getting dropped

[sundial]

What is it about men?

I cycle with Team Testosterone and all they want to do is sprint. I kept up with them most of the time, but one time it was too much. I was cycling at 26 mph and they just dropped me like a hot potato. They were going 30+ mph and didn't give one hooey about leaving the rest. :mad:

I really wish I could ride with bike chicks.

Does anyone else succumb to the madness?

[Starfish]

Does anyone else succumb to the madness?

Whole raft of comments I'm biting my tongue on, here, Sundial. :rolleyes:

[kelownagirl]

This area is a bone of contention between DH and I as well...

[Bike Goddess]

We call those guys "the big dawgs". When you ride with them on a century ride, they wait until you are in the bathroom line at the rest stop and take off so you have NO chance of catching up! :(:(

Even tho we advertise our club rides as "no drop rides", I've seen this happen on those rides as well. They will wait, but when you arrive 5 or so minutes later, they're ready to take off again and, once more, you are left in the dust.:mad::mad:

I often ride solo for this reason. I can pace myself according to my strengths which makes my ride much more enjoyable.

[Veronica]

This area is a bone of contention between DH and I as well...


Maybe I should post this in VB's good vibes thread, but I'm so glad Thom and I don't have this issue. He's always climbed faster than me and I've always had more endurance. I've asked him to help me get faster on climbs and he's started pacing me. It's hard, my heart rate is wicked high and sometimes I feel like I'm going to puke. But hopefully it will make a difference with my climbing.

He's riding a little slower than he would normally and I'm definitely riding faster. But the encouragement he shouts at me helps. Well kinda, sometimes I just want to punch him!

In the "macho" guys defense, if they are out there for a training ride, not on a no drop ride, they should be riding their own ride and not caring a hooey about you.

V.

[Bad JuJu]

I don't have any problem with people riding faster than me. If I did, I'd never ride.:o I just had to find a few people--mostly women--who ride a pace similar to mine, but who also are up for an occasional challenge. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to find riding buddies like that, but it's worth the search. I've actually gotten stronger now that I don't face the discouragement of getting dropped all the time.

But if a ride is advertised as a no-drop ride, the group should stick by that designation. Is that what your problem is, Sundial?

[sundial]

I just had to find a few people--mostly women--who ride a pace similar to mine, but who also are up for an occasional challenge. I've actually gotten stronger now that I don't face the discouragement of getting dropped all the time.

I don't mind sprinting, but I'd like to do it with women. My problem is there aren't any women who have the same aspirations for cycling so I'm left to my own vices per se. I'm stuck with men who take the fun out of riding. I do ride solo quite a bit, but occasionally it would be nice to ride a group ride where I don't have to worry about changing the paceline every 3rd telephone pole, sprint, go hog wild on hills with traffic and no shoulders, circle back for those who aren't keeping up, etc.

[NJBikeGal]

When looking for a team to ride with, I specifically chose one that was only for girls! Now, I think riding with the boys is a great idea and good for developing speed and skills (you know...avoiding the Cat 5 guys who think that they are Tom Boonen :rolleyes:). However, there's a reason that the Saturday morning ride out near me is referred to, among others things, as the Weekly World Championships!! :D

P.S. Where are you located? Maybe there are options other than the good old boys? Maybe there are other gals in your area thinking the same thing you are...just dying for *someone* to start a team?

[Grog]

Maybe ride once a week with the men (challenging ride), once a week with women who don't really care for speed (recovery & chatting) and the rest on your own, following some kind of program?

[Andrea]

Just a hint- having a woman around that is keeping up will only make them go faster... or do that thing where you stop for the bathroom and they "forget" that you're in there & are leaving the parking lot as you're walking out the door.

My advice- find other groups to ride with or hold on as long as you can! Riding with them will make you stronger :D

[KSH]

Well, we do have rides like that in my cycling club. If I know I'll get dropped, I don't go on those rides. Or, if I know I'll get dropped... I make sure I know the route back home so I'm fine on my own.

