Group Ride Etiquette Dilemma

[Eden]

I'm not going to disagree in general, but I don't think a steep hill on a group ride in heavy traffic is the place to learn new handling skills.

Personally, there is no way I could stay upright below about 2.5 mph, below about 40 rpm, above maybe a 12% grade. It's the strength input and the unfamiliar slope of the frame, rather than the speed per se, that makes it very difficult to stay upright under those conditions.

ummm yeah - and I don't think I suggested any of this... I was not saying that that particular ride was the time or place to practice this skill, nor did the OP say she was trying to go under 2.5 mph...

As far as etiquette goes - I don't think I've ever been on a ride where everyone expects to climb at the same rate... even on a no drop ride, its pretty standard to regroup at the top of hills.

I do think its good to learn how to handle your bike slowly, especially if you ride in groups. You may find yourself in a situation where you are blocked from going around slower people and you just have to deal with it. We had a new gal jump across the yellow line, when a car was coming, on a team ride and tell us it was because she couldn't climb the hill any slower...... She was lucky she didn't get hit, but still couldn't understand why we were so PO'd.

[aicabsolut]

I do think its good to learn how to handle your bike slowly, especially if you ride in groups. You may find yourself in a situation where you are blocked from going around slower people and you just have to deal with it. We had a new gal jump across the yellow line, when a car was coming, on a team ride and tell us it was because she couldn't climb the hill any slower...... She was lucky she didn't get hit, but still couldn't understand why we were so PO'd.

I agree. I hate having to crawl along when I'd rather just keep up my rhythm, but this kind of situation happens to me a lot in races (and sometimes on training rides, but we aren't as much of a roadblock then). The slower ladies just don't stick to the right, so either I need figure out a way to stay upright or I'm going over the yellow line. It kind of baffles me when I am one of the few running a compact, I am in my easiest gear, and I am still snaking back and forth behind the leaders trying not to slam into someone, but it happens a lot. And I don't even consider myself to be a strong climber.

As for the headwind, I don't think you did anything wrong, and it was certainly fine to move ahead to be the one pulling...but I don't think it was the nicest thing to then proceed to drop the others.

[WindingRoad]

Honestly I think you are worrying too much. If someone had done that to me I wouldn't have thought twice about it. Don't stress over it. If it was 'rude' most likely one of the other riders would have mentioned it to you. Not in a mean way but just to 'nicely' let you know it wasn't very cool. Obviously not the case though. Keep up the good work!

[fidlfreek]

Ok great opinions everyone. I DID wait at the top and then let everyone else decide when to take off. Also, the traffic wasn't really heavy, just annoying because they made a lot of extra "wind" when it was there. The shoulder was a full lane width, so basically no problems there. And the woman I normally ride with hooked me up the next day w/ another girl who she thought I would ride more similarly to.

I guess this is an issue of handling skills. Though honestly as a tiny person I can't every see myself becoming one to hammer up hills. I know there are many ways to climb - but in a situation like that I wasn't about to try to learn it all at once....

Thanks everyone for all the great advice!