Club run, got the fecking hump now...

[youngoldbloke]

Pikey - see you are in Wiltshire - are you willing to give us a clue as to which club you're with?

 

[theclaud]

That is a hell of a pace for riding on the pavement

*snork*

 

[Louch]

It's stories like this that put me right off joining a club. No drop should mean no drop. Iv been guided home, and guided others home on CC Ecosse rides.

To the op, go back to the slower group, and lead them by example. make sure no ones left behind. You will make more and better friends for it.

 

[Dogtrousers]

do you really think people on club runs beat their chest and announce "we have defeated pot belly by riding our wheeled steads like champions"

You mean they don't?

I would.

Signed Pot Belly

 

[HLaB]

Unless its a fast training loop (and even sometimes then), I've found the clubs I've been in have alwats stopped when I've got into difficulty; I like to think its because I'm easy going don't complain, make the effort for other folk and they consider if I'm dropped its because I have a problem and not simply just not making that effort.

 

[jay clock]

The OP has given me all reasons why I never bothered with the club I tried a few times. "We wait for everyone"....meant when you get a puncture in the middle of nowhere you get "you know the way from here don't you?" and off they zoomed.

One of the biggest issues is machismo as most cycling clubs seem to be over 90% male. I now run a tri club which has far more women, and simply set up my own ride, starts from my house, explicit details on speed/pace, and the group size is about 3-5 typically and rarely more than 7-8.

 

[Rob3rt]

You mean they don't?

I would.

Signed Pot Belly

I wouldn't be out riding with pot belly in the 1st place, but I get where you are coming from!

 

[jay clock]

if it helps anyone, here is what I put on my email for the above mentioned ride. If anyone new is worried, I email them a route I can do in 57-63 mins on my own, and ask them to try it out. If they are of the same calibre they will fit in fine

Pace: I am aiming for steady rides and specifically training for Mallorca Half Ironman. I do not wish to have to go slower or faster than we can do comfortably as it is hard on all concerned. If you are much faster than us feel free to zoom off but you will quickly be on your own! If you do not feel you can keep up with the pace we set (we are pretty average!) we feel it only fair to point out that you may be better to organise a slower ride.

Print a map out if you have any concerns about being dropped (or zooming ahead!) I am confident we can predict the time pretty well. Average is 23-24kmh, slow and hilly drops this back to about 21-22kmh, on odd occasions it might get to 25-26kmh average with a following wind. That might sound slow, but in a race it is closer to 28-30 over 90 or 180km so I must be doing something right.

 

[martint235]

I agree at some level but at least 2 riders noticed him drop off the back & did nothing. Personally when I've been at the back of the group in a no-drop & noticed someone been gapped I drop off & give them a hand back to the group. I'll also try to make sure weaker riders are in front of me because right at the back is the worse place for a weak rider.

I think this is important. I will always tend to put myself at the back of a ride if someone is struggling. I think there's must be few things worse than being tired and hanging off the back of a ride as everyone disappears into the distance.

For the OP, I think it depends how much you want to be in the club. If you feel it's worth it, I'd stick with it and hope I got fitter in a couple of weeks. I'm not a fan of clubs (other than the Fridays) but that's largely due to the attitude I experienced on a club ride towards other road users.

 

[Rob3rt]

As for how to approach/deal with someone who is struggling, IMO it depends greatly on who it is that is struggling.

I think it's not so much the 'testosterone laden' and 'macho' stuff, but more a case of people not knowing how to be thoughtful and behave well in any group - how to look out for one another. In my experience, the 'no one gets dropped' rule almost never applies routinely to club rides, whatever type of club it is. The dialogue you quote makes my point - it amounts to, 'Ah well, who gives a ****, it's everyone for themselves.'

I don't necessarily disagree (although I don't really agree either), I was just saying, the comments regarding dropping people being some sort of macho thing that club runs routinely get up to gets on my nerves. I am fully aware of what goes on in a club and on a club run and I know people get dropped and that sometimes shoulders get shrugged.

 

[youngoldbloke]

What do you do about the rider who turns up week after week for the 'easy' ride, isn't capable of maintaining more than around 10mph and expects the group to wait for him/her at every junction/hill top, and quotes the clubs policy 'we never leave anyone behind' when the issue is raised?

 

[Rob3rt]

What do you do about the rider who turns up week after week for the 'easy' ride, isn't capable of maintaining more than around 10mph and expects the group to wait for him/her at every junction/hill top, and quotes the clubs policy 'we never leave anyone behind' when the issue is raised?

I say, there is a fair use policy! It is not written anywhere, but the same goes for most cycling "rules"

 

[Rob3rt]

But then again, I'd have already stated an estimated speed bracket and I'd expect people coming along to have read this and made an informed decision regarding their ability!

Personally, I wouldn't operate a no-one gets dropped policy on any ride other than an introduction or complete novice ride, all rides would operate within speed ranges and you can either maintain that speed or you can't. If you can't, hard luck! I would however stop for mechanicals unless it was a chain gang or some such type of ride.

Note: I do not lead club rides (might please some people to know that) because I simply don't have the patience or the encouraging nature and make an informed decision regarding my temperament and whether this is going to be compatible with the role. IMO, it is not. It is very much the same regards my not volunteering to help with bike maintenance workshops within the club despite being mechanically competent. I don't imagine having me sighing and getting angry helps people much!

 

[martint235]

Is this to scare them into keeping up?

Yup! It's pretty effective too! Particularly if as I catch up to them I say "And Adrian is only a hundred yards behind me"

 

[HLaB]

What do you do about the rider who turns up week after week for the 'easy' ride, isn't capable of maintaining more than around 10mph and expects the group to wait for him/her at every junction/hill top, and quotes the clubs policy 'we never leave anyone behind' when the issue is raised?

We had one like that a few weeks ago, another club had dropped him and we scooped him up (so as to speak) but I think he expected that every week and turned up for nearly a month. The last I saw of him though was when he turned up to a faster training ride :-/