Southern California - Frustrated at ride partner...

I get every other Friday off, and usually try to get some type of serious training ride in. Well in the past few weeks, my friend has asked to come along. The problem is he rides a Giant Hybrid bike and can only go about 14ish for about 20 miles. For the first few rides it wasn't a big deal but as a full time employee I really value my off days. I've grown frustrated as I've dropped hints that he needs to buy a road bike so we can do some real rides but I get the, "I can't afford a bike" line.

I found out today in addition to his recent Plasma TV and Playstation 3 purchases he is getting Jet Skis. I value the guy as a friend, but now I'm at my wit's end wasting my Friday's for a pleasure cruise. Out here in San Bernardino it gets plus 100 by 9am so 2 a days is a tough option.

I don't want this to sound too egotistical, but on the weekends I ride with my wife, and then with my friend on Fridays. I see the big difference as my wife is giving a conscous effort to get faster. I can deal with that as I have friends who do the same for me. However my friend is not a cyclist, has no intention of being a cyclist, he just wants to ride his bike and b.s. for an hour. Any advice?

He's not doing either of you any favors. I owe a lot to the folks at sfvbc. When I first started riding with them, I couldn't keep up with any of them. And they handled that exactly the right way -- no one slowed down for me, but they were committed to regrouping... waiting at tops of hills, rest stops, and turns where I'd otherwise get lost. That way, none of them missed out on their workouts. AND, it pushed me to get better, because I didn't want to hold them up. Just lay it out to your new partner.

I'm being mostly serious when i say find someone else... Or ride solo? I really have no advice when it comes to trying to convince someone to do something (at least without making it sound *****y). But if/when he does want to go for a ride, i'd recommend jumping at at every chance to at least show your support. He's going to need to make the decision for himself if he wants to get serious (or at least semi-serious) about riding.

I'm usually out on the SART San Bernardino/Riverside section most friday afternoons with my girlfriend and she's been doing pretty good at getting better. She's gone from fainting after 4 miles on her first ride to being able to do 20 miles at a decent speed (14-15mph isn't bad for someone who just started last month).

Find another riding partner. If he is not anywhere close to your fitness level, and you find your time being wasted, you'll need to either find another riding partner, or ride solo.

Dude my ride partner drops my ***** on every climb lol. I still try and give it nearly 100% every ride so I will blow up half the time trying to keep up. A few times I've actually taken him on a climb because he let me get a jump and I never looked back haha. It's ok hes strong on the climbs but any sprint he wants to take me up on, I will teach him a lesson.

Get a new ride partner. I dont mind riding with others but if they dont TRY...what the hell is the point.

Its so funny once the tour started Ovo is using words like attack and getting a jump....hahahah..n00B..

I had the same friend that wanted to ride but would not get a road bike (he has a hybrid as well) I rode alone till I found people that were stonger than me that made me stronger. My advise is to keep dropping him till he gets the hint:) regroup at the end:)

I had the same friend that wanted to ride but would not get a road bike (he has a hybrid as well) I rode alone till I found people that were stonger than me that made me stronger. My advise is to keep dropping him till he gets the hint:) regroup at the end:)


+1...drop his *** :) If he's the competitive type, he'll be on a new bike and at least getting better in no time.

I really don't think a roadie will make him faster. If he doesn't push on the hybrid, he aint gonna push on the roadie. I have friends that kick *** on hybrids, 17-18 mph for 50-60 miles.

Another +1 for dropping him. He will either be embarrassed and not want to ride with you anymore (that's how I lost a riding partner), or he will up his effort to keep up with you... or if he's the ultra stubborn type, he will use his hybrid as an excuse and still go on rides with you, in which case you have no choice but to tell him.

i don't have any riding partners. =\

umm... buy a tandem?

You two don't sound like a good match. It sounds like he just wants to ride for fun/fitness and you are a more goal oriented/roadie type. You're already riding with one other person that you slow down for...no wonder you're frustrated. If I were you (lacking a challenge) I would either find a club with a group that was faster than myself so I was the one who had to push it or a different partner, also faster/stronger than myself. Invite your friend to ride with you and your wife (unless you like riding alone with her) He'll either try to keep up with you both or he won't. What kind of tires does he have on the hybrid?

