Road Cycling - Losing pals when you're down...but not out!

I don't know if you guys out there have experienced this, but I used to be until last year a decent strong rider (not race level) who could at least hang on with the best of my club, but now that my performance have quite diminished due to a bad back (lower back spasms, sciatica on my right buttock, etc, etc) I've seen my "friends" practically disappear, it's like "he's not one of us" anymore kind of deal now. I've been taken out of the email loops, etc, etc. I've heard of a racer who doesn't perform anymore and has experienced the same treatment. Have you experienced this?
:(

Corsaire

If you expect to be able to do all the same rides as before, then you are going to have to expect to be dropped. But those same people won't always go at the same speed, find when they are doing their easier rides and I'm sure they will be fine to have you come along. I've found when people lose performance they tend to self-select themselves out of the groups. I've seen plenty of strong riders vanish from rides because they couldn't hang anymore, but they are still around. Maybe your friends are just jerks, but its probably more you. Did you stop showing up to the rides where you are now being removed the lists? Man up and talk to them--tell them you know you aren't as strong as you used to be but you would still like to ride with them on their more casual rides. Bottom line is your expectations need to match your ability. If you can't ride with those guys anymore, then find a new group to ride with that is more your current speed.

I might not be a professional biker but I'm a world-class drinker. Did you guys ever stop at a Starbucks after, or ever grab a drink as a group? If so, find out when they'll be there and show up to say hi. Otherwise make some new, slower friends. Slower people drink more.

^^^ That's a good point. Do your own ride and finish at their hangout when they finish. If they are anything like the rides around here, they may be very consistent. Also, you can start with them, break off to do your own ride in the middle and then find them coming back in, assuming they don't hammer from start to finish.

I don't know if you guys out there have experienced this, but I used to be until last year a decent strong rider (not race level) who could at least hang on with the best of my club, but now that my performance have quite dimished due to a bad back (lower back spasms, sciatica on my right buttock, etc, etc) I've seen my "friends" practically disappear, it's like "he's not one of us" anymore kind of deal now. I've been taken out of the email loops, etc, etc. I've heard of a racer who doesn't perform anymore and has experienced the same treatment. Have you experienced this?
:(

Corsaire

Do they still wave at you when see them out on the road?

Sorry. It had to be asked. Carry on.

I have lost maybe a third of my social group since I stopped riding. They know I can't ride, and so they don't ask if I want to ride, and social hanging out we talk about rides, and it's awkward, soooo.