Quote Originally Posted by ehirsch83 View Post
I think you need to ask the ride leader if this specific ride has a no drop policy. If it does, then they should wait up for you, if it does not have a no drop policy, then unfortunately the majority will win.
I think that's great advice. Our local club training rides do not have a no drop policy. There are ride leaders, but they do not take responsibility for staying back with the slowest of the group. The course is marked and they have maps if you need one. Otherwise, you're on your own. The group doesn't typically slow down to regroup although when it first started up again this season, the ride leaders would often hang back and sweep the stragglers up (like me). We now typically have discernible A and B groups, but even they have people who fall off somewhere along the way.

My point in sharing that is that if your ride leader didn't want to wait for people, there are ways to structure and lead the ride such that he wouldn't have to hang back. So, if your ride has a no drop policy, then take advantage of it; that's what it's there for. As a beginning ride, I would expect it to have such a policy. If you're uncomfortable with repeatedly holding Max back, try to memorize the route or map it yourself and tell him that it's okay to leave you. My guess is that Max likes the fact that you keep coming back; it means he's likely doing something right. Frankly, it sounds to be like the faster, experienced cyclists are the ones who are creating the issue, not you and/or your son. They really should be encouraged to just start a few minutes earlier if they're not really part of the ride.