally challenged so I made it a point to always stay with a group or to keep one in sight. The ride was a tough one lots and lots of hills to climb. On the way back I attached myself to a group of 5. We arrived at an intersection and had a short decision as to which way we were to turn -seems I was not the only one directional challenged. We proceeded up the road a bit and made a left onto an unmarked road (not unheard of in the rural areas around here) and ran into another small group who indicated we were on the wrong road so we all turned around and headed back to "main road" as we progressed up this road several of us, including myself, indicated nothing looked familiar. Everyone in the group admitted they had no clue as to where we were, if we were on the correct road (again no street signs to be found, no road name on the mailboxes) and that we appeared to be lost. My legs were dead and someone quickly chimed in that this 50 mile ride could potentially became a century. At this point I turned around and headed back for the intersection where all the confusion started hoping I would meet the group my BF was in or possibly the group that stayed in the town we traveled to for lunch. I was taught long ago if you are lost not to keep going and to me following the "lost" group across the countryside in unmarked territory seemed silly so back I went. I arrived at the interesection and waited - no BF charging down the road on his bike to rescue me. A small panic settled in for a moment and I talked myself back to a mild calm and I waited. I heard voices and turned to find the lunch group coming toward me - what a relief. The ride captain was in this group - I explained what had happened he calmly replied "they will find their way in, guess I need to work on my cuesheet." On the way back to our starting point BF evidently passed us (he had talked a friend into backtracking in his truck to see if they could find me given I had been ahead of him and the "lost group had also made their way in minus me). When he arrived back at the parking lot he simply said "I can tell you are pissed" this was the understatement of the day. I was mad at myself for being directionally challenged, I was mad at the ride captain for providing a cue sheet that did not follow the route (he took us up the road we meet the second group on), I felt humiliated and I hate to be lost.

So there is the story of my terrible ride - what would you have done? Would you have stayed with the other lost cyclists? Would you have turned around as I had and hoped and prayed you got picked up by another group or would you have struck out on your own? I do know I will never participate in a ride which provides a cuesheet that says "Backtrack - You can do it!", nor will I probably ever participate in this guy's rides again simply based on this awful experience. I know someday I will be able to laugh at this day, I have calmed down a lot since I dropped BF off at the next club ride (sadly he caught my anger and frustration for which I apologized for before I dropped him off and I will again apologize this evening). And so it goes!

[SouthernBelle]

I think either backtracking, or maybe waiting are the only 2 choices you could make once you were sure you were lost. It's irritating when there are no street signs to help you get your bearings. Been there.

It's so easy to do cue sheets now with sites like routeslips that there is really no excuse.

[wannaduacentury]

That's a tough one. I'm not directionally challenged so IMHO I think I would have stayed w/ the group so you could all be lost together, thus found together. Logic did tell you to go to the last place recognizable and it all worked out. :) and your bf went looking for you(good idea). But I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to be w/ that group leaders directions again. Directions should be clear and understandable for everyone. I hope you have a better ride next time(Ky is a beautiful state-I love going up there) Cheers!

[lizbids]

I would have asked someone to come with to find the rest of the group, and direct them towards the rest of the "lost" group...just in case I'd make myself even more lost! :o

[DDH]

I think I would have backtracked, but it's hard to say unless you are in that situation. Safety says stay with a group but logic says back track to a familiar place. I can't believe none of them wanted to go with you and I certainly think it was very irresponsible for the ride captain to say "they'll find thier way" when you told him about the group you were with and that none of you knew where you were going.

[Crankin]

The ride leader shouldn't be leading, for 2 reasons. First, it's irresponsible to make a cue sheet like that. Safety is always first. Secondly, it's seems like a very cavalier attitude toward the people on his ride. Granted, if this is the type of ride where people split up into groups and everyone doesn't stay together, this could happen even with a well delineated cue sheet. But at least you would know how to get back.
I would say something to him or the person in charge of scheduling rides...

[snapdragen]

I agree with Robin, definitely let the ride coordinator (or whoever is in charge of scheduling your club's rides) know what happened. It is very irresponsible to assume everyone will "find their way back".