It sounds like you me that you are FAST! If I were with a group going 26 mph... well, I wouldn't have even been up there with them! :o

Keep at it, and maybe you will keep up with them and not get dropped at some point. Or... maybe you can find a buddy who is your speed and who will do the ride with you?

[smilingcat]

It's just that testosterone male insecurity thing I guess. Every hill used to be a free for all. Yup last one at the top doesn't get to rest. And I think Andrea is right about that too. Just too proud to have a woman amongst the boys. so they HAVE to drop you.

But its an awfully good way to train. They will always push you beyond your limit. Likewise, stay away from cat 5s. Just bad attitude.

Smilingcat

[Starfish]

It sounds like you me that you are FAST! If I were with a group going 26 mph... well, I wouldn't have even been up there with them!

+1 :eek:

[makbike]

Smilingcat I would agree with you. There are some men who can't handle a woman being faster or stronger - it is just too much for their fragile egos to handle. However, I've found a group to ride with, a majority being male, who have welcomed me with open arms and make sure I'm part of their group. I'd much rather ride with these guys for I can ride my ride then to ride with the tender ego guys who can't handle me out climbing them or riding faster. Sundial keep looking for a group I'm sure you will find one and be welcomed into the fold wholeheartedly.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Seems to me that all of you are really fast riders. (is that a 26-30mph AVERAGE?? Is it all down hill where you live? :eek:)
But in any case, they are apparently somewhat faster than you. What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you? If not, then maybe it's just too frustrating for you to try to keep up with them all. Maybe you'll need to find a few riders of similar speed and style to yourself that you can ride with. Ask yourself- what is your goal?

[kelownagirl]

Maybe I should post this in VB's good vibes thread, but I'm so glad Thom and I don't have this issue. He's always climbed faster than me and I've always had more endurance. I've asked him to help me get faster on climbs and he's started pacing me. It's hard, my heart rate is wicked high and sometimes I feel like I'm going to puke. But hopefully it will make a difference with my climbing.

He's riding a little slower than he would normally and I'm definitely riding faster. But the encouragement he shouts at me helps. Well kinda, sometimes I just want to punch him!

In the "macho" guys defense, if they are out there for a training ride, not on a no drop ride, they should be riding their own ride and not caring a hooey about you.

V.

Ditto on riding with DH making me stronger. That is definitely the case for me. And to be honest, most of the time, he's pretty good about sticking with me. It's the climbs where I get lost behind. For the most part I don't really mind but once in awhile it just irks me. I like to be able to lead once in awhile, especially on the flats when I CAN go fast. I'll mention it and I'll lead for awhile and then he'll pass me when we stop for a light and it just peeves me. :o Then one day I suggested he go out and do some hill repeats before our ride so he'd be a bit tired and not feel like he needed to hammer, and he still ended up riding ahead of me. :p

Our latest solution, which works quite well for me, is that he goes really hard ahead of me for about 3-4 minutes, then turns around and rides hard back to meet me. He goes further, and harder and I am seldom on my own for more than 4-5 minutes. I feel safe (I am still a bit freaked about being along if I'm stung by a wasp), and I feel like I can ride my own ride as well. We can't do this everywhere we ride because some roads are too busy but it works in many places.

[mimitabby]

Seems to me that all of you are really fast riders. (is that a 26-30mph AVERAGE?? Is it all down hill where you live? :eek:)
But in any case, they are apparently somewhat faster than you. What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you? If not, then maybe it's just too frustrating for you to try to keep up with them all. Maybe you'll need to find a few riders of similar speed and style to yourself that you can ride with. Ask yourself- what is your goal?

maybe they're talking about kilometers? then it makes sense :D

If there's an agreement to not drop folks, they need to stand by their agreement. If they always drop you, you do need to find someone else to ride with. I realize that in most areas, you don't have that much choice. There are some guys I ride with who wait for the slower riders... but then what are the goals? are you training for racing, or is this their idea of a pleasurable ride?

[kelownagirl]

maybe they're talking about kilometers? then it makes sense :D

If there's an agreement to not drop folks, they need to stand by their agreement. If they always drop you, you do need to find someone else to ride with. I realize that in most areas, you don't have that much choice. There are some guys I ride with who wait for the slower riders... but then what are the goals? are you training for racing, or is this their idea of a pleasurable ride?

