Take the LeMond and wear this:

First decide if you want to ride with him at all. If you don't just tell him so straight out. If you decide to ride with him... take the Lemond. Remember he's a newb and 15 or 20 miles to him might seem like a long way. Newbs and hills don't usually go together, so maybe take him up a few steep climbs just to "break him in right" but don't drop him just because you can. Try to have a good impact on his experience as a new Roadie. That may change his perception of how he comes across to other cyclsits. Do a casual ride and try to have fun. BUT!!..... if he acts like a "Tool" or starts trash talking, then you know what to do. And if you do have to put him in his place don't forget one of my favorite lines as someone mentioned above:

Then do like Cartman and blurt out, "Respect mah AUTHORI-TAH!"

If you are concerned that your ride will be a waste of your time you can try this. I go out riding most Sunday mornings with a friend that is getting back into riding shape. What I do is ride 30 miles or so pretty hard before meeting up with him to ride 30 to 40 more miles, but at a more relaxed pace. This way we both get a good workout.

One of the biggest needs we have is for good mentors--whether it is in cycling, our job, life, school, etc. Give the guy a chance and maybe you might find a very rewarding experience. He may not want your help, but hey, he's into cycling--encourage the behavior--don't try to discourage him from the sport. I've been asked to mentor people I couldn't stand being around (at the time) and found them to be some of the most rewarding experiences.

Go for a ride with him. He will know just looking at you throughout the ride that your a superior cyclist. Use at as recovery ride and enjoy yourself. Hey he might be your boss someday.

Doesn't anyone else think it's weird for some guy at work to keep showing this guy a little leg and then insisting on spending some quality time together?!?
When adjusting your presta valves, bend at the knees is all I'm saying.

hell! I only WISH i had people wanting to ride with me. Share your expertise. If you don't want to take the time- tell him right away. Don't play games or string him along as if you were a high school teen learning how to date.

If your ego needs massaging (and that's ok- we all need massaging)- then consider this.... Your ego will "peak" longer if you mentor this guy than if you mearly crush him in one session.

Yeah, it's the reason I mostly ride alone. I have a friend who is an ex pro racer. He says that now I'm good enough to keep up with the local guys in the group, but my dislike for the attitude bicycle riders have to newcomers keeps me riding solo.

Here we have a new guy who has a lot of enthusiasm for the sport. What does the arrogant guy who started this thread wonder? How to make him suffer for this enthusiasm. Aside from skiing, this is the only sport which oppresses newcomers. It's the reason this sport will always remain marginal. That and the silly outfits.

To me the new guy seems to be the arrogant one. He is assuming right away that he is better than ovoleg and is looking for an opportunity to show off. I think he is exactly the kind of guy that will end up excluding new riders later on. Maybe an early lesson in humility isn't so bad for him. :)

\

I told him a few times that I like riding alone. Mainly because I don't get to ride much and anytime that I do get to ride, I want to get the most out of it. You guys don't realise that I only sleep 3-4hrs a day and I only get a chance to ride on Fri night, Sat mor and Sun mor...

If I wasn't so busy, I'd try and see where he is at the first time he asked me

I'm not looking for competition---Remember, I am not the one that asked him to go.

I just talked to him this morning. I gave him a road safety packet that I found online which basicly outlines how to ride on the road and the property techniques of passing people/cars/peds. He also was looking forward to riding on the sidewalk or bike path :eek: . After my accident, I don't come near bikepaths or heavy congested areas with tons of runners/rollerbladers

If he's being enthusiastic about this great. However if he's talking smack, you'll have to chop him off at the knees or so. :) Take the MTB either way, tune it up a bit so the gears shift and you'll at least get workout so your time won't be wasted riding with him. Don't rub it in too much... ;) Half-wheeling is great for working noobies without outright humiliating them. Make sure you're whistling and buffing your nails while you're doing it.. heh, heh...

I'd quit :D

I'll try it out. I'm not a superior or good cyclist by any means but I can hold my own in some situations. I get droped up the long hills like most newbs. The only benefit that I am to him is probably safety and basic technique/form.

Now you guys took all the fun away :( I was going to finally restore that MTB!!!

OH, lol...That is taking it a bit far. Most people that I have met haven't had too much of a problem helping newcomers. The club rides that I go to always help out the new guys and introduce them.

Maybe from racers this isn't the case but that is all expected with any sport. You think a good racing swimmer is going to be training new people on how to swim?? Think about it.

PS: I'll try it out, I will let you guys know...We are going out this Friday. I told him 20miles to see where he is at, we will do more if he is comfortable. No hills and half will be on a bike path that has a light every 1/4 of a mile(Oxnard parallel to the Orange Line if anyone knows what I am talking about).

Kudos to you oloveg. You never know until you give it a try.

Will you be wearing your CCCP jersey?

Pictures please. Full report.
Come on, it's winter and for some of us this is all we have....we have to live through you and your stories now!

I'm sure you'll take this opportunity to try to enlighten him on certain OCP aspects in terms of his cycling as well? :)

Yep :P, That jersey is much more comfortable. I use it on all my solo rides.
My brother took the camera on his trip so I don't have it.

Ride rpeort to follow,

Find what kind of terrain he rides, and pick a route somewhat outside his comfort zone. When you ride don't drop him, just ride with him, and give encouragement if he needs it. Sounds like the guy is not to sure of himself, thus the whole bragging thing. Probably needs something more challenging to ride.

I think we all started out riding, either recently or years ago, and would have liked someone to provide a little guidance. Give the guy a chance and ride your road bike with him... without being an a$$ about it.

Can't you show a little respect to a newbie and help him discover his current fitness level? Plan a ride that has a decent climb so that you can test his abilities. Maybe he will realize he needs to be in better shape when riding with you.

WORD.

Why not just go out with him on your roadie, ,and do like 20 miles or the like. But plan a route with lots of hills. Don't race or grind him into the ground. There's no point in that. Just ride with him. He'll kind of get the friendly point after the first 1000ft of climbing or so, but do it together.

Work on climbing techniques, drafting, and pack riding etiquette. Don't be too pushy, but if he talks trash, the next climb will remind him of his mortallity.

However, if the guy just turns out to be a jerk, even after you extending your hand of friendship and cycling wisdom, then find someone else to ride with next time.

Bring him out to the Montrose ride this Sat.......that way you won't have to see him til the end of the ride. :D ;)

Ever stop to consider that maybe he's the one doing the baiting?

Brings to mind one guy I used to ride with. He entered his first competition and won it on a solo break. It happened to be the state champ road race, and he was a superlative ski racer previously and just got into riding as a cross-train sport. His techniqe wasn't the best, but his power overshadowed it.

Anyway, why not show him some hill-climbing technique. They say you never learn a subject so well as when you teach it. Just maybe you'll have gained a new riding partner, or at least someone to talk bike with at work.

Agree with fixer . Find a group ride and invite him along . You can ride your pace and he can hang with anyone he can keep up with

Ovoleg, 10 posts a day might make time for some naps