Originally Posted by
topflightpro
BigJohn, I should add, I generally hate group rides in the mountains because of nutrition issues. I suck at climbing. I am very slow. So, by the time I reach the top, everyone else has sat around waiting and had plenty of time to drink or grab a gel. And they are ready to go. That doesn't leave me with the same time to recover and eat/drink, and I have found that I often suffer for it later in the rides.
Yes, this has been my experience many times. I've been with this club for 31 years, done 1000 group rides in the last 10 years. People come and go and the trend the last few years is for a few younger guys to go off the front and try and blow up the ride. We have a group of racers and these knuckleheads could just go with them if they want to test themselves.
Sometimes it's not so bad and it's actually quite fun. I have some friends who I really like to see and ride with. I recently found another club and have done 5 or 6 rides with them. It's a whole different vibe, smaller group, shorter rides, and lots of regroups.
I'm not quite ready to give up on the club but it has crossed my mind. I thought with some improvement since I retired I could hang on when they turn it up and it's working a little but I get thrashed when it goes on for hours.
What there is for a B group is small to non existent on the longer rides and I'm not really friends with them. Many riders have "aged out" of the rides, I'm trying to put that off.