Yeah I was thinking that. 26-30 kph is my avg pace.

[sundial]

What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you?

Uh, well, actually I'd like to ride with you gals. :p It's just kinda lonely being the only girl in the group and I can't really enjoy the ride because of them being....well....men. :rolleyes: ;)

I sprinted on the flats at 26 mph. I can average 17.2 mph now for several miles and it's because I have the determination to get stronger and faster.

Cycling just isn't popular here because we don't have good places to ride (aka no shoulders, no bike paths, no parks, etc). Thus we don't have many gals out here cycling. :(

[mimitabby]

well, i don't know where you live, but the next step is to network and try to find other women who like to ride. go to your bike shop, put notices on TE, craigslist, etc...

There's got to be SOME women besides yourself!

[sundial]

I'll check with my LBS to see if they have any chick rides. It'll be a drive, but if I want a Girls Only Ride, guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go. ;) :p :rolleyes:

[tulip]

I'll check with my LBS to see if they have any chick rides. It'll be a drive, but if I want a Girls Only Ride, guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go. ;) :p :rolleyes:

Or start one!

[Mr. Bloom]

This area is a bone of contention between DH and I as well...

Here too!

Some day, I hope to keep up with Silver:D

[SlowButSteady]

I am ALWAYS dropped.

Always.

And usually riding in mixed XY and XX groups. Even the short, slow-looking XX's drop me.

I checked my speed the other day sprinting on a flat: 25 miles per hour. I can sustain 20+ for awhile.

Of course I average, uh, 10mph less than that (if not less).

Good thing I'm happy riding alone.

Someone always waits on me or calls to check on me...I'm never really more than a mile or two behind them.

It is quite discouraging to never SEE the people you think you're riding with.

[Mr. Bloom]

I checked my speed the other day sprinting on a flat: 25 miles per hour. I can sustain 20+ for awhile.

Of course I average, uh, 10mph less than that (if not less).


Depending on conditions, that's really pretty good!

Sounds like you're choosing groups that stretch your limits...and that might be a good thing.

[AutumnBreez]

Well, we do have rides like that in my cycling club. If I know I'll get dropped, I don't go on those rides. Or, if I know I'll get dropped... I make sure I know the route back home so I'm fine on my own.

It sounds like you me that you are FAST! If I were with a group going 26 mph... well, I wouldn't have even been up there with them! :o

Keep at it, and maybe you will keep up with them and not get dropped at some point. Or... maybe you can find a buddy who is your speed and who will do the ride with you?

I say she is FAST too. 26 is not slow mo- Think that they are going faster to build their ego's. If this WOMAN can keep up we need to push to go even faster/harder--mentallity. Don't think they don't do this.

[sundial]

My goal is to zoom to 30 mph and keep up with the big dogs. ;)

Slowbutsteady, I don't know why you'd get dropped--you're pretty zippy. :)

[Crankin]

This is why I choose the groups I ride with very carefully. I am riding for fitness, but also for FUN. I always seem to be between groups in terms of ability. When I ride by myself or with my husband, my average is between 15.5 and 16.5 if it's not too hilly. However, there are always hills where I ride. I can't get home without riding up 2 pretty big climbs. I can sustain 18-22 for awhile, if it's really flat, but like I said, no place here is really flat.
Riding with my husband forced me to improve for the first few years. Now he is happy to ride at my speed and gets his faster rides when he commutes to work. I am too fast for the "slow" groups and when I have gone on rides that advertise a 15-16 average, it always feels fast to me, even though it doesn't feel fast when I am alone. However, I find that I can out climb a lot of the riders on these rides; I am a downhill weenie and that brings my average down.
I don't do well when I am constantly trying to keep up with others; it doesn't make me stronger, it just makes me angry and feel like I am weak! I can compete with one person, but a whole group, no.
Of course, I have to make myself remember that most "regular" people think that what I do is crazy and that I am fitter at 54 than I was 10 years ago.

