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

[Deagol]

....... Anyone familiar with the Durango ride?

Not really, but I did it once in the mid '90s.
Todd Wells was there, before he was well known, on a mountain bike, (can't remember if he had slick tires or not) keeping up very easily.... incredible..

 

[VeloFidelis]

In November of 2002 Ivan Basso came to Boulder with Giancarlo Ferretti to visit their Fassa Bortolo clothing sponsor and re-negotiate their contracts. While they were there Ivan was asked, and agreed to be a model for the PI fall clothing catalog. He also agreed to go out on the "lunch ride" with some employees, which is a daily event usually comprising 6 to 10 riders, maybe a dozen on a good day.

On the day of the ride, a few minutes before noon, there were 25 to 30 Boulder locals circling around the parking lot in anticipation of riding with a future Tour contender. The temperature was low 40s, yet most of these guys were dressed for July, maybe some arm warmers and a vest or two. The obvious expectation was a punishing ride with Basso. But who was going to punish whom was the open question.

About 10 past noon Ivan strolls out of the building with a borrowed bike, and wearing just about every piece of winter clothing the PI made. From skull cap to neoprene booties there was no skin except his face exposed, as the group rolled our into a stiff Boulder breeze. A few hours later I was in the men's locker/bath room when they returned. The conversation was generally of disillusion and disappointment of riding tempo and freezing for a couple of hours behind Basso, not at all what had been expected.

A day later I had a chance to speak with Basso about it. He was very gracious, and chose good Italian over marginal english and answered through an interpreter. To paraphrase, he basically said: "I get this stuff all the time". As a pro, he is expected to ride with sponsors, and friends of sponsors, and friends of friends of sponsors. Everyone wants to measure themselves. At best it's amusing, and at worst it is dangerous. The Boulder ride was fun, but he has no interest or need to ride that hard in November, at altitude, in the cold. At that time of year he rides to the weather; if it's cold, ride harder to warm up. If you break a sweat, slow down to stay dry. Risking his health by going hard in November could set back his Tour program for July.

When I ride in larger groups these days, with some guys I may not know, and the testosterone levels rise needlessly (yes, even 60 somethings still do it), and bone head moves are being made, and fate in being tempted... I just settle in close to the back with some trusted companions who all get the joke. We shake our heads and wonder, and I think of Ivan Basso and his "tranquillo" attitude, and just enjoy the rest of the ride.

 

[Boeing]

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

there is track standing and then there is track stand guy

 

[Boeing]

In November of 2002 Ivan Basso came to Boulder with Giancarlo Ferretti to visit their Fassa Bortolo clothing sponsor and re-negotiate their contracts. While they were there Ivan was asked, and agreed to be a model for the PI fall clothing catalog. He also agreed to go out on the "lunch ride" with some employees, which is a daily event usually comprising 6 to 10 riders, maybe a dozen on a good day.

On the day of the ride, a few minutes before noon, there were 25 to 30 Boulder locals circling around the parking lot in anticipation of riding with a future Tour contender. The temperature was low 40s, yet most of these guys were dressed for July, maybe some arm warmers and a vest or two. The obvious expectation was to punishing ride with Basso. But who was going to punish whom was the open question.

About 10 past noon Ivan strolls out of the building with a borrowed bike, and wearing just about every piece of winter clothing the PI made. From skull cap to neoprene booties there was no skin except his face exposed, as the group rolled our into a stiff Boulder breeze. A few hours later I was in the men's locker/bath room when they returned. The conversation was generally of disillusion and disappointment of riding tempo and freezing for a couple of hours behind Basso, not at all what had been expected.

A day later I had a chance to speak with Basso about it. He was very gracious, and chose good Italian to marginal english and answered through an interpreter. To paraphrase, he basically said: "I get this stuff all the time". As a pro, he is expected to ride with sponsors, and friends of sponsors, and friend of friends of sponsors. Everyone wants to measure themselves. At best it's amusing, and at worst it is dangerous. The Boulder ride was fun, but he has no interest or need to ride that hard in November at altitude, in the cold. At that time of year he rides to the weather; if it's cold, ride harder to warm up. If you break a sweat, slow down to stay dry. Risking his health by going hard in November could set back his Tour program for July.

