Try-hard wanna-be's on group rides GRRR

[Boeing]

Perhaps I am just too old but it irritates the youknowwhat out of me that the mid week morning group rides are filled with dudes who like themselves a lot and ride it is a damn Crit. It just isn't safe to train in a group here. The unearned arrogance and the manner in which dudes now treat new riders or cars at the intersection does nothing for the sport. There is this sense of self importance like Just this false vibe fronted as a social identity has nothing to do with the sport. You know who I am talking about: Track Stand Guy at the intersection in a group no less

In addition it seems like one has to decide whether they are a roadie or a mountain biker now days. Vibe vibe and more lifestyle vibe. It doesnt help that the industry itself sells to the vibe. some of these roadie dude are kitted out at every level of their life style always talking about how they are "at the level". Cars have the decals with bike on top all day. Shorts a little shorter than the bib short tan line with sandals and a podium cap just hanging around the starbucks or Petes coffee wherever the ride starts and ends. Mountain bike dude has like a mile of travel and anodized bits to match the anodized bits and they seem to stand around alot looking at their bikes....together then off the the local mountain bike shop to talk about thir bikes some more

You know what I am going to show up to the next tempo ride with my bike in the back seat in baggys and a free ride jersey, long finger gloves, visor-ed helmet with platform pedals. the next mountain bike ride I am going full skin suit and roadie helmet on a rigid bike

Maybe it is just me but what happened to the ride?

 

[fatandfast]

Perhaps I am just too old but it irritates the youknowwhat out of me that the mid week morning group rides are filled with dudes who like themselves a lot and ride it is a damn Crit. It just isn't safe to train in a group here. The unearned arrogance and the manner in which dudes now treat new riders or cars at the intersection does nothing for the sport. There is this sense of self importance like Just this false vibe fronted as a social identity has nothing to do with the sport. You know who I am talking about: Track Stand Guy at the intersection in a group no less

In addition it seems like one has to decide whether they are a roadie or a mountain biker now days. Vibe vibe and more lifestyle vibe. It doesnt help that the industry itself sells to the vibe. some of these roadie dude are kitted out at every level of their life style always talking about how they are "at the level". Cars have the decals with bike on top all day. Shorts a little shorter than the bib short tan line with sandals and a podium cap just hanging around the starbucks or Petes coffee wherever the ride starts and ends. Mountain bike dude has like a mile of travel and anodized bits to match the anodized bits and they seem to stand around alot looking at their bikes....together then off the the local mountain bike shop to talk about thir bikes some more

You know what I am going to show up to the next tempo ride with my bike in the back seat in baggys and a free ride jersey, long finger gloves, visor-ed helmet with platform pedals. the next mountain bike ride I am going full skin suit and roadie helmet on a rigid bike

Maybe it is just me but what happened to the ride?

I am not sure how far south you are but I have done Wed rides as far north as Thousand Oaks and if you get more than 5 cat 3s under 27 riding together it's like a world championship. I have also ridden w some smokin fast mountain bike racers doing the needed speed work..guys riding road bikes will start belly
moaning because the guy is going as fast as them but doesn't have drop bars. When you are in SD county and there are a dozen 1 and 2 the lesser guns all have to prove that they have been grossly overlooked by the race officials..they jump anytime a fast guy gets out of the saddle..it's comical kind of in an ironic way. Cat 5s and 4s are starved for knowledge and it is life or death important for them to attend Wed morning race college..don't even start w Boulder

 

[Boeing]

I am not sure how far south you are but I have done Wed rides as far north as Thousand Oaks and if you get more than 5 cat 3s under 27 riding together it's like a world championship. I have also ridden w some smokin fast mountain bike racers doing the needed speed work..guys riding road bikes will start belly
moaning because the guy is going as fast as them but doesn't have drop bars. When you are in SD county and there are a dozen 1 and 2 the lesser guns all have to prove that they have been grossly overlooked by the race officials..they jump anytime a fast guy gets out of the saddle..it's comical kind of in an ironic way. Cat 5s and 4s are starved for knowledge and it is life or death important for them to attend Wed morning race college..don't even start w Boulder

dude Boulder Blows. although I get my *** kicked every trip there on a roadie usually by some guys who races XC SS training in the group ride who are off the back themselves so my talk here and game there are not on par. by the time we get to Lyons I want to strangle someone.. the only cool dudes I have met in boulder run that shop called The Fix. But we all arrived at the top together in shuttle

that said co Springs is a cool scene and the last time I was there the group actually Re-grouped for all. thought that was unique

share the vibe

 

