I am wondering what group rides allow for riding on country roads on the uphill.

For example do you allow 3 abreast like in a pak or are there two columns?

Would this also apply to riding up hills and do you allow passing.

The reason I ask is that I am being shunned because I pass through the group while trying to get up hills. I think it is unfair to shun me when I should be able to safely pass two or one column on the hill to the left. When they climb the are chatting and hogging the whole road like a flock of sheep. I have had many cases where I will be passing even a single line and one will pull out in front of me and I have to slam on the brakes on the up hill pedal.

I ride faster on hills than the rest of the group.

Can you post your feedback or links to your club rules as my club doesn't have any other than posting the highway traffic act.

In our group, we pass on hills and nothing is said. It is standard operating procedure.

I am faster than some and slower than others up the hills. I'd hate to prolong the climb by being constrained to climb at the pace of the slowest rider. I've been known to climb at a slower pace to give moral support to a slower climber.

That rule doesn't make any sense to me.

On the flat it is group riding where you may put on a bit of pace- may watch the scenery or may be stopped while one of you fixes a flat.

But hills are different- You all ride hills at YOUR pace. If that means you have to pass someone- or give room to others passing- then that is the way you ride hills.

But I did go out with one group once--Once was enough. Plenty of hills in our area and on the flat bits they all did the same pace- 12mph and I did check the speed on the garmin. Even for me that is slow. Uphills and they did 12mph except the steep ones where some dropped off the pace--With me at the back. Then on the downhills and they did 12mph. Got to the second downhill and I was gone and did my own ride.

If they aren't leaving you enough room to pass on the left, then that's their shortcoming, not yours. Likewise if they pull out in front of you as you're passing. Sounds like a bunch of rookies.

Find another group.

There are no universal rules that all groups follow. Why not ask them what they expect you to do? If their answer is not something you can accept, don't ride with them.

That's funny! It would make a good hidden camera video. "This is the 12 mph average speed group, so we make sure we always do 12 mph."

I don't quite follow this. If nobody is allowed to pass, why are they pulling out in front of you? Are these fast paceline rides or casual rides with no close drafting?

Or they want to added to their and you health insureance deductable!
or snobs!

BluesDawg has the right idea; I am not sure I would would go back to ask what they expect; I think I would just not ride with them

How is it possible to go downhill at 12mph unless they are all braking all the way?

THIS
THIS
and THIS
riding 3 abreast is not to my liking either.

Maybe the reason you are being shunned has nothing to do with passing and more that they think you are a show off. The rest of the group is riding uphill at a casual pace (or they wouldn't be chatting) so you going around is taken as arrogance. Just a thought.

It may also depend on what type of group you ride with. If it's a social pace, this could be the problem. I ride with my wife Gina and other riders that are not of my speed on the climbs, but we stick together and I have no problem with them talking. I don't feel he need to pass though and have no problem climbing at their pace as we aim more toward good but fun rides.

Maybe you need a group that is a bit more competitive.

Well, one thing I've learned about riding in groups is that other people don't all do whatever it is you think they should do, regardless of how reasonable it is. That may include blowing through intersections without even looking, or riding two abreast and blocking traffic, etc. And speaking up about it doesn't change anything, either.

They were. May not have been spot on 12mph but that was the speed they were aiming for. It was a group that had been established over a number of years and was run by an older rider. She did not like speed but she could climb and she dictated the pace and she got upset if other riders upset her rhythm. One uphill was a 12% and I dropped off the back along with several others. This was followed by a downhill of about 10% for a mile and straight road. They may have got up to 15mph but I was rolling at 20 In the end I just overtook and went. That was when I did my own ride.

But a point some others have come up with. In the UK you are allowed to ride two abreast. There were certain members of this group that demanded their rights as a cyclist on the road. They know their rights and they took them. Don't care if I have rights- If that driver behind is getting anxious to pass- I will asist him if I can by going single file and even stopping on the narrow lanes. Saves me finishing up in hospital.

When groups and individuals joining groups don't communicate, there is bound to be frustration.

Yup. Every group makes their own rules. Most of them aren't written down and, if you ask, they might not even know. If you're new to the group ANYTHING (don't ride fast enough, ride too fast, bike not good enough, bike too good, wrong jersey, jersey and shorts don't match, everything too matchy-matchy) can be cause for shunning. Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself, look someone in the eye, and say "Deal with it.". Sometimes that's wrong too.

Finding the right group to ride with is a hunt and peck thing that can be as difficult as finding the right saddle.

How many riders in this group? Climbing is the one place were everyone seems to be able to work at a different pace. This "rule" makes no real sense.

I think we only have 2 rules for our group rides. No one gets dropped. After your second ride you are fair game for any ridicule you deserve. And one unwritten rule, downhill, let er rip at your own risk of course.