When I ride in larger groups these days, with some guys I may not know, and the testosterone levels rise needlessly (yes even 60 somethings still do it), and bone head moves are being made, and fate in being tempted... I just settle in close to the back with some trusted companions who all get the joke. We shake our heads and wonder, and I think of Ivan Basso and his "tranquillo" attitude and just enjoy the rest of the ride.

great story man

word

 

[oldborn]

It is great to read different opinions and story about group rides. Here, we do not have posers on group rides, simple as that. Answer lies in road bike scene which is going down last 10 or so years.
Posers anyway ride expensive MTB with talas, reba, cranckbrothers, xtr components with flat pedals on road.
Ours group rides often consits up to 30-35 riders, with some ex pros, club riders, triathletes and anyone who like a ride. So those strong guys like sometimes Matija Kvasina 28th in Geelong, takes work up front, and rest of the (clever or just not feeling good, or lack of form) guys are saving legs.

But i do not like that kind of rides and i am allways willing to do some small work up front just for a 2-3 minutes but it counts.
Genneraly i see those strong guys on the start, and at the cofee shop at the end, cos they are gone on first hill which is arround 30-40 minutes away. But you can still and allways find someone to ride on shorter course then they ride. Strongest riders rides about 100-110 km, and others 70-80km or so.

It is a great way of learning stuff, i will never forget the picture of one of the pros when descending at some danger speed he was driving no hands and trying to put jacket on

 

[Boeing]

I will say that trying to stick the line following wheel of a quality DH rider on shuttle runs is a learning experience. and most those dude wait up and regroup. damn hippies

 

[craig1985]

Hey Boeing, if I make it over to Socal one day, we'll have to go for a ride But yeah, I hate going out on group rides and you have blokes riding hard, but will never put on a race number come the weekend.

 

[Berzin]

My favorite time was when a couple of guys pulled up next to me and chastised me for not taking any pulls at the front.

My response was, "I've been at the front the whole time-the back of the front".

 

[fatandfast]

Just met a team w all 4's . 1 guy on the team has had a result or 2 even though it was unneeded to move from 5 to 4. They have a frame/parts and clothing sponsor. I was almost unable to contain my laughter listening to inner-ride discussions and not one of the guys have ever won a race. You can look, act, talk like pros as long as you have a facebook page and website that says team..they looked at me like I was from Mars when I ask if they were targeting any specific races..it became clear that racing is not the main goal it's looking like a racer that is paramount. The USAC is shooting themselves in the foot w the new rules about teams within a club. The old mandate of every team needed to stage an event even if it's just a TT or night at the track is the best way to grow racing allowing people to have pro4 teams without any of the pesky work of putting on a race is BS. More teams and less racing is bad for grassroots cycling

 

[Kimono]

Work in NYC and we've had an icy, snowy, cooooold miserable winter. I'm amazed that everyday there are bike messengers out and about on ratty fixed gear bikes, going about their job and seemingly oblivious to the horrible conditions. I'd like to see Track Stand Guy and coffee shop Cat 5 hang try to keep up with those guys for just a day!

 

[ozerulz]

Just met a team w all 4's . 1 guy on the team has had a result or 2 even though it was unneeded to move from 5 to 4. They have a frame/parts and clothing sponsor. I was almost unable to contain my laughter listening to inner-ride discussions and not one of the guys have ever won a race. You can look, act, talk like pros as long as you have a facebook page and website that says team..they looked at me like I was from Mars when I ask if they were targeting any specific races..it became clear that racing is not the main goal it's looking like a racer that is paramount. The USAC is shooting themselves in the foot w the new rules about teams within a club. The old mandate of every team needed to stage an event even if it's just a TT or night at the track is the best way to grow racing allowing people to have pro4 teams without any of the pesky work of putting on a race is BS. More teams and less racing is bad for grassroots cycling

will someone tell me where I can get a frame/parts sponsor as a cat 4/5. wtf? I ride an old db interval with downtube shifters.