[fatandfast]

dude Boulder Blows. although I get my *** kicked every trip there on a roadie usually by some guys who races XC SS training in the group ride who are off the back themselves so my talk here and game there are not on par. by the time we get to Lyons I want to strangle someone.. the only cool dudes I have met in boulder run that shop called The Fix. But we all arrived at the top together in shuttle

that said co Springs is a cool scene and the last time I was there the group actually Re-grouped for all. thought that was unique

share the vibe

sex may be your problem..there are lots of cool girls in Boulder also..they can climb and keep great speeds on what little flat roads are available. Look for rides that include women for civility . I love Co Springs..but I say love about 5 or 10 towns in Colorado. I found that altitude and big mountains did make me depressed being the last guy to the top most times. I also found people asking me things on climbs like"are you all right?"..and" is that a 26?" and one I have listened to since I started racing "we will wait for you at the top..ok?". The mountains make you both powerful and strong in equal measure. Once you adapt to the suffering rate most races are a walk in the park. As far as super fit and fast female riding people in Boulder..think snow shoes..and sporting goods..there are a couple of ex women racers in Boulder that shamed most men on any climb both then and now

 

[Boeing]

dude Boulder Blows. although I get my *** kicked every trip there on a roadie usually by some guys who races XC SS training in the group ride who are off the back themselves so my talk here and game there are not on par. by the time we get to Lyons I want to strangle someone.. the only cool dudes I have met in boulder run that shop called The Fix. But we all arrived at the top together in shuttle

that said co Springs is a cool scene and the last time I was there the group actually Re-grouped for all. thought that was unique

share the vibe[/QUOT

sex may be your problem..there are lots of cool girls in Boulder also..they can climb and keep great speeds on what little flat roads are available. Look for rides that include women for civility . I love Co Springs..but I say love about 5 or 10 towns in Colorado. I found that altitude and big mountains did make me depressed being the last guy to the top most times. I also found people asking me things on climbs like"are you all right?"..and" is that a 26?" and one I have listened to since I started racing "we will wait for you at the top..ok?". The mountains make you both powerful and strong in equal measure. Once you adapt to the suffering rate most races are a walk in the park. As far as super fit and fast female riding people in Boulder..think snow shoes..and sporting goods..there are a couple of ex women racers in Boulder that shamed most men on any climb both then and now

If I wanted to get beat by a chick Id go xc mountain biking with my wife. f that

 

[Martin318is]

Perhaps I am just too old but it irritates the youknowwhat out of me that the mid week morning group rides are filled with dudes who like themselves a lot and ride it is a damn Crit. It just isn't safe to train in a group here. The unearned arrogance and the manner in which dudes now treat new riders or cars at the intersection does nothing for the sport. There is this sense of self importance like Just this false vibe fronted as a social identity has nothing to do with the sport. You know who I am talking about: Track Stand Guy at the intersection in a group no less

In addition it seems like one has to decide whether they are a roadie or a mountain biker now days. Vibe vibe and more lifestyle vibe. It doesnt help that the industry itself sells to the vibe. some of these roadie dude are kitted out at every level of their life style always talking about how they are "at the level". Cars have the decals with bike on top all day. Shorts a little shorter than the bib short tan line with sandals and a podium cap just hanging around the starbucks or Petes coffee wherever the ride starts and ends. Mountain bike dude has like a mile of travel and anodized bits to match the anodized bits and they seem to stand around alot looking at their bikes....together then off the the local mountain bike shop to talk about thir bikes some more

You know what I am going to show up to the next tempo ride with my bike in the back seat in baggys and a free ride jersey, long finger gloves, visor-ed helmet with platform pedals. the next mountain bike ride I am going full skin suit and roadie helmet on a rigid bike

Maybe it is just me but what happened to the ride?

I know I am coming at this late - and it is a good general thread topic anyway but I thought I would mention that I know a pro that spends parts of his early base period riding a MTB with buckled knobby wheels in an old tracksuit to turn up at these types of groups one at a time. He then proceeds to target the "me,me,me" guys by doing things like waiting for them to roll off the front and immediately putting in monster multi-km turns to rip their legs off. He then goes missing from that bunch for a week or two before turning up to do it again.

