12/17/2016
GROUP RIDE ETIQUETTE, EXPECTATIONS, OWNERSHIP, AND THE RIDE HIJACKER(S)
Guys and Girls:
I was reminded this of my chronic pain years, 2009-2011, when I wasn't riding as well or as comfortably as now. Monday marks the 5th anniversary of my hip replacement which improved things dramatically and let me slide into late middle age a little more gracefully. Before my surgery, I had developed a nasty lung infection that took doctors some time to get a handle on. I would have coughing fits and because of those, I was unable to exercise. According to my logs, I did not ride a bike or swim between November 6, 2010 and January 21, 2011 when I did a 36 mile ride. That is probably about 10 weeks. My first ride was the Sunday Southside ride which no longer exists. That ride was started by Brian Franklin and in the beginning was a recovery ride. Guys and girls would show up and ride at a steady almost social pace for 35 miles or so. We usually had a little speed session the last few miles down Bannockburn Road as the wind was at our back. We would then go back to Southside school and if Steve Murphy showed up, we may have a beer or two. Eventually, faster guys started showing up and if no girls showed, it would turn into a hammerfest. You never knew what to expect. When I showed on 1/21/16, it was all guys and I may have been dropped. That ride eventually fizzled. It was Brian's ride and he had moved by then. The ride had been highjacked by then and most riders weren't looking for a fast paced Sunday afternoon ride, so they quit showing up.
You may have noticed on Facebook that I rode with the group from Fire Station five last Sunday. I had seen that ride posted all summer and wanted to join in but 730 was a little early for me. The ride looked fun. I showed up last Sunday and it was cold so the crowd wasn't big, but I was welcomed by Dorothy and Dave and jumped right in. I also met Herb and Ted. I was on my single speed. We rode about 14 to 16 mph for 20 miles or so. The ride was shortened by my flat tire. I'm not trying to brag but I May have been able to drop the whole group although Dave would have given me a run for my money with his booster motor. But, I was a guest at someone else's ride, knew what to expect going in, didn't have any agenda to impose on the group, and most importantly, had a nice ride and time.
I'm sitting here now getting ready for the Saturday shop ride. That's my ride. I have been doing it since at least 1991. It was meant to be a steady 18-20 mph group ride with stronger riders helping out others, has been that way for 25 years. We do do a little speed run into the store, especially when we have a tail wind but then loop back and help others in. I was there last week, the ride was small as it was real cold. It was slower but smooth. We usually slow down in the winter. I wasn't there the week before and heard the ride was highjacked, someone with a different training agenda kept lifting the pace and spread the group all over the road. People were mad as their expectations were not met. When riders don't know what to expect, they quit showing up, rides fizzle, groups fizzle.
A few weeks ago, I gave a little talk before the ride trying to explain what we have been trying to do with the Saturday ride. Don't expect the ride to slow down to 15 if you can't hang on. If 18-20 to is not fast enough for you, you need to go somewhere else. We race on Tuesday nights, beginning in March, not on Saturday mornings in December. If you think going to front, lifting the pace, spreading the group all over the road impresses anyone, you're wrong. It just shows you never read those articles we post on pace line etiquette, shows you don't get it, or maybe just shows you're an ass.
bubba