 

[durianrider]

I often go out wearing my 'go vegan' kit on my dual suspension mountain bike with full knobblies and blow the doors off the local 'too kool to say gday' bunches. I mean getting dropped by a guy on a dualy is one thing but when your getting dropped by 'the vegan' thats another!

I mean Ive literally turned bunch rides into the 'world champs' cos crew dont want to let me pass em up the climbs.


These are the rules I ride by.

#I make an effort to say gday to everyone I pass/see.
#Im often the first to the top of a climb so I go back down and push the last rider if they want a push.
#I will also go to the front and tell the dudes to take it easy if its a group bunch ride that is known as an easy bunch ride. Lots of riders dont know how to ride easy on easy days and they need someone to remind em what easy is.

 

[soOpOSMthanks!]

Blah, blah, vegan, buh, buuh, buuuuh, vegan, vegan, vegan, reh, reh, reh, vegan. We get it; now get off your pedestal.

 

[TexPat]

I often go out wearing my 'go vegan' kit on my dual suspension mountain bike with full knobblies and blow the doors off the local 'too kool to say gday' bunches. I mean getting dropped by a guy on a dualy is one thing but when your getting dropped by 'the vegan' thats another!

I mean Ive literally turned bunch rides into the 'world champs' cos crew dont want to let me pass em up the climbs.


These are the rules I ride by.

#I make an effort to say gday to everyone I pass/see.
#Im often the first to the top of a climb so I go back down and push the last rider if they want a push.
#I will also go to the front and tell the dudes to take it easy if its a group bunch ride that is known as an easy bunch ride. Lots of riders dont know how to ride easy on easy days and they need someone to remind em what easy is.

100% powered by turbo charged flatulence.

 

[Oldman]

Just met a team w all 4's . 1 guy on the team has had a result or 2 even though it was unneeded to move from 5 to 4. They have a frame/parts and clothing sponsor. I was almost unable to contain my laughter listening to inner-ride discussions and not one of the guys have ever won a race. You can look, act, talk like pros as long as you have a facebook page and website that says team..they looked at me like I was from Mars when I ask if they were targeting any specific races..it became clear that racing is not the main goal it's looking like a racer that is paramount. The USAC is shooting themselves in the foot w the new rules about teams within a club. The old mandate of every team needed to stage an event even if it's just a TT or night at the track is the best way to grow racing allowing people to have pro4 teams without any of the pesky work of putting on a race is BS. More teams and less racing is bad for grassroots cycling

You are so absolutely right. But this is where cyclists can take the authority away from USAC, the UCI. Oregon did it years ago after doing all the work and sending checks to the Weisel machine. USAC was forced to allow OBRA to exist and licensed riders to participate in their races. It can be done.

 

[Boeing]

I often go out wearing my 'go vegan' kit on my dual suspension mountain bike with full knobblies and blow the doors off the local 'too kool to say gday' bunches. I mean getting dropped by a guy on a dualy is one thing but when your getting dropped by 'the vegan' thats another!

I mean Ive literally turned bunch rides into the 'world champs' cos crew dont want to let me pass em up the climbs.


These are the rules I ride by.

#I make an effort to say gday to everyone I pass/see.
#Im often the first to the top of a climb so I go back down and push the last rider if they want a push.
#I will also go to the front and tell the dudes to take it easy if its a group bunch ride that is known as an easy bunch ride. Lots of riders dont know how to ride easy on easy days and they need someone to remind em what easy is.

Gooday mate. The problem duri is you always wait to say gooday when I am anaerobic.

toss me a banana now and again

 

[Boeing]

My favorite time was when a couple of guys pulled up next to me and chastised me for not taking any pulls at the front.

that's when you know its gonna be a good ride and you are going to hurt. trick for me was hang on in the early surges then just when they back off take a turn . repeat

 

[Boeing]

Hey Boeing, if I make it over to Socal one day, we'll have to go for a ride But yeah, I hate going out on group rides and you have blokes riding hard, but will never put on a race number come the weekend.

well ok but I am not even as cool as I post....