I guarantee you'd like him - great friendly guy! and when riding with mere mortals such as myself will always happily ride at my pace - no questions asked

 

[flyor64]

Perhaps I am just too old but it irritates the youknowwhat out of me that the mid week morning group rides are filled with dudes who like themselves a lot and ride it is a damn Crit...snipped for brev

...that said co Springs is a cool scene and the last time I was there the group actually Re-grouped for all. thought that was unique

share the vibe

Granted it was 3+ years ago but the last scene I did regular group rides, I frequented two distinctly different weekely group rides, both with the same club.

The first one was on par with your first description. Dbags, elitists, racers, etc. (sidenote: Along the lines of what Martin said, I always enjoyed when my buddy, a genuinely nice guy and former collegiate racer, would take a pull and just blow the legs off everyone (myself included of course))

The second one was more along the lines of your CO Springs description, with two regroups; one after the "big climb/sprint" and one after the first "finish sprint" of the ride...followed by an easy conversational spin in to the parking area after second "finish sprint"

I bet you can guess which I rode most regularly...

Nowadays I commute during the week and go play in the woods on the weekends...not sure I can go back to that first type of group ride...

 

[ozerulz]

Funny that you guys refer to the COS ride. I recently took up cycling and learned how to ride from that group. I live here so that's the type of ride I am used to. When I went on vacation last year I took my bike and did a couple of group rides. eye opening. guys blow through red lights without looking, ride on the wrong side of the road around blind curves. The best part was rolling up to the "A" group and being told that I "should probably start with the b's" only to ride at the front of the A's all day.
On another note the local COS "track stand at the red light guy" was the one who rode up to me and taught me how to ride. Spent months teaching me. Track stand guy isn't always bad.
I have asked others in our group why/how the COS ride is different and the general response is the pros. there are a number of pros who ride in our group and if you get out of line or do something stupid they will let you know politely. Never seen a pro at our ride raise their voice to someone. pretty cool.
I have thought about doing other rides around the state but got the same reaction that yall are discussing here, that the other rides aren't as good. Anyone familiar with the Durango ride?

 

[Oldman]

Most group rides here do that, they regroup if there is an acknowledged, safe tempo section. They may further split into smaller groups for a longer loop that may include a hard tempo section but attacks are generally met with a good sense of humor. The guys that wheel suck and then sprint usually pay with much derision. We have several training race series that start in early March so you can try your hand at "racing" several days a week.

 

[runninboy]

I know I am coming at this late - and it is a good general thread topic anyway but I thought I would mention that I know a pro that spends parts of his early base period riding a MTB with buckled knobby wheels in an old tracksuit to turn up at these types of groups one at a time. He then proceeds to target the "me,me,me" guys by doing things like waiting for them to roll off the front and immediately putting in monster multi-km turns to rip their legs off. He then goes missing from that bunch for a week or two before turning up to do it again.

I guarantee you'd like him - great friendly guy! and when riding with mere mortals such as myself will always happily ride at my pace - no questions asked

That is great! I too have been put off by group ride macho bs here in Socal.I started as a newbie on the Simi ride and while it was hard guys like Thurlow ,Knickman, Tomac et al would regroup and wait. The other guys would tell me "hang on as long as you can cause we will regroup at least once, but when we hit the hills say goodbye, we all suffer and the guys at the front will chew up EVERYONE. that was basically the ride in a nutshell, to the best riders the first 50 miles was a social gathering, the last 20 was a race.
Nowadays guys want to show how great they are and eliminate the social aspect of riding by trying to drop people in the beginning of a ride.


Of course i am kind of the opposite. I hate people who think they are great. I hated it when i was a runner and i hate it as a cyclist. There was a group ride near my house that was famous for guys running red lights. It was full of cat 4 and cat 5 posers. SO periodically i would show up on my old non carbon frame with 8 speed and wheaties scwhinn kit and unshaven legs and just kind of, you know, take a hard pull, elevate the pace gradually so i gap the line. Eventually i would actually roll off and solo for a quarter mile so i could actually stop at the stop signs. So much fun, when the group would catch up i would pretend like nothing had happened. The funny thing was some of the guys who were not jerks started to join me in stopping at lights & signs. Eventually all the posers & idiots left the ride.