[Natasha]

My husband and I have addressed the speed disparity difference (he is much faster) by riding a tandem. We like it so much that we rarely get out on our singles anymore. We can each push as hard as we want to and always have someone to ride with and talk to.

[KSH]

I say she is FAST too. 26 is not slow mo- Think that they are going faster to build their ego's. If this WOMAN can keep up we need to push to go even faster/harder--mentallity. Don't think they don't do this.

OH completely. Men always get very competitive when a woman can keep up with them.

I always say, "If you want to see a man ride faster... let a woman pass him."

It happens all the time on the bike trail I ride. I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.

[Mr. Bloom]

Men always get very competitive when a woman can keep up with them.

I always say, "If you want to see a man ride faster... let a woman pass him."



I hear ya'...but I also think men get competitive when anyone passes them...

Depending on the guy, they may be racing to catch up as a form of "playing the field" because they found a woman with impressive abilities.

Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc

[Starfish]

Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc

Mr., you know I love you and I'm happy you're here. :) But give me a break...we know this (well, I guess I shouldn't speak for everyone here...I know this).

[Geonz]

SOmebody had to defend the dudes ;)

There is a different chemistry.
Have you considered growing yhour own? There's a reasonably good chance that there honestly are women who *would* ride if there were a supportive community. I am *always* running into the "I wish I did it more" crowd, and while a mess of 'em are just whining and don't really have any intention of changing, others... welp, others have come out on that Saturday Saunter ride that I lead... on the Gazelle or the Xtra cycle, going ouit for half an hour or 45 minutes of "peppier" riding before the ride... then the odd intervals and pushing the heavy bike along mean I'm getting further training on the Saunter.
We also have a really neat women's ride that's fast... but simply not testosterone-driven. It ain't that that's a bad thing - it's just different. (and this town's got about 100,000 people and about 200 of 'em are in the bike club... but there's been years of effort to make the club welcome at the entry level.)

[shootingstar]

\I don't do well when I am constantly trying to keep up with others; it doesn't make me stronger, it just makes me angry and feel like I am weak! I can compete with one person, but a whole group, no.
Of course, I have to make myself remember that most "regular" people think that what I do is crazy and that I am fitter at 54 than I was 10 years ago.

I don't enjoy the sensation..of trying to keep up with many others.if it was a regular group ride..it feels to me, like being forced to conform/to keep pace with Joneses.... Like you Robyn ,it creates unnecessary self-disgust/anger inside myself which lowers cycling love. I am certain I wouldn't have stayed on the bike for so long, the past 17 yrs., if I spent the majority of cycling time in group riding.

Usually my partner is riding ahead...it can get complicated because he doesn't like to cool down when waiting for me at a turn or top of a hill somewhere... but he's able to do lots of riding in past few years on his own while I'm at work (early retired, but now he's starting up a biz ....cycling consulting...this is another story..:rolleyes: ) and when we're together on bike (though not side by side), he might cycle round a loop a few times to "meet" up with me. If it's a route we're familiar he'll kinda ignore me and pump it out. If I didn't do enough solo cycle, I suppose I would be bothered. But I'm not. Hey, we don't have a car...so in the end, we will meet at the finish line..at a store, park, etc. :D

On loaded bike trips, I tell him how much of a beetle he looks like way out on the horizon.. As along as I can see where he's going in strange/new, unknown areas...even if he's 1-3 kms. ahead of me.

There is no way we would cooperate on a tandem. We rented a tandem once..I sat behind and hated it. I am 5'1", he is 5'10".

He is the sort of person who isn't bothered if a woman passes him.

I have led group rides which have taught me: a)I'm a somewhat impatient person b) not as sensitive of other cyclists as I thought I would be since I'm not a fast-pacing cyclist. This alone, I think I still have enough to learn..:confused:

[Crankin]

You sound like me, Shooting Star! There have been several times when I've been leading or sweeping a group ride, that I am annoyed... of course I keep a smile on my face and no one would know.
I have found 2 groups that I like to ride with and I think it's because I am one of the better riders in the group. One group can get pretty quick at times, but they always stop and regroup. Plus, I have found that living on a hill has advantages because I am usually one of the first to reach the top of a climb. But, I still enjoy riding with just 3 or 4 other people most of the time.

