Originally Posted by rdtompki

What's the point in sucking wheel for an entire ride? I can see being part of a coordinated paceline, taking your turn at the front and accomplishing something. Sucking for 5 hours doesn't prove anything except the ability to watch someone's wheel, butt or whatever for that long.

Of course the accomplishment is all in the telling. If the "sucker" is an invited guest and his/her retelling is "My buds allowed me to suck wheel for 5 hours. I sure wish I could have done some pulling." That's an honest telling and I'm good. If "I rode a 5 hour century", that's dishonest. But, then again, who cares.

My 5 hour century plan, on the other hand, is honest. I'm going to threaten my Cat 2 son with disinheritance unless he stokes me and the tandem to sub 5 hours. Then I'll brag about it until they carve it in my tombstone. I never made a 2:37 marathon (best was 2:42) so I've got to find something to put on the granite slab.