Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
If I'm running the group, I make clear what the goal time is on the front, which is never over 3 minutes if we're trying to move the thing. Weaker people pull the same pace but shorter. If someone new to the group doesn't get that, I'll just come up and tell them, rather than yelling at them. So that's another thing to think about: if you have a strong opinion about something, you should also be strong enough to ride up and talk to the rider about it, unless there's some danger. If you're not strong enough to do that, maybe it's not a problem. If it's a rolling paceline, it's fairly easy to talk to anyone as they go by.
I agree with telling the other riders, and not yelling at them. I was a potential "yellee" this past Saturday on a 41 mile ride. I went with a breakaway group of 4 (at about 15 miles into the ride) from our normal ride with a 18-19 mph pace. I have only worked myself up to staying with the group about 6 weeks ago, having started riding again this past May. (I've been pushing myself to ride between 150-230 miles per week.) The group of 4 was going to go at a 22-23 mph pace. I knew I could stay with the group in the pace line, but was concerned about doing pulls at those speeds, but I thought "there's got to be a first time." My first rotation I went hard and for too long, and then trying to get back in line while sucking air I fell a couple of bike lengths behind and was quickly dropped. The "leader" of the group and a very strong rider, came back and said: "stay on my wheel and I will pull you back up." He did, and then he positioned me in the line at a spot he said would be best for me, and said on my next rotation to skip it and just drop to the back so I could catch my breath. I did as instructed, and was able to do "short pulls" after that and to finish the ride in pretty good fashion. Afterwards I went to the other riders to apologize for slowing them down, but they all complimented me for hanging in there and finishing (an unwarranted, but appreciated compliment). The "leader" made a point of telling me how much I was improving, and that when my new bike with aero wheels came in he said I'd have no problems staying with them. I don't necessarily believe that, but I appreciate him saying it.
I am improving every week, and I will be able to stay with them in a month or so, new bike or not, but had I been yelled at things would have been very different. Everyone is different, but my reaction would have been to hit my brakes, fall back and ride alone. I would never have gone back to the Saturday morning ride, which I have grown to really enjoy. No doubt an overreaction on my part, but there are probably others like me out there. I bike because it is fun and challenging...when the fun leaves so do I.