We all... especially the "fast" club riders, tend to overestimate our skills in the midst of the joy of a fast paceline or club ride. And only a very little bit of inattention can get you into a lot of trouble. During the "training rides" for a charity event early this past summer, some of the local fast riders kept pushing the pace, and for about the last four or five weeks before the ride, they were putting one or two people in the hospital every week, all for little errors.

Sure, pro riders do that stuff all the time, but very few of us have the sort of expereince they do.