Originally Posted by bbattle
When I see guys on bikes like that I figure they are the ones to hammer the group along. Of course, when I see riders with carbon frames and full Record I figure they are the ones that'll keep the pace up. And when I see the retired couple on a tandem I know they'll be pulling a stiff pace.
I learned on my first group ride that you can make no assumptions about anybody based on what they are wearing, what they look like, or what they are riding. Oh, you can say this one is OCP, that one's a Fred but that says nothing about their riding skills, only their fashion skills.
+1 on the assumptions.
I am one of those dudes who show up to group rides on my training bike wearing camo cutoffs and tennis shoes, and then destroy the A level ride. They look at me and see a 16 year old kid, but they have no idea that I am a cat 3 going on cat 2.