[Tuckervill]

I'd like to hear more about your Saturday Saunter ride, Geonz....I'd like to get more people involved in cycling (especially women) and group rides,and that sounds like just the thing.

Karen

[Pax]

I'd like to hear more about your Saturday Saunter ride, Geonz....I'd like to get more people involved in cycling (especially women) and group rides,and that sounds like just the thing.

Karen

I've been one of those sloooow folks who show up for Geonz's ride, she does a fantastic job of keeping it at the advertised pace and making everyone feel welcome. That ride is one of the primary reasons I got back into riding, it was safe and well lead so I felt like I could just focus on riding the bike, not having to pay attention to the route or where to stop is wonderful when you're starting out.

[sundial]

I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.

Yeah, it's the same with driving too. :rolleyes:


Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc

Um, *intelligence* didn't come to mind here--more like a woman's landscape ;) :p


...and this town's got about 100,000 people and about 200 of 'em are in the bike club... but there's been years of effort to make the club welcome at the entry level.

I live in a town of 3200 people. I have yet to see one woman on a bike here. 2 of my friends are *kinda* interested in riding but they don't even own a bike. :( I've got a spare bike and that I plan to set up for whoever wants to ride with me. :)

Tuckervill I'll bet you have access to some clubs over there in your progressive neck of the woods. The closest we have is Jonesboro--an hour away. Wish you lived closer so we could ride together.

[Tuckervill]

Lewis & Clark is setting up a cycling team/club. Brand new. There's a L&C store in Little Rock, now, but probably not one in your neck o' the woods.

I've been doing the Saturday newbies group ride at the Rogers store, and hanging out on their forums a little. The team/club is seeming to focus on racing and mountain biking, so I'm hoping to be a voice for the normal people. ;-) When I asked about club cut jerseys, it went over like a lead balloon.

You should google the Arkansas Bicycle Coalition. I'll bet you'll find some folks.

Karen

[sundial]

When I asked about club cut jerseys, it went over like a lead balloon.

LOL! http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/scared/scared0012.gif (http://www.ladies-shoes.biz/ladies-shoes/63889-1.html)

[Geonz]

I"ll write more later, but a beginner's ride is a bit of a challenge primarily because you always have to assertively address the genuine culture clash between the different needs of different kinds of riders. YOu've got rank beginners, and hten folks who *think* they're rank beginners but have forgotten what it was like to honestly, really average 10 mph, and then folks who like to go 40 miles at 13 mph, and sometimes somebody who's intimidated by the fast group but 'way too fast for us... but usually that's a problem that fades.
And some days are much better than others ;D
Most important message I preach is to "keep coming back" because if you're the onlly beginner this week... but next week it's a differnet only beginner... you'll never know that there really were 12 of you out there. Fortunately for me, when I joined about 9 other 'saunter types' joined so we had our own kind of critical mass, but when it was only one or two of us and most people were faster, I kept saying "but we have to keep coming back, so we can grow!" and it worked.

[indysteel]

SOmebody had to defend the dudes ;)

I may get totally shot down for this, but I've really had more issues with competitive women than with men. The men I ride with are generally very supportive. In contrast, I've had a number of incidents with the stronger women that I ride with who act like they have something to prove, not just to the men in the group, but to the women as well. And I stopped riding with a friend who never failed to remind me that she was faster than me. I got sick of hearing it.

That said, I actually don't think it's a male or female thing. The truth is that some people make better riding buddies than others. For me, gender isn't necessarily the issue. I don't mind riding with a strong group if I know they will have my back if I start to peter out, and I avoid riding with people who'd rather outdo me than stay together.

At training rides, I have no expectation that anybody will stay with me because it's not a "no-drop" ride. If I get dropped, I get dropped. I don't always like it, but I also see it as a challenge to be proud of myself even when I don't perform as well as I'd like. When I first started doing the trainer, I got really frustrated because I couldn't always keep up, but I then tried to change my attitude about what success and failure means with respect to my biking and overall fitness. Any day I take care of myself--even if taking care of myself means riding easy or resting--is a success. Even if I can't keep up, I'm still working harder than the millions of people sitting on their couch!

