LarrySellerz

Sup guys, I tried to ride with a group ive heard about, most of them were super nice but 2 of the leaders told me I couldn't ride with them because I didn't have any kit and didn't sign a waver, which I thought was super weird. They aren't even that fast. Its a climbing ride that slow rolls between hills, so I just stayed behind. At one point another rider passed them on the flats, so of course I had to take off too and was eventually overtaken at the hill, but as soon as I was overtaken I pulled over so as to not "be riding with them." Pretty sure the group leader hates me, meh, and ironically I crashed hard on a corner on the way down a hill after many of them complained at me to get a helmet. Havent crashed that hard on a descent in like 7 years.

My question is, whats the deal with them being uptight about my kit. The group leader told me to come back with a helmet and JERSEY (LOL who requires that!!) is the waver because jerk cyclists will get hurt and sue the club? Whats the big idea here, the local race ride is way more dangerous with much stronger riders, and they don't give a damn about what I ride with.

colnago62

There is this thing called liability. Groups tend to try to reduce that as much as possible. Around here, if you showed up with no helmet to an organized ride without signing the waiver, you would be told not to ride with the group also.

Litespud

depends also if the group ride is under the auspices of a club with club officers - these individuals could also be held personally liable in the event of a suit. If the local race is, for example, an informal event, there’s no organization or officers to sue. Our club insists on helmets and everyone signing an annual waiver. A ride doesn’t have to be hammering for people to be injured in a crash. We also have a club jersey, but most people don’t bother with it - your club seems to take it more seriously - so be it. If you don’t want to play by their rules, you’re free not to ride with them. They’re also free to tell you to scram

tempocyclist

If it's an official club, their insurance may stipulate the wearing of helmets on any club rides in order to be covered.

The waiver thing is most likely related to that also. It's a litigious world we live in these days unfortunately and clubs do need to cover themselves.

Or then again, maybe they just don't like you.....

LarrySellerz

Ooh that makes sense, this ride is open to anyone but its an "official" club ride, wasn't thinking about insurance and liability.. The race is unstructured with no leader. Thanks guys this makes more sense now

krakhaus 

You show up to a club ride with no helmet, they say you can't ride with them, but you do anyway, then you crash. I think you made their point quite well.

LarrySellerz

the universe works in mysterious ways, im pretty confidant that them telling me to get a helmet and me telling them to **** off was related to the crash. IDK if god is real but the universe appreciates irony, might be scared into wearing a helmet. They were super nice for the most part, one guy even asked to take my picture because im a wild man, was shirtless on a hybrid. https://imgur.com/gallery/FmANBH0 pic of myself after crash. Bikes in worse shape

Also even though I didn't ride with them I was still helpful I think, I swept and encouraged the few riders strung off the back and offered to pull them back to the group, notified the real sweeper a few times when they had dropped someone.

terrymorse 

Let's see. A shirtless, helmetless guy on a hybrid shows up as a stranger on a group ride.

A guy who looks like that most likely has sketchy skills. I'm not riding anywhere near him.

caloso

Yeah, I don’t think any of those rules are weird for a ride organized by a club.

LarrySellerz

Asking me to wear a jersey threw me off, like any jersey not the team jersey lol.

colnago62

A jersey helps keep sweat from flinging off your body on to other people.

LarrySellerz

lol.... now ive heard it all.

tempocyclist

You turned up to a club's organised group ride with no helmet and no top?!?!

LarrySellerz

yeah on a flat bar hybrid without foot retention too. Won't show my face again because A) too embarrassed after crashing and B) apparently this is a no drop ride that discourages attacks unless its a hill. Im out here to be the fastest, not to have fun

Kimmo 

Hm. Well, not wearing a helmet saves you some drag, but your hair and beard probably make up for that.

As for rocking a hybrid, you obviously don't mind a significant handicap...

LarrySellerz

The hybrid triggers cat 6 in the actually fast people who are out on long structured training rides and might otherwise let me go, most of the riding I do is commuting so I'm going much harder for a much shorter distance than most. If I want to race randoms (pretty much the main reason I ride) the hybrid works way better than a road bike.

Like if I was riding a road bike and ucanttouchthis was on the tail end of his recovery double imperial century ride, he might let me go cause he is tired, but if I passed him on the hybrid he would throw down like 3k watts and try to pass me, the race is on

alo

I have talked to people involved in a club/group ride in Australia, but have not ridden with them. There are quite a lot of people involved, and went on serious rides, including overnight camping. They said they join the club/group, but don't pay any money, and people organize rides. Which makes me think, they must not have insurance. They probably wont have any problems, as it is probably not an official identity, and there is no one to sue.

alo

In Australia, there are a lot of surf lifesaving clubs, where they help anyone who needs help while swimming at the beach. They save a lot of lives. The lifesavers are volunteers and don't get paid. But the clubs need to pay for insurance.

alo

You could ride with me, except I am in a completely different part of the world.

genejockey 

Group riding isn't about being fast enough to keep up. Group riding is a set of skills, and experience shows that randos who show up intentionally dressed NOT to fit in are very unlikely to have those skills. A group rolling at 20-30mph in close formation requires A LOT of trust, because things can go really bad, really fast.

Good example - I used to ride with a club. We were doing their Saturday AM ride, accelerating along Portola toward Sand Hill. Just passed the junction with Mountain Home, and suddenly there's the unmistakeable sound of a bike and rider hitting the pavement and the whole group flares out, slows down, barely avoiding crashing into each other. Somebody who wasn't part of the ride went ripping past them and cut into the line. He wasn't the one who went down and he didn't stick around after he brought the other guy down, either. That guy ended up having to call for a ride, because some rando without the necessary skills tried to cut into a group ride.

Look, I understand your schtick. You're the guy who can hang with the fast boys but doesn't dress like them or ride one of those fancy bikes. Maybe you're reasonably fast, maybe not. But the whole act does not make people want you in their paceline, where following the rules and acting predictably are paramount.

AlmostTrick

Great thread. Thanks, LS!

Chuck M 

I'm not a group rider, but I'd be inclined to side with the group leaders' decision to ask you to not ride with them. There are certain etiquettes for any group activity be it a ride or run. Showing up without a helmet is seen as a disregard for your personal safety so why would anyone in the group feel you would respect their safety? If it is an organized club or group, the waiver is not an unreasonable request as well.

I have profound hearing loss, I'm an introvert and anxiety that would make me worry about being "that guy" that spoils another's enjoyment have made me avoid group rides. However if I did join one, I know that I would need to abide by the rules of the group be they club structured or simply a friendly group activity. I think you should look into why the group did not welcome you and correct those things before joining another group ride.

indyfabz

Definitely exhibits, like, creativity.

shelbyfv

I've never experienced a weirdo trying to crash a club ride. We'd get a kick out of seeing Sup Larry on the road. Probably give him a beer if he could wait around for us to finish. In fact, it would be fun to have some our other members show up. Cheez for example, maybe even our two special guys from across the big water!

fishboat

While riding with a helmet is a really good idea (a friend crashed last week..lower speed fortunately, but he did split his helmet..fortunately not his head).

Personally, I don't ride with people that use the word "kit". Such a BS term. Not impressed with the attitude that often goes with it..and I've been riding the road for 45 years.

I'm a great fan of using a "non-standard" bike to ride with or better than all the "well kitted" boys.