Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Are you a Cycling Elitist?

Are you a cycling elitist? In other words, do you ride with weaker/slower/less experienced riders? If you do, when do you ride with them, and under what conditions? If you don't, and you are an elitist, what prompted your decision?

Please note that the concepts of an elite and elitism are considered offensive to many folks in our relentlessly lowest-common denominator world, but most of us recognize there are people who are, for whatever reason, better than most people at doing something or other. Lance Armstrong is only the most obvious example in cycling.

Yep...totally depends.

Saturday Montrose Training Ride? If I've invited someone, I'll shepherd them regardless of how slow they are. If I'm alone, I'll drill it with the big boys as best I can. And I don't expect them to wait for me when they drop me.

Home club orientation ride? It's my job to coach new riders through. Sometime, they're faster than me and drop me. Fine. If they're slower, I ride with them.

Yeah, you're also right about elitism. I certainly don't consider myself one.

I mostly ride alone, so I'm having trouble deciding between "I don't know" and "Fat, middle-aged chess historians shouldn't ride bicycles."

But honestly: I'd love to go riding with you, to see the places you show us in your ride photos.

I generally ride solo. Don't really do a lot of club rides up here. I should start... it would likely make me a faster rider. Those times when I am riding with friends I like to keep up with them, whether they're going slower than me, or faster. All depends on circumstances.

I mostly ride alone, so I'm having trouble deciding between "I don't know" and "Fat, middle-aged chess historians shouldn't ride bicycles."

But honestly: I'd love to go riding with you, to see the places you show us in your ride photos.

You can vote for both, if you like. The latter comment is a constant in all my polls.

Are you a cycling elitist? In other words, do you ride with weaker/slower/less experienced riders? If you do, when do you ride with them, and under what conditions? If you don't, and you are an elitist, what prompted your decision?

Please note that the concepts of an elite and elitism are considered offensive to many folks in our relentlessly lowest-common denominator world, but most of us recognize there are people who are, for whatever reason, better than most people at doing something or other. Lance Armstrong is only the most obvious example in cycling.

Sometimes I am 'elitist' when riding, as odd as that may seem. But then it's a case of my not riding with stronger riders unless it's their recovery day or they are taking a day off from 'serious' riding.

In the past year I have ridden with other people a grand total of 3 times. Sometimes I think that having company would be cool, but most of the time I'm glad I'm alone. I need my alone time. Its a great time to think, reflect, unwind etc etc.

Really not sure how I would react with other people, but I probably should try it a bit more often.

I voted "I don't know".
That being said Sometimes I just want to train for an upcoming event and, though I normally ride alone (strange workdays don't ya know), I so relish the prospect of company on a ride that I'll usually ride whatever speed my companion for the trip is comfortable with. I'm not really fast to start with.

There are times that this is a bit frustrating...but I have learned valuable lessons.
For instance, I was on an organized ride with my wife (who is afraid of going any faster than 9mph)...in order to stay with her, I had to drop to a lower gear and "spin". She had to SAG out halfway through (she hadn't been feeling well), but I continued on at a bit faster pace but not pushing it (like I normally would),
and finished feeling refreshed and recharged instead of worn out.

Holy Cow. So someone that won't ride with slower riders is an "elitist"? That's a heck of a conclusion to jump to. Maybe that someone is a racer and his/her rides are training rides. Maybe riding slowly with others that can't keep up isn't fun. That doesn't make them an elitist. It just means that they know what they want to do.

Yes, I'll ride with slow riders. Just yesterday I went for a ride with my 7yo son. I think our average speed was 9.5. As opposed to the day before when my ride avg was 16.

BTW, you don't have a response there that fits. I won't ride with just anyone. I don't generally ride with total strangers that I come across, though I have once or twice. I also won't take my big weekend ride day and pare it back to accommodate someone that called up that morning and wants to join me. I'll instead offer to take them out a different day with more planning.

On the other hand, I won't join in a faster group and expect them to wait for me when I drop off. If I can't hang with them, I'll find my own way when I get dropped.

Holy Cow. So someone that won't ride with slower riders is an "elitist"? That's a heck of a conclusion to jump to. Maybe that someone is a racer and his/her rides are training rides. Maybe riding slowly with others that can't keep up isn't fun. That doesn't make them an elitist.


Actually, it does. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

There are some people I invite only for certain ride routes. Some people I won't call if it's cold. Or raining. Or if I'm going farther than 20 miles.
I never considered myself elitist for understanding people's limitations and tailoring routes to specific people. I know my own limitations, and I don't try and hang with the A-group club riders; and I don't consider them elitist for not inviting me and my 15mph average on their weekend 70 mile, 5000' of climbing, 20mph carbon fiber hammer-fest.

