Hey all--
Wanted to throw this out there to those of you that regularly do group rides or have had lots of experience in the past with them.
Last night I went on one of the evening group rides for intermediate/slower paced riders (the Local World Championship "race" is Wed nights) with our local road bike club. This ride is billed as good ride to get in some miles. No racing. No drop (but not exactly slow).
I have been riding with this club all winter although this was my first ride with this ride leader. Generally what has happened on other rides with the club, no matter how fast, is that we slow/stop at a couple of spots to make sure any stragglers get back on with the group. Or the ride leader slows and picks up stragglers and bridges them up to the group.
Last night the group starts out and immediately splits because some of the group miss a traffic light heading out of town. Ride leader has no clue. Stragglers get back on on their own. No sweat, they are some of the club's stronger riders. We get out of town and onto some rural roads. Traffic is light, the group is paying attention and warning accordingly when cars are coming up on us.
First problem is is the ride leader is the only one sitting at the front. The pace is yo-yoing and instead of hitting the brakes/accelerating I and a couple of the other guys fall in to a second paceline next to the original. I try to start some friendly chat with said ride leader, and his response it to yell "single file, get back in the line." I'm thinking "whatever, dude, relax."
Eventually I get in on the back of the line and notice that we have a couple of folks struggling and are off the back. We are only about 1/3 into the ride so I did not want them to have to do a lot of riding on their own. I slow down and try and pull them back to the group. One of them jumps past after I slow down to them and bridges onto the group.
Meanwhile the group is plowing ahead. Ride leader oblivious that two of us are getting further and further off the back. No problem. I figured we would catch them all at the turnaround/re-group spot.
We set a good pace getting to the spot. I notice a couple in the group already heading back. The person I was pulling turns around early and gets on with one of the folks already on their way back.
Wow...maybe we were further off the back that I thought. No problem. I figure I'll check in with the leader and then head back.
I get to the check-in spot and there is NO ONE there. Damn. I guess I am riding back in by myself. I turn around and head back. Using my frustration to fuel my effort to catch the folks that turned around ahead of me. I felt responsibility (as a member of the club and it was their first time out with the club) to make sure they made it back safe and also frustrated that I would be riding back alone after working to try and keep the group somewhat together (no matter how futile). I did catch them before the end of the ride.
My question(s)...after the long winded wind up...is/are this, is it the responsibility of the ride leader to make sure the group sticks together somewhat or at least keep track of the weaker riders? Or is it ok to just leave folks hanging, they should know their abilities and not get in over their head. The only thing the "ride leader" seemed to want to do was to be the only one at the front of the pack.
What gives? Please wise ones of slowtwitcha, please impart on me the knowledge of group ride etiquette and ride leadership. Or tell me if I am off base and this is standard group ride protocol.
Embrace the suck--Anon.
Eagles Race Team--Napa CA
Wanted to throw this out there to those of you that regularly do group rides or have had lots of experience in the past with them.
Last night I went on one of the evening group rides for intermediate/slower paced riders (the Local World Championship "race" is Wed nights) with our local road bike club. This ride is billed as good ride to get in some miles. No racing. No drop (but not exactly slow).
I have been riding with this club all winter although this was my first ride with this ride leader. Generally what has happened on other rides with the club, no matter how fast, is that we slow/stop at a couple of spots to make sure any stragglers get back on with the group. Or the ride leader slows and picks up stragglers and bridges them up to the group.
Last night the group starts out and immediately splits because some of the group miss a traffic light heading out of town. Ride leader has no clue. Stragglers get back on on their own. No sweat, they are some of the club's stronger riders. We get out of town and onto some rural roads. Traffic is light, the group is paying attention and warning accordingly when cars are coming up on us.
First problem is is the ride leader is the only one sitting at the front. The pace is yo-yoing and instead of hitting the brakes/accelerating I and a couple of the other guys fall in to a second paceline next to the original. I try to start some friendly chat with said ride leader, and his response it to yell "single file, get back in the line." I'm thinking "whatever, dude, relax."
Eventually I get in on the back of the line and notice that we have a couple of folks struggling and are off the back. We are only about 1/3 into the ride so I did not want them to have to do a lot of riding on their own. I slow down and try and pull them back to the group. One of them jumps past after I slow down to them and bridges onto the group.
Meanwhile the group is plowing ahead. Ride leader oblivious that two of us are getting further and further off the back. No problem. I figured we would catch them all at the turnaround/re-group spot.
We set a good pace getting to the spot. I notice a couple in the group already heading back. The person I was pulling turns around early and gets on with one of the folks already on their way back.
Wow...maybe we were further off the back that I thought. No problem. I figure I'll check in with the leader and then head back.
I get to the check-in spot and there is NO ONE there. Damn. I guess I am riding back in by myself. I turn around and head back. Using my frustration to fuel my effort to catch the folks that turned around ahead of me. I felt responsibility (as a member of the club and it was their first time out with the club) to make sure they made it back safe and also frustrated that I would be riding back alone after working to try and keep the group somewhat together (no matter how futile). I did catch them before the end of the ride.
My question(s)...after the long winded wind up...is/are this, is it the responsibility of the ride leader to make sure the group sticks together somewhat or at least keep track of the weaker riders? Or is it ok to just leave folks hanging, they should know their abilities and not get in over their head. The only thing the "ride leader" seemed to want to do was to be the only one at the front of the pack.
What gives? Please wise ones of slowtwitcha, please impart on me the knowledge of group ride etiquette and ride leadership. Or tell me if I am off base and this is standard group ride protocol.
Embrace the suck--Anon.
Eagles Race Team--Napa CA