WalksOn2Wheels

So I was finishing up a nice ~25 mile route and was a few miles from home when I saw a cyclist up ahead on the opposite side of the road. Thinking they might need some help, I was all ready to stop and lend a pump/tube or whatever, I then saw it was two cyclists. As I approached them, I saw another group of 6 or so crest the hill. These cats were all decked out in their full roadie regalia. I passed the group, checked the lanes and did a quick u-turn to have a chat, see where they were headed, where they were from, etc. as I need to find a local group ride to challenge myself a bit more.

Well, the one guy who would talk to me was out for the first time with the group, so he wasn't a fountain of knowledge on the specifics of the ride. I decided to roll with them for a bit any way and see how they ride together to decide if I wanted to find out more.

Immediately noticeable was that despite the fact we had a solid tail wind, everyone was plodding along at a more than relaxed pace. I decided they must have already done the majority of the ride and were on their "cool down" lap so to speak. Secondly, even though we were on a two lane road with no shoulder, these guys insisted on taking up the whole damn lane. A car finally honked at them and they begrudgingly moved over. Afterwards, they didn't run side by side like they were, but they did run a staggered line well into the actual lane itself. And like I said, we had a solid tail wind, so I didn't see any need for a staggered pace line. And don't forget, they certainly weren't trying to go fast.

This road is only a few miles from my place. I've been on it LOTS of times and have never once been honked at.

It then occurred to me that every time I hear a non-cyclist ***** about cyclists who take up the whole lane and hold up traffic, they're talking about THESE guys.

It's one thing if it's at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning, but this was practically noon on Sunday. Much more traffic out and about.

This is exactly why I've been reluctant to seek out group rides even though I think it could help push me quite a bit.

jbhowat

Good for you. Maybe they were on an easy pace day, maybe it was a get-to-know each other ride. Maybe they just suck... Why did you even post this?

All group rides are not this way, since I feel your post has a heavy anti-group ride vibe to it (why else post it)?

acaurora

Sorry to hear about that ... maybe they're new to the sport...

I'm sure there are better group rides out there you can go with

teterider

Yep, very typical and drives me nuts.

WalksOn2Wheels

I'm definitely not anti-group ride, but I do seem to prefer riding alone. It was just particularly frustrating because it's stupid group habits like that that can get people run over by idiot drivers.

MSC_Mav

share the road, cyclists have as much right to the road as any motorist. if i hug the shoulder, its a courtesy to them and an attempt to try to be safe on a busy road. and if 6 cyclists are taking up an entire lane while 1 driver in a hummer/mini van/land rover/ford f-150 has to wait 10 seconds to pass them, SO ****ING BE IT. every group ride i go on makes sure to stop at stop lights, use signals and follow the rules of the road. i really dont give a rats ass about entitled motorists.

cyclists whining about other cyclists...jesus christ. "These cats were all decked out in their full roadie regalia" like they dont deserve to be? and you do? THEY'RE JUST CLOTHES!

WalksOn2Wheels

Now I've done it.

Like I said, I'd been on that particular road many times. The speed limit is 45 and most cars go a little quicker. It's a two lane road with no shoulder whatsoever in a rather hilly setting with blind turns. Not the kind of road you as a cyclist would want to hang out in the middle of the lane on. I don't consider keeping to the right of the road a courtesy so much as it is an "I want to get back home alive" kind of thing.

There is a time and a place to claim the lane if you don't want to get pushed around by traffic, mainly at traffic lights and stop signs.

EDIT: This is all, of course, my opinion.

WalksOn2Wheels

For the record, the reason I mentioned the clothing is because I thought it might indicate to me that they were serious riders, which they very well could be despite their lane habits. I didn't mean the roadie regalia line as an insult at all.

chevy42083

No shoulder? I'd be in the road too. The second i hug the right side, is the time a car takes my elbow off at 70mph.

Now, I'll move over if there isn't a safe place for them to pass... but they are gonna have to slow down at least a little.

I want to get back home alive after all.

Also, diff paces for different folks. Some are working for that 13mph pace.

schnabler1

A guy walks into a bar. In the bar sitting amongst themselves minding their own business, is another group of guys, doing there own thing sipping on a few pints of their favorite brew.

The guy sits down at their table and calls to the bar-wench, "I'll have what they're having!"

So he takes a sip of the pint, makes a bitter face, and stares at the rest of the guys at the table and says "Man, you all have really piss-poor taste in beer."

Then he gets his ass pounded.

garysol1 

And your *****ing the guys were taking the lane? Where would you rather they ride, on the grass? Must be great being you......seeing as how you are the perfect rider and all that with all the safety answers. Here is a link for you to check out. Something tells me you will fit right in...

DScott

Did you yell at them?

WalksOn2Wheels

Did you miss the part where I said it was my opinion?

Geez, some of you guys get worked up in a hurry.

chipcom 

The odds of getting home alive are not so good if you put yourself into a position where you can be squeezed by impatient motorists, leaving you no room to maneuver. If there is room to share the lane, by all means, share it, but if there isn't, ride it like you own it, cuz you do. Courtesy stops when it means putting your own butt in danger so some schelp can get to McDonald's ten seconds faster.

WalksOn2Wheels

See, this is the important part. There really isn't a safe place for cars to pass on that road. I've driven down it by car at 45 mph and have been passed by other cars. Not once did their pass seem at all safe. The lanes are relatively wideish, making hugging the right side of the road a non-issue for the most part. I haven't been buzzed by a car once through there so far.

idcruiserman

They're just stating their opinions as well.

bobfromwaco

Was this a Country road?

MSC_Mav

yeah we get that, but the fact is, theres enough anti-road cyclist garbage out there from non cyclists to go around. whining about what you consider to be inappropriate behavior for a cyclist doesnt help anything, if you want to have a positive effect, you can say something to other less experienced riders. and the next time you hear one of your non cyclist buddies whine about a group of roadies, maybe you should take 5 seconds to educate them rather than just agree and talk **** about a subculture that you yourself belong to.

WalksOn2Wheels

Where did I ever say that I didn't give my non-cyclist buddies a balanced view? I just mentioned that when someone *****es about it to me (if cycling does come up) that it's generally these guys they're talking about. I'll tell anyone who listens that it depends on the situation (like I said, stop signs and lights are where I tend to take the whole lane), time of day, and the road itself.

WalksOn2Wheels

You see, this is a tricky one. It is a country road, but it's the first road outside of an urban/residential area, so it gets all sorts of traffic. but the road itself could be described as a country road, yes.

Ex Pres 

You're in Texas, whad'da expect?

cyclefreaksix

I'd take the lane too in that situation. Let 'em b!tch.

garysol1 

No opinion here just fact my friend.....If there is no shoulder as you stated the only safe place to be is IN THE LANE. I would rather slow down some cars by taking my 1/3 of the lane then have them try and squeeze by me at 55mph with inches to spare.

GP

When I'm in my car, I don't mind following a lane full of riders if they look like they're hustling. But if they're chatting and not making any attempt to single up, it pisses me off.

crhilton

So, if they hadn't been hogging the lane would it have been easier to pass while still keeping a reasonable amount of space (say 2-4 feet)? Otherwise you're just getting your panties in a twist over nothing; much like the auto driver who was so frustrated to realize he was outnumbered by people who wanted to do 15 when he wanted to do 55.

There's no reason to get all anal retentive about lane position on a road with 1 car per minute...