I always thought this was a Socal problem all the guys who think they are pros etc. But when i visit my parents in the midwest it seems like they have just as many posers as we do. So i keep a walmart helmet & old bike handy so i can "ride with the big boys" when i visit. I was amazed at how basically a small town ride (their tues night worlds has like 20 riders max)would just be one guy attacking after another to split up a group ride into ones & two;s 5 miles into the ride. What fun is that? So my revenge was to join in the fun, drop the guys roll to a corner where i knew the route was supposed to turn , get off my bike and feign ignorance when the "ride" catches up?
"Which way do we go now?"
A couple of the older riders know what i am doing and it gives them a chuckle. unfortunately i am getting kind of up there and will have to train pretty hard before i pull this bs on them again.

 

[Oldman]

Of course i am kind of the opposite. I hate people who think they are great. I hated it when i was a runner and i hate it as a cyclist. There was a group ride near my house that was famous for guys running red lights. It was full of cat 4 and cat 5 posers. SO periodically i would show up on my old non carbon frame with 8 speed and wheaties scwhinn kit and unshaven legs and just kind of, you know, take a hard pull, elevate the pace gradually so i gap the line. Eventually i would actually roll off and solo for a quarter mile so i could actually stop at the stop signs. So much fun, when the group would catch up i would pretend like nothing had happened. The funny thing was some of the guys who were not jerks started to join me in stopping at lights & signs. Eventually all the posers & idiots left the ride.

A couple of the older riders know what i am doing and it gives them a chuckle. unfortunately i am getting kind of up there and will have to train pretty hard before i pull this bs on them again.

That is how we've managed to keep the pacelines even, then regroup to gather stragglers. It keeps things even and the danger factor to a minimum. Guys that want to jump that protocol are allowed to go off and ride on their own. They get the idea when no one attempts a bridge and the ride suddenly turns a different direction...

 

[runninboy]

That is how we've managed to keep the pacelines even, then regroup to gather stragglers. It keeps things even and the danger factor to a minimum. Guys that want to jump that protocol are allowed to go off and ride on their own. They get the idea when no one attempts a bridge and the ride suddenly turns a different direction...

Its too bad more groups don't realize this, if u want to train on your own fine, don't endanger the group. Its funny when you introduce a little "how do you like it?" Peer pressure and a little time people will eventually put two & two together or move on.
"look at that idiot, everytime he takes a pull he ups the tempo, now we have half a dozen splits and people are turning around and heading home"
"Yeah he rides just like you do"

I was always pleasantly surprised that the best riders were always in favor of regrouping and encouraging th slowest riders to "hang in there"
it was always the fred's who wanted to split things up.
that's when i decided to become "alpha fred" walmart helmet, unshaven legs, old kit. long fingered gloves(on cold days gardening gloves) 15 year old bike with freewheel"yeah one of these days i am gonna try one of those cassettes" People laugh & mock until i beat them at there own game of stupidity. Then suddenly they want "camaraderie" on their rides...

 

[BikeCentric]

Ignore the posers.

If you are strong enough go to the front and ride very hard tempo to keep things even and discourage people from repeatedly attacking and breaking up the group. There will always be several others at minimum who want to do the same and will work with you.

If you are not strong enough to do that find a better ride until you are!

I think pretty much every community has an "A" ride that is always frequented by jerky jerks who bark and whine at each other. That's bike racing, it will always attract a special kind of jerk.

 

[Elagabalus]

... that's when i decided to become "alpha fred" walmart helmet, unshaven legs, old kit. long fingered gloves(on cold days gardening gloves) 15 year old bike with freewheel"...

Alpha-fred? Freewheel? Wait a minute! I know you! You must be that "Time-Traveling T-shirt-Wearing Retro Fred from the Planet Tri-Dork" who's been on the cover of all those magazines! Chapeau, Sir!!


I kid, I kid

 

[dolophonic]

Yes its a love hate affair the "Group Ride" sometimes they can be great sometimes its like WTF ?
When there is a lead out train of cat 4's sprinting to beat a couple of older riders its going a bit ott !
Thurlow was missed this year at Simi for sure..

 

[the student]

Tell them they should spend the effort trying to get dropped riders back to the group... I sometimes do that just drop back and help riders to get back to the bunch... most will appreciate it very much and are glad they can get in your wheel... just give them a steady pace and most will be fine.

 

[For The World]

I just wish that people knew how to ride in a group here. In Centennial Park in Sydney, there's a really nice, flat 3.7km circuit, and the road is one direction only. No oncoming traffic. Also, it's split into two - left side for the cyclists, right side for the cars to go through. Awesome.

