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

[Deagol]

I was once almost forced into an oncoming car going up a climb on a group ride. The guy on my right was pushing me to the left (towards the oncoming lane) because he didn't want to "give up his position" and he was actually drifting left as well to get around a slower rider on the right so he could presumably win the imaginary KOM at the top of the climb ???
I was trying to move right for safety reasons and just as we neared the crest of the climb, a car flew by in the other direction. If he had pushed me over the yellow line, I probably would have been clocked by that car. This guy was oblivious to the situation he put me in. I have not done a group ride since then.

Most of the road riding I've done has been solo and I never used to have conflicts with cars, since there was just one of me and the cars didn't have to move over or anything. However, I've been harassed twice recently by drivers who were probably taking out their frustrations from other cyclists on me, since I happened to be there. I am definately not defending these drivers at all.. quite the opposite... but I do think I know why they were being such jerks. The group ride dynamic does not lend itself well to riding on roads open to traffic.

 

[Boeing]

don't you know who i wannabe?

for the record the OP was actually a reply to the "complaint" thread in
General.

Martin318 took it upon himself create a thread for me to pull me to the front. He wannabe me too. However i would have worded the title differently.

carry on your turn at the front

 

[usedtobefast]

for the record the OP was actually a reply to the "complaint" thread in
General.

Martin318 took it upon himself create a thread for me to pull me to the front. He wannabe me too. However i would have worded the title differently.

carry on your turn at the front

no way

 

[biokemguy]

The group ride dynamic does not lend itself well to riding on roads open to traffic.

+1

After trying a couple group rides here in SoCal I'm convinced the two(public roads and group rides) don't mix.

Many of the riders have a 'we own the road' mentality when we're supposed to share the road.

On one particular ride the group was turning left from a red light and went around a car on both sides preventing the driver from proceeding straight through the intersection.

 

[Boeing]

OK so is it appropriate to blast Group Mountain Bike rides here too? seems to be a ridiculous trend here in socal sponsored by a few bike shops. look for the memo at The Path and take that day off. jeeeezzus h crimany

40 people at the flag pole talking above the luge about their bikes an looking at each others gps and high fiving gag me. what your gps? on a local loop? like there is another route up harding. then half of them are on long travel bikes and bounce up the trail and impossible to pass come on. dude that bike is cool and cooler in the back of a truck climbing

then there are the OC Riders telling each other how great they are at wahoos all the damn time

 

[Boeing]

why do newbies still insist on blowing snot rockets when you hold their wheel as the make lame attempt to break away? I can think of no better reason to throw down after foodpark

 

[ElChingon]

why do newbies still insist on blowing snot rockets when you hold their wheel as the make lame attempt to break away? I can think of no better reason to throw down after foodpark

For the same reason supposed seasoned riders think they need to shot a snot for a world distance record while in the middle of the pack, just shot it straight down or on their front tire and its fine, but no lets get everyone a stream of their snot.