Article about group-ride think.

[Fredwina]

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/changing-road-group-ride-behavior
I found it thought provoking. I will say that I have not taken part in a group ride since I left CA. I knew NY was a short term thing, and after done having a 'hammer till you puke' ride in CA for 7 years combined with local groups, I let it slide.

[OakLeaf]

That is interesting. But posting it here on TE raises another dynamic. There are many reasons why I'm not currently riding with "that" particular group at the moment, but I think it would be extremely difficult for a woman to make an impression on the "alpha" riders about the need for road courtesy and safety ...

[Crankin]

I'd never be one to ride with "that group," but even in the more social group I ride with, we have had endless safety issues, meetings, etc. One day, I was driving to work, and an offshoot of my group was riding up a small hill in my town. One guy, who is a notoriously horrible rider (like an elderly person who needs his license taken away), was wobbling all over the road, scaring me to death. I called the coordinator of our group, and this guy got booted. I can just imagine how a non-cyclist would have viewed this.
I am a safety freak when I lead rides. Both DH and I have been known to yell "single file, please," in a stern tone, when we are on any ride, if people are being azzholes around cars.
I was surprised to see the name of one of the kids my son raced with in that article! He's a famous custom bike builder/racer now, only 29 years old. Sigh....

[Fredwina]

That is interesting. But posting it here on TE raises another dynamic. There are many reasons why I'm not currently riding with "that" particular group at the moment, but I think it would be extremely difficult for a woman to make an impression on the "alpha" riders about the need for road courtesy and safety ...
Yeah, it's hard. From personal experience, the only that gets respected is strength. I remember telling folks to wait at a regroup for weaker riders to make it, and having them pedal off.

[SheFly]

but I think it would be extremely difficult for a woman to make an impression on the "alpha" riders about the need for road courtesy and safety ...

Not necessarily. Sometimes it is the person with the loudest voice who gets heard. I ride with all kinds of groups, and am not afraid to let people know when they are not riding safely, or following good group riding practices. As a former president of the biggest bike club in New England, I was often sent messages about thing our club member were doing on the road, which ALWAYS solicited a club-wide email from me. If we don't speak up, even when we AREN'T the "alpha" riders, who will, and how will the behavior get stopped?

SheFly

[Crankin]

Exactly.