However, every day, without fail, there's always dudes cruising in the car lane. No wonder drivers despise cyclists sometimes - even when we're given an entire lane, we still don't use it. No, they aren't avoiding slower riders, they're just being idiots.

Don't even get me started on guys who blow through lights. Sure, I might get hit from behind one day, but every red light they go through infuriates other drivers and cyclists, and makes us look just that much worse.

Then there's the guys who ***** and moan at people who tag along for a little bit on the back of their group. If I have someone sitting in behind me, I'll see how far I can wind up the pace before either he or I pops. It's fun.

Ugh. I love cycling, but I hate the attitude.

 

[Berzin]

Ladies and gentlemen, please stop whining about the obnoxious cycling brethren you share group rides with and just chill.

The most wonderful aspect of riding a bike is the solitude it affords you to get away from people like the ones some of you have described.

Enjoy the outdoors and the health benefits of the sport-let the speed demons with something to prove go on ahead. In a couple of kilometers they're out of view and you'll have the road all to yourselves.

"Serenity now..."

 

[Oldman]

Ladies and gentlemen, please stop whining about the obnoxious cycling brethren you share group rides with and just chill.

The most wonderful aspect of riding a bike is the solitude it affords you to get away from people like the ones some of you have described.

Enjoy the outdoors and the health benefits of the sport-let the speed demons with something to prove go on ahead. In a couple of kilometers they're out of view and you'll have the road all to yourselves.

"Serenity now..."

Yup..........

 

[TexPat]

De acuerdo amigos.
Go smash yourself alone. Or discover how weak you are...all alone. I do!
Somewhere wedged between testosterone and ego is reality.
And by the way, I suck...
And get aggravated almost every time I ride in a bunch.



Full disclosure: I ride in a bunch weekly. It is simultaneously nerve-racking and fun. The rest of the week, I'm the lone wolf.

 

[BroDeal]

"Serenity now..."

...insanity later.

 

[Elagabalus]

Full disclosure:... I'm the lone wolf.

Lone wolf?! Wait a minute! I know you!

And I've seen you in action


Sorry! It was laying right there what was I supposed to do ...?!

 

[runninboy]

Ladies and gentlemen, please stop whining about the obnoxious cycling brethren you share group rides with and just chill.

The most wonderful aspect of riding a bike is the solitude it affords you to get away from people like the ones some of you have described.

Enjoy the outdoors and the health benefits of the sport-let the speed demons with something to prove go on ahead. In a couple of kilometers they're out of view and you'll have the road all to yourselves.

"Serenity now..."

Sometimes people are "whining" to make others aware of a problem. Group rides can be fun and it is a shame that some new people to the sport have to suffer the effects of other peoples ego. As i have found many people on group rides are just "chillin" and allow idiots to take over the ride and ruin it, especially when the cops shut it down.
However when the "whiners" like me ask for a little democracy in the direction of the ride, the egomaniacs are out numbered.

Some people think it is easier to just ride on their own. I do over 90% of the time. However i do not think it is good for our sport to lose long established group rides to idiotic behaviour. Many times Thurlow & others saved the Simi ride from being shut down by the cops due to stupid rider behaviour. He could have just went his own way, but he put in the effort.
So you may think we are all whiners, but i see the issue differently.

 

[Boeing]

I know I am coming at this late - and it is a good general thread topic anyway but I thought I would mention that I know a pro that spends parts of his early base period riding a MTB with buckled knobby wheels in an old tracksuit to turn up at these types of groups one at a time. He then proceeds to target the "me,me,me" guys by doing things like waiting for them to roll off the front and immediately putting in monster multi-km turns to rip their legs off. He then goes missing from that bunch for a week or two before turning up to do it again.

I guarantee you'd like him - great friendly guy! and when riding with mere mortals such as myself will always happily ride at my pace - no questions asked

Dude; some years ago Brian Lopes showed up to a group training ride here with Steve Peat. Brian was regular back then and hammered us oe me anyway hard as nails. a lot of roadie dudes didn't know who Peaty was and he was in baggies. While Steve didn't exactly lead the surge he was fit and it was fun to hear guys try to explain who they thought he was during the ride

BTW did I start this thread? I remember the post but...o well I don't remember half of what I post anyway as you mods know....

 

[Polyarmour]

What's wrong with trackstanding at a red light? At least he stopped for it.