 

[rhubroma]

For the uptight, safety-obsessed, order fanatics, etc., who demand "civilized" pace lines and get their ire roused anytime things don't go according to the script: I recommend coming to Italy and learn how to ride a bike.

And enjoy the liberation and spontaneity that comes with controlled chaos...

 

[DirtyWorks]

Just met a team w all 4's . 1 guy on the team has had a result or 2 even though it was unneeded to move from 5 to 4. ...The old mandate of every team needed to stage an event even if it's just a TT or night at the track is the best way to grow racing allowing people to have pro4 teams without any of the pesky work of putting on a race is BS. More teams and less racing is bad for grassroots cycling

The point of the USAC organization is to promote/develop UCI's product at the expense of anything that may stand in the way. Wanna-be teams fit the goal of promoting the UCI's product very well. This is why independent promoters are still growing well.

To put it in terms Weisel might understand, promoting grassroots racing is not in their mission statement.

Anyone that's made it past the enthusiasm phase will thoroughly enjoy Tim Johnson humiliating a never-gonna-be in this video. http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage...the-Masters-World-Championships-of-Cyclocross

 

[Boeing]

For the uptight, safety-obsessed, order fanatics, etc., who demand "civilized" pace lines and get their ire roused anytime things don't go according to the script: I recommend coming to Italy and learn how to ride a bike.

And enjoy the liberation and spontaneity that comes with controlled chaos...

be careful with quotes

anyway I think the point here in socal and boulder is less the order and more the unearned arrogance.

which might apply to posting on the internet as well

how do you say "just say'n" in Italian?

 

[rhubroma]

be careful with quotes

anyway I think the point here in socal and boulder is less the order and more the unearned arrogance.

which might apply to posting on the internet as well

how do you say "just say'n" in Italian?

Sto solo dicendo.

 

[Boeing]

Sto solo dicendo.

in socal that would roughly translate as "simon ese"

 

[runninboy]

For the uptight, safety-obsessed, order fanatics, etc., who demand "civilized" pace lines and get their ire roused anytime things don't go according to the script: I recommend coming to Italy and learn how to ride a bike.

And enjoy the liberation and spontaneity that comes with controlled chaos...

Ahhhh i remember controlled chaos, it is called a cat 3 race. all you do is sit because no matter what there are gonna be some idiots who will chase anything that moves including breaks with their own teammates. One of my favourite hobbies in my younger days is sitting towards the back and yelling things like
"go go cover that!'
" left side is making a move" and watching the surges that would inevitably follow.
It is quite a handy skill to perfect when you are racing outside your district and have no teammates. You just yell things like"don't let him get away" and the idiots will chase for you. then you take a solo flyer in the km after doing no work. Suddenly there is no one yelling and you get a nice gap
Unethical maybe but tons of fun!

 

[ethnik]

Our group "club" rides are far more civilized affairs than anything being described in this thread. The Saturday morning "easy cruise" ride at 28-30kph is just that, with experienced ride leaders/team members running the show.

No-drop is the policy. If there are any stallions who want to roam free, we invite them to do hill repeats and circle back to encourage/help pace the newer riders and/or those with less fitness. Thus far it has worked a charm.

Our faster, twice weekly hard-tempo ride for team members, while good natured and hit with mild doses of testosterone from time to time, is also no-drop after hills. Do your thing, cruise at the top or circle back for hill repeats and heckle the sprinters in the grupetto good-naturedly. We all stay together on the flats, and we are all intelligent enough to peel off and do our own thing if our workout requires a different set of parameters. No hard feelings.

I'd like to think that most group rides out there behave in an intelligent, thoughtful and adult manner - clearly from what some of you are experiencing it's more like king of the castle or british bulldog on the playground in grade school!