For group rides, what does it mean by "no drops"?

Hey, thanks! I was wondering that just this afternoon, but didn't post it, again.

If you can't keep up with the group the other riders won't leave you behind.

If you fall behind the group they will wait for you rather than making you ride home alone.

Confirming what the others have said. If you've not done group rides before or are uncertain about a ride route, do one of these rides.

In our club It can mean, in extreme cases, that a designated sweep rider will see that slow person to the finish or back to the start or even arrange for a rescue ride. And let the leader of the rest of the group know what is happening.

All the rides I have been on that were called no-drop, I was dropped in the middle of nowhere without a map. I don't go on those any more, only rides that I know the route or have a map- not a cue sheet those don't help when there is a street sign or two missing.

I was dropped on a no drop ride. They didn't realize it and I was lost. I reached them through cellphone and one of them came back for me

All mine are no drop rides. That may change next year when I try fast club rides with a different club. Every one for themselves and all that.

It means the ride likely sucks.

It's supposed to mean that noone will be left behind, as others have mentioned. In reality it means one of two things...

a) The rule is ignored and slow people are quickly dropped

b) The ride is a magnet for slow people who can't ride the posted speed.


I'm sorry, but if the ride is posted as a 18mph no-drop ride, and you can only average 16mph... don't show up.

I made the mistake of showing up for a local "B" ride early this year. It felt like some of us spent the entire time stopped and waiting for the ride leader, who didn't know the route and couldn't maintain the advertised pace.

Dang dude. harsh
They don't necessarily suck. More that they are more along the lines of slower social rides.

I need a few hammerfests to start improving more.

Defecating during the course of the ride is verboten.

No drop means, IME, that the group will try to keep you on-board but aren't conducting adult day care on two wheels.

We have different types of rides: "Devil/Bear Take the Hindmost", and "Let's Ride Together, But Crush Each Other On Hills and Sprints". The latter is a no-drop ride, and is the same as the "Hangover of Doom" ride.

A good no-drop ride will have two ride leaders - one in front and one in back. The front leader will maintain the average pace, and the rear leader will assist those who are having a hard time keeping up. The rear leader should be the strongest rider in the group, so he will be able to ride back, sweep up stragglers, and take long pulls at the front of the line to bring the rear group up to the front group.

Please note that it rarely works this way in reality. If you can't hack the advertised pace, and fear getting lost, you'll probably have more fun on a solo training ride.

On the other hand, a ride that is listed as a no drop ride will invariably attract rabbits who sprint off the front and the piss and moan about how no one can keep up with them. The pace is on a 'no drop' ride by the slowest rider...not the fastest.

As a ride leader, I lead from the back with the people who have the hardest time...on some rides. If the ride is a beginner ride, I will provide adult day care for those kinds of riders with someone out front who can control the speed and stop at regular intervals to wait. If the ride is slightly more advanced, I'll lead from the middle and try to keep everyone together and provide support for the stragglers if I can. If the ride is a very advanced ride with longer distances and higher speeds, I will not provide anything. Those kinds of rides are difficult enough for me to complete without holding someone's hand. I'll even suggest that struggling riders return to the start so that I don't have to go find them later.

On mountain bike rides, I never abandon a rider no matter how slow they are or how hard the ride is. If it means that I have to hold their hand or kick their butt, I won't leave them in the woods. I will suggest that they turn around before we have gone too far if they are struggling, however

Please let me know the next time you are leading a ride. Somehow I have managed to not meet you in person yet.