riding through May....National Bike Month!!!

[Crankin]

Well, I am always the sweep when DH and I lead, and when I lead with my friend Jack on rides for members. However, this is a ride for other leaders. There is a 15 and a 25 mile ride, but Jack (he leads the 25 and his wife leads the 15) didn't post any average speeds, so it wasn't entirely her fault. The thing is, this woman has been leading a lot longer than me; I would ask! He didn't post speeds this year, either, so hence, I want a decent ride. I can be patient with people who are within the range for a group (this is why we screen people on weekend day rides and longer trips, but not for weekly series, which are at night and very well described in terms of average speed), but no joke, I think my average was <10 on this ride last year. Some of it was the constant stopping for her to take pictures... in the town I live in, I was not amused, since it's a very popular route and can't believe she needed to take a picture of a place she's probably been a million times. I actually like being the sweep with DH, because we have a good system going, but I guess my expectations were different for a group of peers. Our liability rules require we keep the group together, and if someone wants to go ahead, or fall behind the sweep, we have to tell them they are off the ride. It sucks, but it makes being the sweep easier and people tend to be more honest about their ability. The point is to have fun.