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.

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.

[kelownagirl]

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

[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. 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.

[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. 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.

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.

[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

[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.

[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.

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

[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. Woo hoo!)

[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. 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...