Dude my ride partner drops my ***** on every climb lol. I still try and give it nearly 100% every ride so I will blow up half the time trying to keep up. A few times I've actually taken him on a climb because he let me get a jump and I never looked back haha. It's ok hes strong on the climbs but any sprint he wants to take me up on, I will teach him a lesson.

Get a new ride partner. I dont mind riding with others but if they dont TRY...what the hell is the point.


Its so funny once the tour started Ovo is using words like attack and getting a jump....hahahah..n00B..


Socalcycling...can you please point me to your posts that don't bash Ovoleg in some way? I'm sure they're out there, but, well...you do seem to always be saying something negative about him.

I've asked before, but what's your beef with the guy?

:love:

I found out today in addition to his recent Plasma TV and Playstation 3 purchases he is getting Jet Skis.


Whatever you do, don't piss the guy off...because, dude...Jet Skis.


Seriously, if you two are riding 20 miles at a 15 mph pace, that's what, 1.5 hours maybe? Either get your training in before or after you ride with him, if you value him as a friend. Maybe that's just all he wants to do...maybe he really enjoys his 20 mile escape with his friend (you)...

You might consider, instead of every day off riding with the guy, plan something else (you can make up something...blame SoCal BF and say there's a fast group ride that you want to join). Keep riding with him...maybe once a month...and squeeze your training around riding with him.

:love:

Here's one, the absence of an Ovo reference was so glaring this actually stuck in my head.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4930594&postcount=154

Here's one, the absence of an Ovo reference was so glaring this actually stuck in my head.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4930594&postcount=154

Ya difference is that I dont track socal's threads/posts like he does mine. Its ok you always have a few "crazy" fans.

Ride your bike to work everyday. Get your training in on the commute.
Then do an easy poseur/recovery ride with your friend every other Friday.

Ride your bike to work everyday. Get your training in on the commute.
Then do an easy poseur/recovery ride with your friend every other Friday.

I thought being a poseur was 90% of this sport? Cause I am posing on a daily basis...

If he's buying big TeeVees and video games, then his priorities obviously don't include biking. You won't be able to change what he values in his life -- that's entirely up to him. So yeah, drop his @ss on the trail and once he catches up, gloat about how awesome you are because you don't fritter away your time on digital gadgets and gas powered water craft.

(A tad more on the serious side) My new riding partner is a guy who wanted to get his cardio on a bike, originally thought of getting a MTB, but after some gentle persuasion, he picked up a roadie from Craigslist. This was about 6 weeks ago. To begin, we did some morning rides on the SART through Riverside. That went well enough, and week two, I dragged him to SanBerdoo and back (26 mile round trip from our neighborhoods). By week three, he was so excited about the bike he went out and did the whole stretch of SART for a 30-something solo ride. A couple of weeks ago we did his first 40-something ride, and when he thought he was worn out towards the end, I pushed us harder and sure enough, he made it. Last week we tackled Mt. Rubidoux then sprinted to the county line. The weekend brought another fast 30-something ride. And yesterday we were back at Mt. Rubidoom where his pace was about 2mph faster than last week.

I don't mean to hijack your thread with my story: the point is that he and I are compatible riders because we share the same priorities with respect to bicycling -- and he's enthusiastic to come up to speed really quickly. Sounds like your new partner isn't on board with what you want to do. Adjust your priorities, inspire him with a good thrashing, or find someone who's a better match.

I went through this exact same thing with some friends. The wives started yacking about "you two should ride together" when the other guy bought a new bike. Tried as I might, I could not politely explain that we were different riders and it just wouldn't work out. Perhaps my solution is not the best but I just hammered the living hell out of what was to be our last ride together and then waited for him when I had to turn off the road (so he wouldn't get lost). As soon as he rode up, I was off again. I explained to him that I needed to get a good work out in, so I was sorry to keep leaving him. I very kindly gave as much advice as he would care to listen to at the end of the ride.

He got the hint and we never rode together again. In fact, we didn't see each other again for about half a year, his ego couldn't take the beating but I had my rides back. A neighbor saw I was riding RAAM this year and suddenly wanted to go riding together because he bought a new bike and he was up to 40 miles. Not wanting to fall into this trap again, I told him that he was welcome to join me on my training rides but I usually go pretty hard on them so I would provide the details of the 80 mile route I was going on and if he was dropped, he could finish as much as he would like.