That said, there are days where I'm not in the mood to go out hard, so I skip the trainer and ride with a kinder, gentler group.

[Tuckervill]

I just volunteered to be the Women's Riding Development coordinator for the new club that's starting.

I hope to get my man Max, who has so eloquently taught me the basics of group riding, to get involved with the newbie riders I hope to attract.

I also hope to sponge off all you ladies who have done this before. I'm a pretty good leader in general--good at herding people, hearing people, and keeping the momentum going forward. Hopefully those skills will transfer to this new endeavor.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Oh, and I am SO going to steal that name--Saturday Saunter! It just says it all. We live far enough apart as to avoid stepping on toes, don't we? :)

Karen

[Pax]

Way to go Tuck!!

I hope your friend will help out, my memory of the slooow ride was Geonz going back and forth the length of the group encouraging/chatting/answering questions, while a very experienced rider in the club set a 12mph pace. It was an excellent way to learn pacing (I tend to go 18mph...then10...then20...then 10, it was great having someone hold the pace at a perfect speed), he was like a metronome!

[shootingstar]

I may get totally shot down for this, but I've really had more issues with competitive women than with men. The men I ride with are generally very supportive. In contrast, I've had a number of incidents with the stronger women that I ride with who act like they have something to prove, not just to the men in the group, but to the women as well. And I stopped riding with a friend who never failed to remind me that she was faster than me. I got sick of hearing it.

That said, I actually don't think it's a male or female thing. The truth is that some people make better riding buddies than others. For me, gender isn't necessarily the issue. I don't mind riding with a strong group if I know they will have my back if I start to peter out, and I avoid riding with people who'd rather outdo me than stay together.

At training rides, I have no expectation that anybody will stay with me because it's not a "no-drop" ride. If I get dropped, I get dropped. I don't always like it, but I also see it as a challenge to be proud of myself even when I don't perform as well as I'd like. When I first started doing the trainer, I got really frustrated because I couldn't always keep up, but I then tried to change my attitude about what success and failure means with respect to my biking and overall fitness. Any day I take care of myself--even if taking care of myself means riding easy or resting--is a success. Even if I can't keep up, I'm still working harder than the millions of people sitting on their couch!

That said, there are days where I'm not in the mood to go out hard, so I skip the trainer and ride with a kinder, gentler group.

Well said, indy. Some people personality-wise are just better riding buddies...meaning at least they stay in your sightline, if it isn't paceline.

You are so right, about taking care of yourself and being proud of one's own achievements to keep on riding...to keep fit and happy!

[pinkychique]

my last saturday's ride was like that, we were on a fairly long climb - it's 4-6% for about 5 miles, and well at the beginning i wasn't going that fast - needed to get moving, but this man passed me, and rode up to the rest of my group(my bf and a guy friend). my guy can climb like NO OTHER, so i knew that he wasn't going to be with my guy for long, and sure enough, the man got dropped by them, pooped out, and i go flying past him after my legs warmed up, and ooohhh you could see the steam coming out of his ears!!

as soon as we got to the flat, it turned into a balls-to-the-wall sprint fest since another male stranger caught up with us, and well we couldn't let that happen, now could we? :rolleyes:

it was fun, but boy was i sore!!! i don't remember what we were going but it was fast....:D

[Jiffer]

I haven't had a lot of opportunity to ride with our club because of scheduling conflicts. However, I haven't made to much of a point to try, either, because I figure I'll just get left in the dust anyways. Yet, I discovered our club had a new women's only ride every Sunday afternoon. I tried it last weekend and was excited to actually be among the faster riders. We stopped a million times to wait and then one gal and I got so far ahead, we missed a turn and lost the group all together. I made a point to hook up her (exchanged phone numbers) and she almost went on a beach ride with me and another girlfriend of mine the next day, but couldn't make it. The point is, one group is too fast, the other is too slow, so I worked at making my own group of women riders. I also find sucking other girlfriends into riding helps! (I just snagged a new one who bought a bike yesterday. :D Woo hoo!)