In the past year I have ridden with other people a grand total of 3 times. Sometimes I think that having company would be cool, but most of the time I'm glad I'm alone. I need my alone time. Its a great time to think, reflect, unwind etc etc.

Really not sure how I would react with other people, but I probably should try it a bit more often.

Gee...sure sound elitist to me :lol:

Actually, it does. And there's nothing wrong with that.

No, it doesn't. Elitism is an attitude, a very negative attitude (and yes, there is something wrong with those people that truly believe themselves elite). It's the belief that you are better than those around you and will have nothing to do with them.

No, it doesn't. Elitism is an attitude, a very negative attitude (and yes, there is something wrong with those people that truly believe themselves elite). It's the belief that you are better than those around you and will have nothing to do with them.

Better in what sense? I'm a better writer than many people. I don't write with them. It doesn't mean I won't ride with them, dine with them, etc.

When I ride with others I try to ride with stronger riders. That will only help me become a better rider myself.

I once rode with a neighbor that was 20 years younger then me but wasn't in good shape and mostly rode his bike no further the 3 miles. I was telling him about a MUP 6 miles away that I usually ride to and go up and down the rolling terrain of the MUP for another 7 miles without stopping.

It was fun at first on the flat 6 miles to the MUP though my companion was puffing by the time we got there so we stopped to rest until he was ready. By that time I had cooled way down. I had him take the lead so I could coach him through navigating the rolling terrain ( shift down to before climbing the rises, shift up at the top to go down the drops, this is Houston, it's flat, not a lot of reasons to work those shifters).

When he got the hang of it I went a little faster to get my warm up back. I noticed in no time he wasn't behind me any more. I found a place to wait after the worst bit of rolling terrain. Two minutes later he shows up and he was ready for another break. So off to the shade with lots of water we go. When he was ready again we went another half mil of fairly flat terrain and he was done. I had mercy on him and took him off the MUP and on a bike lane home.

Over all, I don't think either of us had much fun. He never wanted to go back with me again, though he did go with another rider of his level. Does this make me an elitist?

I might be if I found anyone slower than me. But usually, I'm riding by myself or with faster people, so it's a moot point.

I'm one of those slower then most faster then some riders in no peer rider land myself :cry:

I usually ride with a group on saturday that is no drop and there are a few folks who can ride fast and climb well. There are about 8 regroup points in the first 10 miles and there are a couple folks who will sprint out on hills but they will regroup. Usually in the beginning of the ride if i'm the only recumbent I stay at the very back until the ride leader makes his way back. Once he is talking to the rear folks I shoot around and catch the folks attacking the occasional hills to make sure they get passed by a clyde on one of those can't climb a hill recumbent. After the first few miles there aren't any hills so we all will meander along chatting as we ride along at 10-12 mph until we get to the coffee shop and take a 45 minute rest from our 10 mile ride. I'll probably ride my road bike next weekend and ride a little more sociably.

On the other hand for longer rides I personally don't like riding with faster riders.
I did my first 200k (124~ miles) with a group of 5 other recumbents and I think I did ok but it was the beginning of the year for them and I had ridden through the winter so was on a more even ground. Still I slowed them down as normally they would have finished 2-3 hours earlier. Multiply that out by the 10-15 rides they'll do a year and that would be a lot of waiting so with the exception of a recumbent celebrity appearance at one ride (John Schlitter) I tried to stay home unless I was going a different distance. This year I'm hitting my rides solo or with a somewhat slower rider which I can't drop because she carries the keys :D

I usually ride alone, so I'm in the I Don't Know camp. If someone comes up beside me, I'll ride with them, but I won't make an exceptional effort to keep up with them. Same thing if I'm passing someone. If they want to keep up with me, fine. I won't usually slow down for them, though.

Calling oneself elitist is elitist. Our club has enough members with various cycling abilities; each ride we normally seek out those who share any given day's ability

Ok, so what is the back story behind the post? I'm guessing you have something on your mind Historian?

I'm pretty slow and I feel like a hypocrite, but I don't want to ride much with (the few) people who can't keep up with ME. It's OK for a short recovery ride or if they are just barely slower, but other than that I just get impatient and feel like I'm not accomplishing much.

I do ride with slightly faster riders but I don't want to put them in the same position I dislike, so I let them know it's OK for them to drop me and I'll manage on my own. I don't mind having to breathe hard while they are chatting.