He got the hint and we never did ride together.

That's worked for me -- I've had people say "we should go on rides together" and tell them (in all seriousness) what my planned rides are for the coming weeks. When you start saying "80 miles, 100 miles, mountains" their interest level disappears.

Perhaps, just tell your friend that you want to start more intense riding -- 80 miles in 4 hours, and is he up for it? If he's not, then let it be HIS choice not to ride with you.

I think this has already been said here, but I'll add 2 cents. I used to ride with a gal who could smoke me any day. Granted, I pushed to keep up with her and I ride the correct bike for the kind of riding she was into, but I was still so not in her league. However, she was (and still is) my friend and enjoyed my company (as I did hers). So, she used me as her "easy" ride - a ride she did once a week where she took it easy (and I huffed and puffed to stay up with her). Her theory was that it never hurt to have one workout where she just took it easy (and she helped me improve my riding for sure!). So, if you like this guy and the conversation, why not suggest a different day/ride where you don't mind going at a more relaxed pace and then up the pace just enough that he has to work a little harder (eventually, if he really likes to ride, he will upgrade to a better bike. But for now, a Giant hybrid should still be good enough for him to up the intensity on) - or, as others have already suggested - get your training ride out of the way before you meet up with him (i.e. 50 miles hammering, 20 miles shooting the breeze with your friend). In his mind, your rides together may very well be his major workout and obviously he likes your company.

I thought being a poseur was 90% of this sport? Cause I am posing on a daily basis...

Your suitcase of courage is full of mocha frappe' stained jerseys.

I don't mean to hijack your thread with my story: the point is that he and I are compatible riders because we share the same priorities with respect to bicycling -- and he's enthusiastic to come up to speed really quickly. Sounds like your new partner isn't on board with what you want to do. Adjust your priorities, inspire him with a good thrashing, or find someone who's a better match.

FYI, I happen to be that guy. As a n00b who just got started I have to give a lot of credit to Brian for encouraging me to get better and doing what he can to make that happen. Admittedly, I'm not riding to become a racer or a triathelete so fun is a big part of the equation for me. We manage to have a good time riding and that helps make up for the times that he's pounding my @ss into the pavement.

If he's your friend, just tell him the truth. If Brian were to tell me something similar I wouldn't resent it or hold it against him. He's a better rider than I am (for now!) so I don't expect to be able to match him all the time. I'd just look for a day were we could ride together at a pace I could manage if it were only once a week. Two cents from a n00b.

Dude I just want a ride partner that I can go to Starbucks with and be poseurs together.

Steve? Vance? Come on please...

Dude I just want a ride partner that I can go to Starbucks with and be poseurs together.

Steve? Vance? Come on please...

Sure. We'll see you at the Starbucks at the top of Latigo.

Sure. We'll see you at the Starbucks at the top of Latigo.

Okay meet you there in 30mins

I have the same problem with a friend I talked into buying a road bike. He's just lazy. Anyway if we are going for a ride I tell him I will ride over to his house(10 miles) and pick him up before we go for a 25 mile ride. On those rides(once a week) I do sprints the whole way over there against the wind. Then I ride 25 miles with him at 125bpm-135bpm. I feel obligated to ride with him once a week because I talked him in to a $900.00 investment, but once his 90 day return policy is up, no more Mr. Nice Guy. He's stuck with it and then he should feel obligated to ride the thing hard or alone. I know it's manipulating, o well.

This is the exact reason that most racing cyclists do 90% of their training alone. Unless you training partner wants the same things you do, you are waisting you time.

One option is to consider Friday an endurance day - - long and slow...

Thanks for all the advice, it sounds like I'm on the same page with everyone. It sounds like everyone has been in this same situation before.

Doing the math, I just have 2 more Fridays of this until he goes back to school. So really I may just suck it up and possibly start a 30 mile loop before he arrives...of course being in the IE that would mean I either ride at 6am or ride later and suffer through 100+ degree heat.

Then again, I have a dollar bill covering a 1/2 inch by 5mm area of ripped tire from my GMR incident. Everytime I turn at speed it I cringe at the thought of the tire popping.

