Originally Posted by Yankeetowner

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.