I'm having a dilemma re:Century Ride this weekend and group

[jobob]

I don't want to ride the century by myself, but I don't want to hold the rest of the group back.

I know if we ride together they will wait for me, but I don't want to put them in that situation if they want to go at a faster pace, and I HATE having them wait for me.

Thoughts??? Opinions???

Well ... perhaps one or two others in your group might also not feel up to going full out. At least then you'd have someone to ride with.

If not, seems to me you will either need to ride it by yourself, or your group will have to wait up for you.

Or maybe you could sweet-talk someone who's not doing the ride into giving you a lift over the hills (that's farfetched, I know).

I see this is your first post. Welcome to TE.

[OakLeaf]

There are stronger and weaker riders in every paceline, and everyone has bad days now and then. No one will think it rude if you take only token pulls (i.e. peel off as soon as you get to the point). Surely you've seen people do that in your training rides with this group.

But if you don't feel up to sitting in, how big a ride is it? Is it the kind of ride where you will always have someone to ride with, even if it isn't who you started with?

Is it only a century, or are there shorter distances you could do?

[idak]

When I set out on a long group ride I always know there's a good possibility I'll ride part of it, maybe even a lot of it alone because I ride with people faster than me. I plan on enjoying being by myself and I know if I keep my own pace I can finish. I learned this the hard way this past Feb. trying to keep up with my group on a double century. I pushed too hard and had nothing left by mile 160.I was much smarter on the next one I did a month later. I rode my pace and finished by myself and had a very exciting ride trying to navigate alone in the dark&rain. So, my advice is do the ride. Make clear to your group that you prefer to keep your pace and don't want people hanging back waiting(that always makes me tense).Enjoy the scenery and your bike and finish strong.

[Grits]

When someone I ride with has not been well, I always offer them the option of only drafting that day. I don't think your group would have a problem with that, and if they, do, well...maybe time to find a new group. Just address the issue up front so everyone knows what to expect.

[radacrider]

Back in the day, we never climbed hills at the same rate. We did regroup at the top, though. We had some really strong riders who would hammer to the top and then come back down to give encouragement and support.

So, like the others have said, let the group know ahead of time and talk about how the group will deal with hills.