Then again, I have a dollar bill covering a 1/2 inch by 5mm area of ripped tire from my GMR incident. Everytime I turn at speed it I cringe at the thought of the tire popping.

stop being cheap and replace the tire. We don't want to hear how your tire ripped off and you went flying over the bars into a tree or worse---a car.

stop being cheap and replace the tire. We don't want to hear how your tire ripped off and you went flying over the bars into a tree or worse---a car.

I'll get my new set Tuesday from Performance :) . Never pick the default shipping option, 10 days is entirely too long to wait.

Whatever you do, don't piss the guy off...because, dude...Jet Skis.

HAHA!! Seriously...

I have a friend with a house in Havasu and a 26' boat...I'm not worried about Jet Ski's :)

I get every other Friday off, and usually try to get some type of serious training ride in. Well in the past few weeks, my friend has asked to come along. The problem is he rides a Giant Hybrid bike and can only go about 14ish for about 20 miles. For the first few rides it wasn't a big deal but as a full time employee I really value my off days. I've grown frustrated as I've dropped hints that he needs to buy a road bike so we can do some real rides but I get the, "I can't afford a bike" line.

I found out today in addition to his recent Plasma TV and Playstation 3 purchases he is getting Jet Skis. I value the guy as a friend, but now I'm at my wit's end wasting my Friday's for a pleasure cruise. Out here in San Bernardino it gets plus 100 by 9am so 2 a days is a tough option.

I don't want this to sound too egotistical, but on the weekends I ride with my wife, and then with my friend on Fridays. I see the big difference as my wife is giving a conscous effort to get faster. I can deal with that as I have friends who do the same for me. However my friend is not a cyclist, has no intention of being a cyclist, he just wants to ride his bike and b.s. for an hour. Any advice?

Ok, here's the deal, you want him to upgrade, you really have no choice but to demo the recumbent, er road bike. Here's what you do, you ride just fast enough to make him suffer like a dog. Drop him on any climbs, wait for him at the top and when he gets there instead of waiting for him to recover you go.
He'll be so freaking tired after a ride with you that he'll look for a way to go faster. He doesn't need a new road bike, point him at used ones, craigslist is full of them, along with ebay. Your responsibility is to make him suffer big time, then point out the benefits of a recumbent, er road bike.

Guy is not a partner , he's an anchor. Cast off and set sail.

dude anchors are good for training. Just attach one to your back!!

This is kind of outside the scope of your immediate problem, but if you're looking for stronger ride partners, and haven't already, you could come check out the Tues. night ride (6:00 on Olive, just west of Olive & Citrus) and/or the Raincross ride on Saturday mornings (Meet ~7:15 @ Stell, cruise over to Riverside. Suffer. Cruise back to Redlands.). There are some strong guys out there. You're pretty much guaranteed to get the workout you're missing out on by dragging your buddy on the hybrid around...

tell him that he sucks

:)

I just tell my slower, or otherwise less-able co-riders, that I'm in "the zone" and need to keep my pace up. Basically biking is my exercise and I need to exercise kind of line. A little mano y mano stuff might help too

This is kind of outside the scope of your immediate problem, but if you're looking for stronger ride partners, and haven't already, you could come check out the Tues. night ride (6:00 on Olive, just west of Olive & Citrus) and/or the Raincross ride on Saturday mornings (Meet ~7:15 @ Stell, cruise over to Riverside. Suffer. Cruise back to Redlands.). There are some strong guys out there. You're pretty much guaranteed to get the workout you're missing out on by dragging your buddy on the hybrid around...

I might have to do that one of these days.

:rolleyes: oh boo hoo cry me effin river already.
Anyone gotta real problem?

:rolleyes: oh boo hoo cry me effin river already.
Anyone gotta real problem?

I just pooped my pants

Hey Ovoleg, you're a dork. Anyone ever tell you that?

...and BTW what happened to your kitty avatar?
That was the only reason I ever came to this site.!!!!

...and BTW what happened to your kitty avatar?
That was the only reason I ever came to this site.!!!!

Vinokourov's sexyness > kitty avatar

Offer to switch bikes with him, his heavy clunker should give you a good workout.

Offer to switch bikes with him, his heavy clunker should give you a good workout.

fit issues?

nice try

He's 6'5" I'm 5'8". Besides, I dont know about you, but I wouldn't let an inexperienced rider on my 2k bike for 30 miles.