[ehirsch83]

my last saturday's ride was like that, we were on a fairly long climb - it's 4-6% for about 5 miles, and well at the beginning i wasn't going that fast - needed to get moving, but this man passed me, and rode up to the rest of my group(my bf and a guy friend). my guy can climb like NO OTHER, so i knew that he wasn't going to be with my guy for long, and sure enough, the man got dropped by them, pooped out, and i go flying past him after my legs warmed up, and ooohhh you could see the steam coming out of his ears!!

as soon as we got to the flat, it turned into a balls-to-the-wall sprint fest since another male stranger caught up with us, and well we couldn't let that happen, now could we? :rolleyes:

it was fun, but boy was i sore!!! i don't remember what we were going but it was fast....:D


Pinky, were you doing the casino climb on tramway?

[ehirsch83]

I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.
.


Is there any chance though, before you think that these guys are just being arrogant, that maybe they are doing intervals? There could be a very logical reason behing why they zoom past you later.


Also, a lot of people use group rides as training rides. Which means that a lot of them, unless run by a social club where people are there to chit chat, won't have a drop policy- it is up to you to keep in.

I know there are some cycling clubs down here where their rides are grouped off into speeds and they are no drop rides, but the members have to sign waivers and pay a fee to be part of the club(i think).

Most of the other rides, including those I partake on, are drop policy free and are FAST. If you can't hang, to bad keep working till you are strong enough to be there for the whole ride. A lot of people aren't out on the bike to piddle around, the majority of them are out to train.


And remember, if you do decide to start with one of these rides and see how long you can hang in, one way to make sure the guys(and girls out there) will like you better in the end is when you start to feel yourself dropping off move over, don't allow a gap to form between the person ahead of you and the guys behind you- it will really make them mad if they have to bridge a gap and do extra work when they are trying to be smart with their energy.

p.s. one last thing about the girls seeming to be worse towards other girls then the guys. I find that it is more that as a girl, I have to work twice as hard to prove myself. If I drop off and create a gap, those guys are going to never want to ride behind me. They will also try to use me- they will try to not pull through when I pull of, or not let me back into the paceline. It is hard for them to see a girl still hanging in when you know they are hurting, I have to work my butt off to grab a wheel and stay there. And that means I am not a social person on a ride- if I try to talk, I will lose that wheel a lot of the times, so I will probably come off as being rude- but it isn't meant htat way, it is just ride time is business time and most other girls out there I know are the same way as me. I will talk to you before the ride and after, but on the ride there is no place for socialization.

[Fredwina]

I haven't had a lot of opportunity to ride with our club because of scheduling conflicts. However, I haven't made to much of a point to try, either, because I figure I'll just get left in the dust anyways. Yet, I discovered our club had a new women's only ride every Sunday afternoon. I tried it last weekend and was excited to actually be among the faster riders. We stopped a million times to wait and then one gal and I got so far ahead, we missed a turn and lost the group all together. I made a point to hook up her (exchanged phone numbers) and she almost went on a beach ride with me and another girlfriend of mine the next day, but couldn't make it. The point is, one group is too fast, the other is too slow, so I worked at making my own group of women riders. I also find sucking other girlfriends into riding helps! (I just snagged a new one who bought a bike yesterday. :D Woo hoo!)
For that one I usually ride over, do the ride, and ride home.
Yes it tends to be slow riders. I figure that way I can I can get in workout and help out some new riders - I get about 30 miles that way ;)
The Saturday rides probably could stand some more slower riders, but it seem be in a "chicken or egg" situation. I.e. No wants to come out and get dropped, but we can't build the slower riders unless we have a base.
it make take some compromise on you all part to find a riding partner. I was think about his yesterday (sorry about being late). One of our older club member hadn't been on the bike for while,and I was moving on down Baseline road(about 20 mph). He complained about the pace, so I dialed it back a bit

[smilingcat]

talking about getting dropped. reminds me of a story from my brother-in-law. He has a training rides with his club. A young "punk" shows up and kept disrupting the training ride by going out too fast instead of customary 10-15 minute warm up run. And during pace line, he would surge out front instead of maintaining the training speed.

