"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Newb Issues

We have a new guy on the team who's been racing for all of three months now. He's very strong, but his skills are not at the same level at all. On training rides, I've repeatedly tried to subtly tell him that he needs to work on things like not cutting people off, holding his line, etc. I've been subtle because the guy got very angry when an ex-pro who rides with and coaches us corrected him on something. He got very offended that anyone would dare to tell him how to ride.

Tonight in a training race, he again was riding a little squirrelly, and he completely ignored our plan to work on team strategies. Now, if he wants to ride just for himself, I guess that's cool, but everyone on the team (and I'm team captain) decided to practice attacks, leadouts, and other team things. I got mad when he was screwing around and he knew it. Before I could start yelling at him, he went off on me, and when I told him what he did wrong, he said, "You know, I'm just not listening to you." :twitchy:

So, what would you do? I want to beat him with a shovel, but that's probably not the best option.

sounds like he needs to go away.

"You know, I'm just not listening to you."

That's where he just wrote his ticket off the team, imo.

I can't see why, in a the purely amateur ranks, you'd keep a bozo like that on your team.

Tell him racing is a team sport, unless unattached, and you thank him for his interest, tell him it's not working out, wish him luck, refund him any team dues and clothing expenses and ask for the team clothing back.

You can tell him that at a later time, if he wishes to be a member of a TEAM, you will consider letting him rejoin.

concrete shoes

concrete shoes

won't help in a river, I don't care if you're michael phelps...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FK-y33xBmo

Tell him racing is a team sport, unless unattached, and you thank him for his interest, tell him it's not working out, wish him luck, refund him any team dues and clothing expenses and ask for the team clothing back.

You can tell him that at a later time, if he wishes to be a member of a TEAM, you will consider letting him rejoin.

better yet, tell him he should stick to doing triathlons. guys like this are hazards to everyone...

I agree with the team thing. Nothing says he has to be part of the team. If he doesn't want to be part of it, he shouldn't be.

cdr

sounds like the jitbag thread from a few years ago

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?500224-Jitbag-the-Team-Mate-From-Hell.&highlight=jitbag

I agree with the team thing. Nothing says he has to be part of the team. If he doesn't want to be part of it, he shouldn't be.

cdr

cdr's shortest post ever?

did he sign a rider agreement? i did. it says if i do a bunch of things, including disregarding certain orders from team captain or officials, i can and will be released from the club.

And don't waste your time trying to work with him, or get him to change. The longer you wait, the tougher it will be. Either tell him in person, over the phone, or a concise email .... today

I think he needs to be told that his position on the team is in jeopardy. Maybe he just doesn't understand how team cycling works and is not being a ****** to be nefarious, but just doing it because he "wants to win." I think he at least deserves a "If you don't stop, you're off the team." warning.

did he sign a rider agreement? i did. it says if i do a bunch of things, including disregarding certain orders from team captain or officials, i can and will be released from the club.

I think your races have a slightly different set of expectations, dude. ;)

Here's a question - is cycling your hobby or your profession? If it's a hobby - perhaps one you love and take seriously - why would you allow it to be messed up by having a dangerous prima donna around.

From a management perspective - sometimes a righteous shooting improves morale and strengthens a team. It allows everyone to see that certain values, whatever they are, really are important and enhances the psychological drive to live up to the group culture.

Off the team, sounds pretty cut and dried to me.

...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE

Off the team, sounds pretty cut and dried to me.

+1

I learned the hard way. If a guy is going to chime off, testicles before brains, at his team - where there is supposedly a connection .....what's he going to do to a competitor in a race? How about an official?

Almost no one is worth putting up with that happening. Especially in my case when my name is on the jersey. I won't tolerate it.

If someone doesn't want to ride drills....well then so be it. .....but to chime off about being informed of poor riding habits....oh dear god I am having a flashback....

Thanks for the replies. I sent him a long email explaining that he is very strong, and potentially an asset to the team, but he needs to work on things to improve, including his attitude towards more experienced riders. I haven't heard back yet, so I don't know how this will go over. I probably shouldn't have gotten so mad, and I do feel a little bad for losing my temper when he yelled at me, but that attitude just pushed all of my buttons.

the one thing you haven't been clear about is if it's your place in the team hierarchy to write him such a letter, or to kick him off.

I may be my team leader, and I have a lot of influence over personnel decisions, but I couldn't kick someone off the team. I can obviously also advise guys, and it makes sense fir them to listen to me, but ultimately it's not my team.

the one thing you haven't been clear about is if it's your place in the team hierarchy to write him such a letter, or to kick him off.

I may be my team leader, and I have a lot of influence over personnel decisions, but I couldn't kick someone off the team. I can obviously also advise guys, and it makes sense fir them to listen to me, but ultimately it's not my team.

I won't argue for DocM but I will :) If it's affecting the team, if the guy takes out someone else, then it's definitely a responsibility for the team captain to make sure that the rider either chills or takes it elsewhere (meaning not doing the group rides).

We did tell him to chill and stuff but those words didn't register with his brain so we had to do something about it. One way we got rid of such a guy was to turn off the standard route whenever he attacked (like on a Friday before a weekend of racing). He stopped showing up. Another way to do it is to simply ignore his actions. Hard to do with dangerous riding, easier to do with attacks and such.

We could sign a statement saying "Dude, you're being a jerk! What are you, like 5 years old? No superego, just id??" If, say, 200 people signed the letter, he may get the message that, wow, I'm a real ass hat.

I like the quote "righteous shooting".

BLAM!
"Any questions?"
(silence)
"Good. Let's go for a ride."

cdr

I ride mainly for fitness and enjoyment, don't belong to a club....much less a team. That said, it seems his riding strength is greatly overshadowed by how he could weaken the team (thinking TO here). I would not have given him that opportunity after his not listening to you comment, hopefully he'll either chill out or leave the team on his own.....if not, kick him out.....

IMHO, obviously

People are going to have a negative view of your entire team for letting a guy like that be involved in it. I'm interested to know the outcome of your email. Please keep us posted.

We have a new guy on the team who's been racing for all of three months now. He's very strong, but his skills are not at the same level at all.

I think that I have met my BF doppelganger. My team has someone just like the one in the OP complaint. I'm a "PhD" doctor with a last name that begins with "M". And sometimes I would like to hit this guy with a shovel.

Does he do group/team rides ? If he shows up before responding to you, it might be one last chance for him to redeem himself and apologize after reading your email.

Just curious .... What would his side of the story be ?