Dropped him on a club ride

[hirakukibou]

Okay. We were on this hill and another woman was ahead of me and a guy was ahead of her. She starts to tease him saying that he is too far ahead to do her any good and could he pull her. He says, isn't it always that way, the men pulling the women. This gets me. I say to her, we've got to drop him. She tells me to knock him on the head as I go by. I pass her and him and summarily drop him. He makes a comment about how he is getting his butt kicked. I glide into the next stop before him. It's amazing what a little ire toward sexism does. (It was only my fourth club ride or so. I guess I am getting more confident!)

[Dianyla]

Isn't it fun to pass guys when they're pissy and having a little chauvinist tantrum. If it's a normal healthy male with respect for women, then you can just take turns pulling.

[Trek420]

what's that saying? "men of quality appreciate women of equality" ?

Let's hear it for the TE guys.

[KSH]

Isn't it fun to pass guys when they're pissy and having a little chauvinist tantrum. If it's a normal healthy male with respect for women, then you can just take turns pulling.

Unless it's your boyfriend and you are on day 2 of riding 133 miles for the MS150... ... and you keep going up hills and he hates the fact that you can make it up the hills faster (but then again, you have 2,200 miles on your bike and he has 800).

And, I tried to help him... by pulling some of the way into the headwinds... but everytime I tried (and I kept the same speed)... he would not draft off me and dropped so far behind I had to stop pedaling.

Yea... it was NOT FUN on day 2 of our ride. It took all I had to keep my patience and not blow up on him... but I tried to understand his ego struggles... and I kept it together while I made sure I didn't pass him if I could help it.

[Aggie_Ama]

Not that he gets the joy very often, but my husband loves when I pass him or pull him. He is generally a much stronger rider, but he likes that I at least try to pull my weight. It is usually slower than his preferred speed, but faster than the pace he thought I needed.

Generally, I spend the time looking at his rear. At least it is a nice view.

There are times when I drop people riding by myself and it is typical for the men to blow up their legs just to pass me. I guess they can't handle getting beat by a girl.

[Bike Goddess]

The women have the advantage on the uphill grades, the men have the advantage on the downhills! Has something to do with body mass!

[bikerchick68]

too funny... I remember one time my ex and I were out riding and he was being a jerk... I got mad and THAT was my fastest ride to that point yep, a little adrenalin goes a looooong way

on my first century ever, there were two guys ahead of me who were struggling... I could hear them arguing about who was gonna pull... so I shot up to them and asked if they needed a draft... they were SO done at that point that they gladly and humbly accepted. I kept it at 16mph for 'em Those two drafted me for almost 7 miles to the next SAG... they only had 8 miles after that to go... I always wondered if they made it in....

[CR400]

I'm so proud of the men on my team/club they will pull me around without a problem. And they are more then willing to let me pull when I am able to. Most of them are so much stronger then I am. I was ave. 21 and they stayed right behind me until I blew up. I was fine with the pace but I suddenly got a stomache cramp that stopped me cold. I tried to latch back on but the cramp was so deep and bad I had to slow down to like 12mph for 3 or 4 miles. My legs were ok I just suddenly hurt, then after it let up I resumed my original speed. I hate to be passed by guys I know I can beat.

[Kitsune06]

I doubt any woman here can defeat me in a bike race. I have never been defeated, humiliated, and embarrassed by a woman and never will be. I'm pretty sure that guy was letting you pass so you could feel good.

Remarkable!

Gosh, L.A. I'm so deeply impressed I'm tingly all the way to my cleats. Do tell me how you manage to fit that big head of yours into your helmet?
To be passed is not to be defeated, humiliated, nor embarrassed unless your glass-fragile ego is so easily damaged.

It's a pity more men can't get the 'Riding as a Woman' experience... where the other gender can fairly easily pass you and will smirk about it at will. It might temper their attitudes and make them more gracious riders.

[rocknrollgirl]

I was in a mt bike race last Sat., and I passed a ton of guys, but one sticks out in my mind...

I yelled on your left, and he looked back and said " I don't know where you think you are going"

In my mind I said....passing you bucko.....

And then later I went to pass two guys and they would not let me by....I had to get a little "strong" about it....speed up or step aside!

My DH said that there is nothing worse for most guys than getting passed by a girl. He thought it was great that I was..."that girl" at the race. Especially since he has worked with me to get faster....

Representing all 40 somethings everywhere!!!!!!

Ruth

[SouthernBelle]

I yelled on your left, and he looked back and said " I don't know where you think you are going"

You should have said, "by you, a**hat"

[pooks]

Newbie question here --

When someone is pulling, can they tell the diff? Does it slow them down? I understand the theory of drafting but not the reality.

[RoadRaven]

Hey there pooks - the person that is out in front cannot tell if they are drafting unless they look behind them. There is no "drag" effect, if that is what you are asking.

It is very easy to drop someone when you are on the front - particularly if they are a slower rider, or are tired. Hence glancing back every now and again, and checking if you are doing the right speed for them.

In a race situation, you tend to work together at the same speed but in a training ride, you should be riding at the speed of the slowest people.

[NJBikeGal]

Hey there pooks - the person that is out in front cannot tell if they are drafting unless they look behind them. There is no "drag" effect, if that is what you are asking.

It is very easy to drop someone when you are on the front - particularly if they are a slower rider, or are tired. Hence glancing back every now and again, and checking if you are doing the right speed for them.

In a race situation, you tend to work together at the same speed but in a training ride, you should be riding at the speed of the slowest people.

While this is true, I do find that there is a certain "mental drag" that occurs when you find yourself dragging somebody else's butt for many miles. I remember doing a ride the 1st year I had a bike with a guy who worked at my LBS and had been riding for years. The whole 17 miles back on our loop, he sat behind me, dragging. I was getting so angry that he wasn't pulling his weight, even when I tried to get him out front, that it actually felt like I was pulling him!!! In the end it payed off...now I can kick his butt!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there NJ - I agree... the mental thing of someone sitting in behind without doing any work can be a bit of a 'drag'.

I do it for my youngest sons, so no worries, my partner does it for me, no worries - the strongest rider is in front, and we use these as "motor-pacing" riding exercises.

However. In a race situation when someone just sits in behind, or when they take their turn on the front and they slow everything down - well that just infuriates me. And to know you have this guy sitting on your wheel while you do all the work... its infuriating... and tactically you have to let it feed your legs, not mess with your head... its hard.