Group Rides… that "one guy"
08-22-14, 11:46 AM
#1
Señor Blues
Thread Starter
Group Rides… that "one guy"
Anybody know that guy? The guy who incessantly wants to "race" you? It's typically on climbs. He's small, got a climber's body. Example: him: "gee, I thought you might have kept up with me on that hill". Me: (cheerfully) "well, I think I had the legs but my heart rate was just about maxed out". At the end of the ride, after besting me in the final segment.. he: "nice try". It wasn't an encouraging, or even friendly statement. It had quite an evil tone to it. Implied was: I beat you, take that. Me: (again, cheerfully) "one day I will beat you". He: (agressively) "well it's not today".
I know this guy fairly well. We've done many rides together, in groups of 2 or 3, or even up to 15. HE WILL NOT ENTER ANY FORMAL RACES. He won't even sign up for Strava. I believe he doesn't want to acknowledge to anyone else, or especially himself, where he actually stands in comparison to the best in the area. He is very strong, but I regularly see much stronger guys ride away from him in short order. Then he looks for those less strong than him and wants to "race" them.
Personally, I think the one I've described here has some serious personal issues going on. And, I'm not the only one who has noticed, or suggested the same. I think I've described a bully. Anybody know that guy?
I know this guy fairly well. We've done many rides together, in groups of 2 or 3, or even up to 15. HE WILL NOT ENTER ANY FORMAL RACES. He won't even sign up for Strava. I believe he doesn't want to acknowledge to anyone else, or especially himself, where he actually stands in comparison to the best in the area. He is very strong, but I regularly see much stronger guys ride away from him in short order. Then he looks for those less strong than him and wants to "race" them.
Personally, I think the one I've described here has some serious personal issues going on. And, I'm not the only one who has noticed, or suggested the same. I think I've described a bully. Anybody know that guy?
08-22-14, 11:55 AM
#3
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there are guys like that. you can ignore them or train hard enough to spank them and make them shut up. (or there is always the cinzano trick).
08-22-14, 11:57 AM
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Maybe he is is or was the subject of bullying and lacks your self-confidence and gets no other affirmation. We all have issues... I get dropped regularly by a lot of guys in our club, but I even race when I know I will come in last. If you want to make a point of not playing his game slow down as soon as he passes you...
08-22-14, 12:03 PM
#7
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actually there are two in this instructional video (though brifters make the first one a bit tougher).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwxdvuOMQA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwxdvuOMQA
08-22-14, 12:06 PM
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actually there are two in this instructional video (though brifters make the first one a bit tougher).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwxdvuOMQA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpwxdvuOMQA
08-22-14, 12:07 PM
#9
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I think you need to be more direct with him.
"You know this is just a ride. You seem pretty competitive, there are actual races you can sign up for."
"You know this is just a ride. You seem pretty competitive, there are actual races you can sign up for."
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08-22-14, 12:08 PM
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You need to inadvertently take him out by dive bombing a corner or cut his wheel during the sprint. When he breaks his collarbone and is off the bike for 3 months, send him daily telegrams asking if he wants to race.
08-22-14, 12:12 PM
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It's just a variation on Cat 6 MUP racing except he's doing it on group rides. And it sounds from your description it's just a casual group ride, not even a race ride. If he wants to race, he should pin on a number. One-day licenses are cheap.
08-22-14, 12:19 PM
#13
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"group ride" is not Italian for "race". Two weeks ago when I was out of town I did a small group ride with a guy and his wife with the opposite problem. We kept the effort steady through rollers. He would blast past with his wife and ride far out front destroying any attempt to keep a paceline going and with every roller or small climb we would pass him. We waited up for him and he would blast past again as we were setting up. We soon let them ride off to do their own "group ride". Amazing how many riders don't know how or understand a "group ride". Get a license and race or go ride by yourself but don't jerk around a group ride.
08-22-14, 12:28 PM
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A person like that I just wouldn't even enter into conversation with. If he said anything to me I would just shrug the shoulders and remain silent.
08-22-14, 12:30 PM
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This thread has great possibilities. There is 'that guy' in every group ride. He doesn't have to be small or big or even want to race all the time. He just wants to tell everybody how things should be.
Maybe we should pen a song...
Maybe we should pen a song...
Last edited by Campag4life; 08-22-14 at 12:41 PM.
08-22-14, 12:54 PM
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Yeah, he's got issues going on, but that his actions bother you and that you engage him says something about you, as well. It doesn't have to be anything more than "oh, I didn't realize that we were racing each other" if you don't want it to be.
08-22-14, 12:54 PM
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"I'm on a recovery day."
08-22-14, 01:03 PM
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i takes at least two to have a race. think about it. maybe you should stop racing if losing forces you to blame the winner for your loss.
08-22-14, 01:04 PM
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"group ride" is not Italian for "race". Two weeks ago when I was out of town I did a small group ride with a guy and his wife with the opposite problem. We kept the effort steady through rollers. He would blast past with his wife and ride far out front destroying any attempt to keep a paceline going and with every roller or small climb we would pass him. We waited up for him and he would blast past again as we were setting up. We soon let them ride off to do their own "group ride". Amazing how many riders don't know how or understand a "group ride". Get a license and race or go ride by yourself but don't jerk around a group ride.
Pretend racers are the best. It's why I don't do group rides unless I know the people I am riding with. And they tend to be friends that race and know how to ride. And behave and have fun.
08-22-14, 01:07 PM
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It looks like this...Pee Wees Tour De France Dream - YouTube
They pin on a number like Pee Wee too.
08-22-14, 01:20 PM
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I just try to be the guy who doesn't get too torqued up about people racing when I want to take it easy or taking it easy when I want to race. It's a group ride - if someone wants to race you up the hill, you can race or you can just keep riding how you were. No reason to get upset.
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Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
08-22-14, 02:08 PM
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I just try to be the guy who doesn't get too torqued up about people racing when I want to take it easy or taking it easy when I want to race. It's a group ride - if someone wants to race you up the hill, you can race or you can just keep riding how you were. No reason to get upset.
