Hope Ride (Indiana)

[Kathi]

A couple of weeks ago I did the Sagbraw tour in Wisconsin. Here's some of the stupid things I saw riders do. On the first day a group stopped at a stop sign and blocked the entire lane. This was a 4 way crossing, it was at the top of a rise and they not only blocked me but the cars coming behind them. My only choice was to cross the yellow line into the oncoming lane and go around them or stop behind them. I stopped behind them and had to walk my bike to get around them. I heard later that week that a police officer warned riders about blocking the lanes and told them he would ticket them if they continued.

The same day a woman started drafting me. We were riding along the Lake Michigan shore on a bike path. She said nothing but no matter how I tried to drop her she stayed on my wheel. I don't draft and feel very uncomfortable with a rider I don't know so close to my rear wheel. Finally, I told her I was stopping and pulled over. She caught up to my SO and drafted him. It was very obvious what she was doing.

The next day a young guy passed my SO on the right with no warning. Later I heard him complain the hills were slowing his average speed.

There was a couple riding side by side taking the whole lane, talking away. They were oblivious to those around them so passing was difficult. This happens a lot on these tours.

Another day I went to pass 2 older men also taking the entire lane. I said "passing" but they didn't move over. I yelled "passing" again and they still didn't move over forcing me to cross the center line to pass them (visibility was good). When I passed the rider on the left yelled back "well, I'm not passing!" I took that as his excuse for not moving over.

My perspective on all of this is these are people who have not ridden on group rides and aren't aware of the dynamics going on around them.

Interestingly enough, by the end of the week these riders seem to disappear. I often wonder if they leave the tour or spend the last few days sagging.