Originally Posted by
msu2001la
I have a different "no drop" ride experience. I participate in a large weekend group ride (during the summer we will be upwards of 40-50 people) with a local race team that is "no drop" for the first half - roughly 25 miles one way to a coffee shop. We tell people that our no-drop pace is typically 18-20mph, but that we will adjust and ride as slow as the slowest rider. We specifically tell people that the no-drop ride goal is to keep everyone together. We stop for flats, mechanicals and if there is a gap - we immediately yell out "gap" and the front riders will slow down - team members/regular riders will drop back to help close the gap, etc. We do this right away, not miles up the road or at stop signs, etc. We don't rotate as a paceline either - just two wide the whole way and it'll usually just be 3-4 team members on the front pulling the whole time. The whole group stops at the coffee shop..
This sounds a whole lot like a ride here called the "Airport Ride". I assume it is still going on, but basically from down near Palmetto to up near the airport for a stop and then back. The way up is pretty calm, standard ride. The way back is an all out suffer fest. I went with a couple of friends one time. The beauty being it is a straight shot down a highway (Roosevelt) and impossible to get lost on. All but one of the people I went with were in the group with us riding back with tongues dragging in the dirt.