I have had some fun playing cat-and-mouse with others who have similar speed to mine. Sometimes I am more in the mood for that than BS-ing while riding with strangers.

Not sure I'd call that "elitist" -- I am all too aware at how it is to be the slow one. I ride solo most of my rides.

The question is a good one. I prefer to ride with people close to my speed. Since my wife is slower than me, I bought a newer, heavier 3-speed bike to help me remember to slow down. Is that elitist?

I'm with JoelS on this one. The word "elitist" has connotations of snobbery and disdain.

I thought you were elitist if you didn't wave at everybody. What does speed have to do with it?

I mostly ride alone, so I'm having trouble deciding between "I don't know" and "Fat, middle-aged chess historians shouldn't ride bicycles."

But honestly: I'd love to go riding with you, to see the places you show us in your ride photos.

I ride alone

yeaaaaah with nobody else
you know when I ride alone
I prefer to be by myself

but yeah, I'm a loner also.

I'll ride with anyone who has enough skill, as to not run me off the road or trail. I rather enjoy riding with people with many different skill levels, it makes for a more enjoyable ride for everyone I think. But, then again, I don't take my riding all that serious anyway at those times. If I have a particular goal I wish to accomplish on any given ride, then I prefer to ride alone...

I'm only going to act really elitist when I'm riding my bolt-upright, fat-tire, full fender cruiser/utility bike. Because it's wicked awesome and makes me feel cooler than everyone else.
(Except for BAH, who has a much cooler cruiser/utility bike.)

No elitist here. But I have lots of rulesa boutriding. That's the reason I am mainlyh a solo rider. I do ride with Gina so taht she can enjoy the sport too. Other than that, you would hardly ever catch me riding with ohters. Even on organized rides, I ride alone. 10,000 rider on the PalmSprings organized cantury but I do it alone.

One reason is I like my claims to be my efforts. If I do a 5:30 centurym, it's because I did it!:D

Another reason is that good riding partners are hard to find. I can lead for 30 miles but if I tire and ask for help, my partner will usuall lift the pace by 5 mph, punish me for 2 minutes then say,"ok, your turn again".:eek:.Not muc hhelpo and no chance to recover so why not ride alone to keep myself comfy.

As far as slower riders. To a point yes. I will lift the pace slightly more than what they can do in an attempt to increase theer abilities. If it's a very slow rider, I will go if it's a scheduled ride.

But in most cases, riding with a rider that is too slow is not enjoyable. Sitting on the saddle without enough effort to slightly ease my wiehgt from the saddle is painful after too long a time. Also had some riders schedule a ride, show up then do 5 of the 30 miles planned. Then I end up riding alone anyway.

So I'd rather ride alone, not an elitist, just more comfortable.

As far as faster riders or same abilities. Iprefer not to ride with most riders. Some want to sit on my side and talk while forcing me into oncoming riders. I'd rather ride alone.:)

Am I an elitest?

Not sure, but I may be. I prefer to ride alone, except when my wife wants to ride, then I do everything possible to make sure she has a good time. My training can come later. When I do train (which is almost daily) I'm too focused on it to deal with anyone else. I train hard almost every day, in constant competition with myself, a slave to the numbers, so there's not much room for anything else. I leave the slow, leisure rides for my wife, and I'm fine with that, but when I'm alone......well,.......its all business. I can be friendly "off" the bike.

I voted I ride with anyone but frankly it now anyone who can stay back with me.

Yes I admit - horribly out of shape (unless "round" counts). I need to get my act together!!!!:(

Are you a cycling elitist? In other words, do you ride with weaker/slower/less experienced riders? If you do, when do you ride with them, and under what conditions? If you don't, and you are an elitist, what prompted your decision?

Please note that the concepts of an elite and elitism are considered offensive to many folks in our relentlessly lowest-common denominator world, but most of us recognize there are people who are, for whatever reason, better than most people at doing something or other. Lance Armstrong is only the most obvious example in cycling.

I will ride with anyone, having said that though, mood has a lot to do with ringing someone up to go riding, and who you would ring up. There are days I want to drop the hammer and keep it down for as long as I can. There are days I want to motor along as far as I can go. There are other days I want to toodle along at half my normal pace, there are days I want to stop and smell the roses, and take pictures along the way.

Heck, I would bet there are days where Lance would love to toodle along with us covering 30 miles in 4 hours:eek: because we stop to take pix and breaks along the way...... The guy has won the TDF how many times now, he has nothing he needs to prove anymore....

