I don't care if they're tris or roadies.
It is common etiquette among experienced cyclists that if a group of guys has been pulling you around town for a few hours, you don't jump off the front with 1 or 2 miles to go - rather you finish the ride at whatever pace the leaders want. Its simple courtesy and common practice with the faster groups around here.
I've turned into (by riding with roadies, and having the fastest folks move to Boulder) one of the stronger cyclists on our Saturday long/large group rides. Twice in a row I've dragged a group of people around for 3 hours or more, only to have this one guy blow off the front at the end, when I've decided to cool down. None of these guys takes even a single pull the whole ride as my average speed is higher than theirs if they were riding alone. (I used to be in the same boat when Joanna Z. was one of our local riders. I'd hang on her wheel for hours, was the only way I could keep up and she appreciated the company.)
So this guy did it again last night. We were at the final climb and I decide to cool down. Expecting the rest of the group to do the same - they wouldn't even go ahead of my front wheel previously - this one guy takes off again. He gets about 150 yards ahead and
I decide that if he's gonna do that, he's going to hurt so I catch up to him and ride alongside. He says "you're going to sprint over the top and leave me in the dust aren't you" I say "you bet I am", and do so.
I know that some riders like to time trial for the last mile or so, but dammit, if a guy drags you all over town, show him a little respect. You want to time trial off the front, say so a few miles ahead. "Hey bud, I appreciate you pulling me for the last few hours, so I wanted to let you know in advance that I'm going to time trial to the finish." At least a nod of acknowledgement is appropriate.
He probably doesn't realize it, isn't doing it intentionally, and doesn't think there's anything wrong with it. I'll tell him about it so from now on he at least knows that I do.
I know I'll take crap for this, be called elitist, whatever, but show some courtesy is all I'm asking.
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Elivis needs boats.
It is common etiquette among experienced cyclists that if a group of guys has been pulling you around town for a few hours, you don't jump off the front with 1 or 2 miles to go - rather you finish the ride at whatever pace the leaders want. Its simple courtesy and common practice with the faster groups around here.
I've turned into (by riding with roadies, and having the fastest folks move to Boulder) one of the stronger cyclists on our Saturday long/large group rides. Twice in a row I've dragged a group of people around for 3 hours or more, only to have this one guy blow off the front at the end, when I've decided to cool down. None of these guys takes even a single pull the whole ride as my average speed is higher than theirs if they were riding alone. (I used to be in the same boat when Joanna Z. was one of our local riders. I'd hang on her wheel for hours, was the only way I could keep up and she appreciated the company.)
So this guy did it again last night. We were at the final climb and I decide to cool down. Expecting the rest of the group to do the same - they wouldn't even go ahead of my front wheel previously - this one guy takes off again. He gets about 150 yards ahead and
I decide that if he's gonna do that, he's going to hurt so I catch up to him and ride alongside. He says "you're going to sprint over the top and leave me in the dust aren't you" I say "you bet I am", and do so.
I know that some riders like to time trial for the last mile or so, but dammit, if a guy drags you all over town, show him a little respect. You want to time trial off the front, say so a few miles ahead. "Hey bud, I appreciate you pulling me for the last few hours, so I wanted to let you know in advance that I'm going to time trial to the finish." At least a nod of acknowledgement is appropriate.
He probably doesn't realize it, isn't doing it intentionally, and doesn't think there's anything wrong with it. I'll tell him about it so from now on he at least knows that I do.
I know I'll take crap for this, be called elitist, whatever, but show some courtesy is all I'm asking.
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Elivis needs boats.