Opinion needed re: group riding

[aicabsolut]

That's so obnoxious. I've been in groups where that would happen. I've also been in the same groups where the group would decide to let a couple of people keep going OTF without responding and instead just keeping the ride going as per usual. The third scenario is that a couple of guys will throw in their own sprint point (that no one else knows about), and then the group gets shattered but like the more organized sprint points, there is an immediate regrouping.
I'd hope that this guy would realize that he's not only shattering the group but he himself is blowing up (when he goes to the back). I'd be tempted to give him a talk on group ride etiquette. But then if you've been with this group for a long time and are buddies with a lot of the faster people, maybe you could mention to some of them instead that they just let this guy go because it's ruining the ride for all but the strongest riders. This is the off season after all. If he's out there in no man's land without any challenges enough, maybe he'll get the picture. If not, well, you don't really want him in your group anyway so let him just hang out there 50 yards in front until he blows.

[Misandal]

I agree with aicabsolut. That is obnoxious. If you all agree to go back to just sprinting where you did before, and regrouping, let him go off the front all by himself. Either he'll quit jumping or he won't be part of your group.

In any event, it definitely needs to be addressed because your group ride is no longer enjoyable for you and probably not for others, either. Somebody just needs to bring it up.

[smilingcat]

Agree totally obnoxious.

Nex time he does that, let him go OTF and the group should NOT respond to his attack. Let him disappear. Who cares, he's doing his own thing.

My brother-in-law had a guy like that for a while on his training group. The guy went wayyy out. The group then took a different route as pre-planned thing and never saw him for the rest of the ride.

Another etiquitte (sp), big no-no is recovery rides and typically the Friday rides. Don't you dare attack. It is supposed to be a recovery day. easy ride. My brother-in-law and his boy were agressive in more ways than one when it came to ill mannered riders.

And "hanging back with the girls" , if he said that to me after he blew himself up, he'll be lucky that I don't throw something into his front wheel.

just my 2 cents.

[Bluetree]

^^^ + Everything Smilingcat says!

(Well, except for the brother-in-law part. I don't have a BIL.)

[bmccasland]

Funny new guy (rude new guy) needs to have a talking to. And if he sprints off, watch him go. If he wants to ride with the group, then he needs to honor the group's "rules".

I like the idea of taking the next turn too.

Have you talked to the other riders in your group, to see how they feel about FNG's riding skills?

[li10up]

The thing is that this isn't a new guy. He has been riding with this group for a couple of years. It's just that now that he is stronger he does this sort of thing. The fast guys and girls in the bunch just can't let him go...I guess it's an ego thing. I know that a couple of others feel the way I do but none of us want to say anything. The guy is pretty condescending to the women riders...acting like he has to protect us, tells us where to ride behind him to get the draft (like we don't know anything), won't ever let the girls pull on the fun sections of the route, etc. Saying something is probably futile because I think this may just be part of his personality and I do think of him as a friend even though some of the things he does/says gets on my last nerve!

[7rider]

The thing is that this isn't a new guy. He has been riding with this group for a couple of years. It's just that now that he is stronger he does this sort of thing. The fast guys and girls in the bunch just can't let him go...I guess it's an ego thing. I know that a couple of others feel the way I do but none of us want to say anything. The guy is pretty condescending to the women riders...acting like he has to protect us, tells us where to ride behind him to get the draft (like we don't know anything), won't ever let the girls pull on the fun sections of the route, etc. Saying something is probably futile because I think this may just be part of his personality and I do think of him as a friend even though some of the things he does/says gets on my last nerve!

Sounds like the group is ready to split into an A and B ride.
A for the chest-thumping ego-maniacs who want to rip the legs off each other.
And B for the rest of the people who remember the joys of a group ride and its own inherent challenges.
Run that one up the flag pole and see who salutes the idea.

p.s. I find that guys on a group ride fall into one of three categories: (A) they hit on you, (B) they ignore you, or (C) they act like they're your big brother and are out to protect you.