Sine Nobile is my riding motto! I wear it with pride. I am without nobility and thus am not an elitist. The word SNOB is a play on the term Sine Nobile as taken from English Public Schools. If you were of common birth you were Sine Nobile. We common folks then turned it on our oppressors and called them SNOBS!!!

Me... I really amm dreadfully slow and not good on hills. So....no....I am no elitist!!!:)

Of course I am not elitist - but the guys passing me always are.
;-)

Ok, so what is the back story behind the post? I'm guessing you have something on your mind Historian?

Nothing at all. I find the topic interesting. And to judge from some of the responses, I've struck a nerve.

When I group ride, I can generally keep up with the middle group of my club but sometimes roll with the cruisers just for the heck of it.

I fall into the it depends on the ride. For the most part, sure, I do. I love to go out with less experience riders and show them that they can have a blast on a bike, but then there are the rides where we are going to do 50-75 miles at pace and would prefer to ride with skilled riders. If I keep riding with the less skilled, then maybe they will get the bug, join a few C level rides and then get some experience and work up to the A\B rides.

Depends. If I go with the family it's a nice, slow and easy ride. My son goes maybe 11-12mph as does my wife and I'm pulling my daughter on a one wheeler along.

But during my commutes from and to work during warmer weather I ride alone and fast. 17-18mph avg. And I ride alone during that time. Don't want anyone in my draft with the danger of crashing into me when a kid, cell phone yapper or stoopid gang banger jumps in my path and I need to apply the brakes hard.

During the training races on Tuesday I ride in a group of mostly 15-25 people and pretty damn fast. 24-26mph avg.

During races on Sunday I'm simply to slow and OTB after a couple of laps :(

I'll ride with anyone, but that usually doesn't happen due to work hours.

I'm far from fast, and usually feel bad riding with others who are faster and slowing down their ride. Even when I honestly tell people to not worry about going ahead it still evokes negative emotions, about myself, when they take me up on my offer and ride ahead. It's the "self loathing" part of cycling, lol.

I have been fortunate enough to have experinced great success in some areas of competition during different periods of life, although not recently, lol. I have never understood how being good at an activity or skill allows someone to feel they are above, or better than, anyone else who doesn't possess the same skill or talent level.

In my opinion, ther is nothing more noble than helping someone else reach their own ptoential, no matter how great that may be.

I'll throw my hat in the ring with a "sometimes" vote. Most of my riding is commuting to and from work, and there haven't been that many commuters on my route, so that's mostly solo. Unless it's the boss (who lives half-way between work and home; we often ride home together, he sets a good pace) if I see another rider, they eventually drop me or I drop them. For no other reason that each of us finds a different speed that is comfortable. That being said, if I catch someone at a stop sign or light, we will often keep pace with each other until we are forced to split up due to destination.
On group rides (haven't done many in a few years; I can't see driving 30-45 minutes to start a group ride, and there are only 1-2 that start anywhere near me), I usually try and find a portion of the group I can keep up with and stick with them.
If it's a ride on a MUP with the wife and/or family and friends, I let one of them lead and just spin in low gears to keep up. Most of those folks know that I could drop them like a bad habit, but I've got no interest in doing that. On that sort of ride, it's about being together, and making sure that they enjoy the ride and get some fitness out of it. I can go fast later.
D

I really can't answer this as I don't understand the connection between elitism and not wanting to ride with slower people.

I ride with myself, and myself is definitely slower and less capable, so I guess I am an elitist!

I had the luxury of having some friends who were patient enough to wait for me to finish certain climbs and wouldn't completely drop me. It was awesome to have them up there to push me to go harder.

I've been riding pretty intensely and now get to push them a bit and will do the same for them as they did for me. It may very well reverse again -- good fun.

I tried a larger group ride with strangers and found myself first in a bunch of merciless buggers who did nothing but joke about the brand name of my bike and complain about my ability to hold a line (been a long time since I've ridin in a peloton with any speed & I did indeed suck at it) -- when they dropped me whilst I was stopped to get a Cliff bar out of my stuck zippered pocket I ended up with a group that had a rule not to exceed 15 mph.... ever.

I suppose the lesson is, good friends can make great riding buddies, but often it's better to ride alone.

i'll ride with whoever whenever... but i'm a mtber... on the road i ride by myself... on the trail... i'm not always the slowest person in the group (heck last weekend i was the fastest... that was odd)... on group ride days i'm there to have fun... i'll hammer for a few min and slow down... give me my intervals ;-)

that being said... if i was going for a group road ride... i wouldn't expect to go with the fast group and have them wait for me... i'd just make sure to go with the guys who would push me but not kill me :)

No choice for, "I ride alone."