Question about general ride etiquette

[SadieKate]

So difficult to guess without having been there. Why do you think full-kit guy was fitter than you?

[GLC1968]

So difficult to guess without having been there. Why do you think full-kit guy was fitter than you?

Mostly because he looked it. Plus, he obviously rode the first half of the ride at a much faster clip than us, because he told us that he had a blow out at mile 10 or so and had to borrow a tube from someone, and yet he caught up to us.



At first, we totally thought he was serious about his 'thank you'...but the more we thought about it, we both started to wonder if he was giving us a hard time. We ride alone a LOT, so we thought we must have broken some unspoken rule or something....

I guess it is possible that he was legitimately thanking us.

Edited to add: He was in full kit, but it was obvious that it wasn't a brand new look for him. You could see that his clothing wasn't newly purchased even though it was all matching and he was riding his old bike (a nice cannondale) while his new one was in the shop for something.

[SadieKate]

Sounds like he had a blowout from overdoing it for the first part of the ride. You caught him on the hills. Don't worry about him. It's not that big a deal. Drafting is a two-way partnership, if there is even acknowledgement of the partnership. The person in front needs to be sure the people behind are staying on, but the people in back have equal responsibility to tell the person in front if a gap opens.

Grog put it very, very well. And don't let appearances fool you into thinkig the person is fitter or more skilled than you. Observe and watch first.

[Grog]

The person in front needs to be sure the people behind are staying on, but the people in back have equal responsibility to tell the person in front if a gap opens.

And the person in the back is not very likely to admit there's a gap if they think they're fitter than you. They'd rather slug away in silent pain and shame in the back!!!

Definitely do not worry about it!!

[bcipam]

I always tell this story... when I was membership director for my bike club, it was my job to go around and greet each new member/rider. So one Saturday this guy shows up. I checked his bike and equipment. He is riding a very expensive bike with full Campy Record, wearing Assos clothing (a full kit) and wearing the $200+ Atmos helmet and those $400 Sidi shoes. He looked fit. He asked me which ride should he do. I looked at the short, medium and long rides and told him the long of course. It was a good route.

About 15 miles into the long ride, I was, as always sweeping in as last and I found him sitting on the curb under an freeway overpass. He looked just beat. I pulled over and asked if he was OK. He told me he was just wiped out. This was the longest ride he had ever done. What? it was only 15 miles (the ride total was 43). He then told me he just got the bike lat weekend and this was his second ride.

Moral: You cannot judge a book for its cover and a $8,000 bike and $1000 in gear and clothing don't a good biker make!

Sounds like you were cordial and nice to the other cyclist. I have a feeling he was alittle frustrated getting lost and all. Not your problem. He could have stayed with you.

[mimitabby]

Great Story BCIPAM!


It makes sense to me too, the guy started off way too fast and wore himself out!

[Geonz]

I would also say the odds were he was thanking you for pulling him in - tho' impossible to say for sure.

Since he used that phrase, that adds to the evidence that he's got at least some experience. You rode together for a good chunk of the ride. I think most people are the "silent-communication" types (and could learn a little from Grog )... If he had expected you to hang back and pull him all the way in, then I think he'd have been hanging back for you, earlier. It sounds like he was appreciating the bits of help along the way, really, because
a: he was worn down bcause he was riding his slower bike and having to work harder,
B: he had had to ride extra because he kept missing turns (which was probably because he'd already fried himself going out too hard)
C: he probably didn't quite have enough to hang with you and at a certain point, yea, I know I just want to be able to have my own fits and starts and not make people wonder why I'm with 'em, then without 'em.

and D: remember, he was exhausted... so if his words sort of didn't *quite* make sense and no, you didn't "pull him in" as in all the way, but ... you did pull him through probably that really rough "will this *ever be over* part of the ride.