My in law and his buddy decided one day to let the boy surge out way ahead. then they changed their training route by turning onto some other road. They didn't see the boy the rest of the day. Happy riding I guess... He thought it was funny. I said the group was being mean...

So you could get "dropped" out front.

smilingcat

[kelownagirl]

talking about getting dropped. reminds me of a story from my brother-in-law. He has a training rides with his club. A young "punk" shows up and kept disrupting the training ride by going out too fast instead of customary 10-15 minute warm up run. And during pace line, he would surge out front instead of maintaining the training speed.

My in law and his buddy decided one day to let the boy surge out way ahead. then they changed their training route by turning onto some other road. They didn't see the boy the rest of the day. Happy riding I guess... He thought it was funny. I said the group was being mean...

So you could get "dropped" out front.

smilingcat

I did that to my dh once... :o:rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

So you could get "dropped" out front.

That's okay (and appropriate IMO) on an informal ride, but if it's an organized club ride with a designated leader, policies usually dictate that the leader has to go after the rabbit, so that s/he can make sure everyone finished the ride. A rider with that very habit is one of the reasons our Wednesday ride leader resigned at the end of last season :(:mad:

[PscyclePath]

That's okay (and appropriate IMO) on an informal ride, but if it's an organized club ride with a designated leader, policies usually dictate that the leader has to go after the rabbit, so that s/he can make sure everyone finished the ride. A rider with that very habit is one of the reasons our Wednesday ride leader resigned at the end of last season :(:mad:

Depends on the club rules and "generally accepted practices"... Several clubs have a general rule where if you pass the ride leader and sprint off past the horizon, you're no longer part of the ride and are wholly on your own after that. Our group (Arkansas Bicycle Club) hasn't discovered the concept of cue sheets just yet, so I've used some of these instances last year as a teaching point, and taken the pack off to a parallel, but different road for better scenery or less traffic.

Outside of learning to ride in a racing peloton or practicing race tactics, your average club ride is intended to be a social occasion where we share our enjoyment of this marvelous sport. In Magnuson's book, Heft on Wheels, his friend Saki always admonished, "Ride together."

Add together the fact that a pack of cyclists quickly succumbs to groupthink like a school of fish, and successful ride leading becomes nearly a black art...

[SadieKate]

Yep, the 3rd time you zoom out in front of the ride leader and you miss the turn? We're not chasing you down and your rescue and return factor is now entirely up to you. When we count noses at intersections/turns, the total has just dropped by one nose.

You get one freebie no matter what. You get a 2nd because I'm just too much of a mother-hen guilt ridden sort. The 3rd time, you're on your own.

I have no problems with people riding in front of the ride leader, but only if they stop at all the intersection that we've agreed to AND they know how to get to that intersection.

[SadieKate]

That's okay (and appropriate IMO) on an informal ride, but if it's an organized club ride with a designated leader, policies usually dictate that the leader has to go after the rabbit, so that s/he can make sure everyone finished the ride. A rider with that very habit is one of the reasons our Wednesday ride leader resigned at the end of last season :(:mad:
Sorry, but I think that even on an organized club ride a repeat offender should be allowed to "drop" themselves off the front. The group isn't dropping the offender, the rider is doing to the dropping him(or her)self.

Good ride leaders are far too valuable a resource to waste.

[indysteel]

Our weekday training rides, which are sponsored by the club and do have a ride leader, are marked so you can ride at whatever pace you want, although the expectation is that you stay with the group (there are actually at least two groups at most rides, one faster than the other). If you pull ahead or get dropped, you're on our own. The ride leaders will sweep the course if someone doesn't return to the parking lot within a reasonable time. There are multiple training rides, however, around town on any given day. Some are more "maternalistic/paternalistic" than others. The more they cater to the racers in the club, the less likely that anyone will care if you stay with the group.

When I ride more informally with a group of friends, we stick together. I've never known anyone to sprint off and I've never known us not to slow down if somebody starts to struggle.