Originally Posted by
Heathpack
Nope. I just didn't want to get into my take on it if I'm wrong.
But my guess is they are men and they are simply clueless. I find this all the time- men tell me to "just hide in the draft" or to "just keep coming out every week". They do not have a comprehension of the physiologic differences between a 50 year old woman and a 40 year old man. They don't understand that when they are putting out 250 watts for 5 mins up a little rise that I am gonna get dropped. Its not a matter of drafting or training diligence. Its physiology. Yes, some women can do it. The younger, the more fast twitch, the better the woman's high end power and ability to surge-and-recover, the more likely it is she will be able to hang. But these women who hang are the 1%ers, or maybe the 5%ers, depending on how strong the men are. They are not the 50%ers, like the men themselves may be.
My experience is that many men genuinely think women are doing it wrong and they think you will learn by being dropped.
So yes its rude and poor etiquette but its extremely common.
You couldn't be more wrong. It simply is what it is. It isn't gender specific, only your sensitivity we all have about not being strong enough. None of us ride at the pro level or even CAT 1 level. There is a woman in the town I ride who can drop me after 30 miles if she wants. If not 30 miles, then 50 miles. She can drop most men in my town. We love her. She's a great girl. But she drops people.
The group riding dynamic is what it is. Some are drop rides. If you can't measure up, boy, girl, giraffe or dog, you get dropped. Sure there maybe some chavenism involved. People are flawed and can be petty. Why do drop rides exist? I have been dropped on drop rides when rules of engagement are if you can't keep up, you will get dropped.
There are B and C rides where nobody gets drops. After the ride everybody shares a Pizza and sings Kubya.
Some people are more predatory by nature. I have always maintained in my experience, A level group rides are not the friendliest place to be. People like to prove they are superior. Perhaps they feel inferior themselves.
OP, that is life. Choose another group to ride with. Find some real friends to ride with. Friends respect others strengths and weaknesses.
Most of all, group riding is dangerous. So pick your riding partners carefully including the temperament of people you ride with.
Ride safe and have fun with it. The world is made up of all kind of people. What you reflect is common. Very little to do with gender though as a general stereotype, men likely overall are more dominant by nature. The girl that drops all the men in my town who is a good friend of mine and as mentioned is a great girl, she loves beating men on the bike. She happens to have all brothers.
