is it just me???

[KSH]

Well, it all depends on the situation.

For example, when my boyfriend and I go to a bike rally together, I know that he won't ride with me. I'm fine with that. I hate him slowing down to wait for me. I let him go ahead and if he wants to wait at rest stops, fine. If not, then we can meet at the car at the end. At our last bike rally, we took turns leaving the other one. At times I was faster and other times he was.

Whereas for the Hotter N Hell bike rally last year, Heidi and I decided to stay together. She would pull us and I would pull us (although we slowed down when I was in the lead!). We agreed to stick together and did just that.

And recently I met a lady to ride around a local lake. We rode around the first time, and it was obvious that I was faster. I was willing to stop and wait so she could catch up, but after the 1st time around, she told me it was fine if I went ahead and didn't wait for her. Now, I know when I say that, I mean it. In fact, I get annoyed if someone doesn't go ahead when I tell them it's OK. So, I went ahead.

I left a note on her car when we left (I had to get home for homework) and e-mailed her twice after the ride, but she never responded. So, I think she was upset with me for going ahead (mind you, it's a safe path, and a 10 mile loop. If we had been riding on city streets I never would have gone ahead).

[bmccasland]

I agree with the gang - communication is key.

Fast guy should have said he likes to ride fast. Or at least now all of you know he rides fast and he probably doesn't care how you feel if you can't keep up. Not-quite-so-fast guy now knows his friend will leave him in the dust if he can't keep the pace.

I train with all classes of riders from the office after work a couple of days a week. I'm not so fast, and have left slower-than-me riders after a few miles - it's on the levee bike path, so safe. Generally the group rides 18-20 and the pullers are quite capable of going faster. BUT they help us train by slowing some and making us work. A nice compromise. Bascially I hang for as long as I can, and then announce I'm toast or that I need to stop and let my lungs catch up. On the MS training rides or the MS 150, the faster guys get to go fast to their heart's content, as there are plenty of riders in my group for me to hang with. AND at the end, the fast guys (freshly showered devils) have gone to fetch beer and treats for those of us middlings that are just getting in.

[bikerchick68]

thanks for all the replies... it was good to get this feedback.

on the day WE rode, he had told my brother to tell me to bring my bike so we could ride... knowing I am slower than him and STILL dropped me... I was pretty specific about the pace I could keep, so it annoyed me.

I don't know for certain, but my impression was that on Sat ride, the slower of the 2 believed they drove 3 hours down here to ride it more or less together... but I didn't specifically ask him as it was not my business.

All that being said, as I mentioned I am a social rider, not a racer, so for me the expectation is that I'm gonna be on the bike at some pace or another Sometimes faster, sometimes slower depending on who's along... but it's my personal goal to never leave others in the dust on a social ride...

I DO agree tho, that if someone tells you to go, they should MEAN it... telling you to go ahead and then being huffy about it is no good at all!

thanks again for all the responses... sometimes I need to hear other points of view!

[smilingcat]

When I ride wih a friend or in a group, I stay with the group. Otherwise why bother. Am I impressing by dropping people? well I think its pretty rude when it is supposed to be a group ride.

If the guy said, "I'll join for the group ride" then promptly drops the group, I think he has some serious personal issues (ego).

And the other is "Its okay and go on ahead" and later is huffy about it, well they should never have offered it. Say what you really mean cause I can't read your mind. I hate this mind game...

Anyway, I'm on the same mindet as everyone else. On a social ride, I like to stay with the group. I like to kibbitz.