Almost put off group rides

[jonny jeez]

Stick with it @cyberknight - more than likely a lot of the group are like you but just need an ice breaker and want to get to know you better. People always side with those they know better - possibly guy that came off has more history than you with the group so they don't want to upset the apple cart. Had a similar situation in a different sport where I was the newbie and ran foul of someone on virtually day one and had a situation similar to yours - however after a few visits it was made clear that others thought the guy was an idiot but didn't want to risk being singled out.

Agreed, stick with it. meeting new people is awkward and full of opportunity to make a total arse of yourself.

you either push through it or never leave the bedroom.

Stick at it Cyber, pretty soon those riders will be your buddies....then you can decide if you want them to stay that way.

 

[Dave7]

Tried a couple of (non cycling) "clubs" over the years...........both very cliquey.............never ever ever ever again Biggest let down was the local BSC diving club. I was already qualified in BSC & PADI so did not require any training. I went each week, on time... but everyone was always in their cliques.
Forget them......go on your own or with a mate and ENJOY YOUR CYCLING.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I've found a club to ride with (it's never really been my thing, but these guys are good). On my last ride, I found myself behind the 'rocket' group (but still in visual range) in front of the fast group, and in a different time zone to the slower group. However, everyone waited for the groups to catch up to one another (be it soft pedalling, or stopping after the bigger climbs) and it made for a nice atmosphere. No one got dropped, no one got left. Quite nice to see these days.

 

[totallyfixed]

Poor riding skills in your club, should have kept the same pace, leaders point out the road kill and everyone behind follows suit, simple etiquette but important in tight group riding.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I blame Strava

 

[50000tears]

Poor riding skills in your club, should have kept the same pace, leaders point out the road kill and everyone behind follows suit, simple etiquette but important in tight group riding.

Exactly what I was thinking. The person leading the group has to be very observant and make a clear early signal that there is on obstruction in the road that gets passed back in plenty of time. Although it can occasionally happen there generally should not be a need for late swerving.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Apart from the wheel touching and the crash, this was my experience of a fast group in a club I used to ride with a couple of years ago. Even go to the point where they were purposefully dropping new riders, including me, in the middle of nowhere.

I think it's a problem with the Johnny come late lies on their three grand bikes who want the exclusive prestige of being in the fast group, of which there are an increasing number, not the decent club riders.

Sack that group off, they sound like a bunch of twelks, it's what I did. Ride with the medium and slower groups and go solo if you want to go for a fast beasting. There is no point in being in a group, if they act like dicks, it will just make you miserable and that's not what riding bikes is about.

Whew, rant over, think I exorcised some issues there

Nail on head.

 

[mustang1]

I went out with a MTB group in Epping forest last year. These guys and gals were sooo awesome and made me feel incredibly welcome even though ibwas so slow. I haven't been with them again though because I didn't want to slow them down even though they insisted I should come along the following week.

Now I wish I did go.

Op, I reckon if you kept going back then you might end up making some good friends. And if you, well at least you tried. That was just one accident so I suppose statistically you won't have any more at least for a little while .

 

[400bhp]

+1 to this ^^^

+2.

 

[cyberknight]

Three grand bikes ? someone was on a trek madone 7..................

 

[400bhp]

Agreed, stick with it. meeting new people is awkward and full of opportunity to make a total arse of yourself.

you either push through it or never leave the bedroom.

Stick at it Cyber, pretty soon those riders will be your buddies....then you can decide if you want them to stay that way.

Actually no, why the feck should he. IMO you stick with stuff like this when you are more or less forced to, such as work, or where there's a degree of compromise needed, e.g. going out in a group with a few people you might not know/like because you want to be there to support/enjoy a smaller part of the larger group's company. In free time where the above doesn't count then absolutely not.

There's a club like this near me. Thing is now the fast group is too slow for me

 

[cyberknight]

Actually no, why the feck should he. IMO you stick with stuff like this when you are more or less forced to, such as work, or where there's a degree of compromise needed, e.g. going out in a group with a few people you might not know/like because you want to be there to support/enjoy a smaller part of the larger group's company. In free time where the above doesn't count then absolutely not.

There's a club like this near me. Thing is now the fast group is too slow for me

Medium group will average 16 mph for a club run , fast group will average 20 for 60 miler which for me is a push given my lack of training time .

 

[vickster]

Go out with the medium group, take turns at the front and show them how leading should be done

This sort of stuff puts me off ever wanting any sort of involvement with a cycling club

 

[Arrowfoot]

Op, presumably you rode with the fast group to challange yourself. And dropping to medium is not not going to be an improvement in cycling fitness as well as learning the technique of riding fast in a group. Suggest you stick it out and not worry about the behaviour of a few. It will take a while but most people are nice and eventually come to their senses. They will probably admire you for sticking it out. It is also one way to teach the bullies. The club does not belong to them but the membership as a whole.

 

[screenman]

Funny how some people come across this often whilst others like myself never, is there something common.