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After five years I did my first club ride...now I'll never do one again

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After five years I did my first club ride...now I'll never do one again

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Old 10-02-09, 03:27 PM
  #126  
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Originally Posted by hopsing08
did you even read what i wrote...

my expertise comes from being competitive in more sports than you can even imagine. from trail running to triathlons, basketball, baseball, etc.

the difference between you and I is that when i see competition...i step up to it, win or lose. You back down so that you dont have to lose. pathetic.
Their is a flipside to that, why do you need to be competitive, what do you really win??? Nothing, you should have fun with the world, because one day you wont see it again. Being competitive ruins the true fun of life. I use to be so competitive that it made me go crazy. As I have gotten older I realize I don't have to be the best at everything, just good enough. That's what gains balance in ones life.
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Old 10-02-09, 03:37 PM
  #127  
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Originally Posted by bigtea
I'm a taint cyclist...taint strong enough to keep up with the fast riders, and taint weak enough to stay with the slow riders. And after about an hour I was riding solo and following a ride slip for no logical reason whatsoever.

So it's back to rolling out of my garage on my own schedule, taking my own route, and spending my time contemplating work, family, politics, art, and whatever comes to mind.

i reckon this is why most solo riders prefer solo. i don't like pottering around waiting for really slow riders, but i cannot maintain a hard effort for long enough to keep up with proper cyclists. i go fast for a bit then relax and then go fast again. this is no good for group riding and doesn't fit in with any club.
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Old 10-02-09, 05:11 PM
  #128  
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
Group riding is the only way you can train harder? *scratches head*
Maybe not the only way, but I am much more motivated to ride harder if I am chasing someone down or pulling a fast group than I would be by myself. *scratches Deez*
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Old 10-02-09, 05:37 PM
  #129  
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Originally Posted by FR4NCH1SE
Their is a flipside to that, why do you need to be competitive, what do you really win??? Nothing, you should have fun with the world, because one day you wont see it again. Being competitive ruins the true fun of life. I use to be so competitive that it made me go crazy. As I have gotten older I realize I don't have to be the best at everything, just good enough. That's what gains balance in ones life.
One can enjoy the competitive and social aspects of group riding without needing to win. Just because someone likes competition does not mean they do not enjoy life.
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Old 10-02-09, 06:12 PM
  #130  
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Originally Posted by hopsing08
did you even read what i wrote...

My expertise comes from being competitive in more sports than you can even imagine. From trail running to triathlons, basketball, baseball, etc.

The difference between you and i is that when i see competition...i step up to it, win or lose. You back down so that you dont have to lose. Pathetic.
check out the big balls on brad.
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Old 10-02-09, 06:47 PM
  #131  
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Originally Posted by umd
One can enjoy the competitive and social aspects of group riding without needing to win. Just because someone likes competition does not mean they do not enjoy life.
agreed.

Originally Posted by MONGO!
check out the big balls on brad.
thank you
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Old 10-02-09, 07:20 PM
  #132  
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I do not like crowds so I do not go to group rides. Mostly ride alone and like it, sometimes with on of my cycling friends. I am kind of competitive though so when I see some fast rider I would start a chase. I do not get too close so I'm working just as hard as the person in front and there is no question of being intrusive. This way I can get some really hard workouts.
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Old 10-02-09, 07:44 PM
  #133  
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I used to mostly ride alone until I started riding with the local club and haven't looked back since. Except for now when I am riding alone trying to rehab from hip replacement surgery I will try to ride with the local clubs, and there are quite a few around, whenever I get a chance. From your description it seems there were too many levels or abilities of riders within the group. Generally if a club is large enough there will be multiple levels of riders and each group that leaves the lot will have riders with similar ability. Riders have bad and good days, and some riders are better on hills or flats than others. But if riders are so strong as to constantly blow off the front they should ride with a faster group. Likewise if some riders are constantly falling behind they should ride with a slower group.
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Old 10-02-09, 07:58 PM
  #134  
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Ride however you like and enjoy yourself. I would go nuts riding just by myself thou.
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Old 10-02-09, 08:12 PM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by Cassave
Our group rides are a lot like the first day of school.

You never know exactly what you're gonna get but there will
be plenty of runny noses, likelyhood of a little blood and at least one person is gonna throw up.
And once the hills start, big john is gonna be otb.
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Old 10-02-09, 09:20 PM
  #136  
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I tried riding with a group of wild turkeys I met on the road today. They told me to HTFU and ran off. I miss groups rides.

This thread has been a laugh fest...thanks.
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Old 10-02-09, 09:20 PM
  #137  
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Originally Posted by FR4NCH1SE
Just being free, pardon the pun. FREE LIKE A BIRD.
Don't worry, that's not a pun.
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Old 10-02-09, 09:45 PM
  #138  
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The best thing about my solo rides is the continual chit chat. The worst thing is the looks I get from others when the chit chat gets a bit loud.
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Old 10-02-09, 11:12 PM
  #139  
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Originally Posted by robncircus
You sound annoying.
Yes he does.
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Old 10-03-09, 12:41 AM
  #140  
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If you're going to be such a grump around other people, it's probably better for everyone involved to ride alone.
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Old 10-03-09, 03:43 AM
  #141  
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Originally Posted by davida
The best thing about my solo rides is the continual chit chat. The worst thing is the looks I get from others when the chit chat gets a bit loud.
Do you know what he's taking about P?
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Old 10-03-09, 03:44 AM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
Do you know what he's taking about P?
What? Did you say something? I can't hear you I have the iPod cranked.
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Old 10-03-09, 03:44 AM
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Originally Posted by patentcad
What? Did you say something? I can't hear you I have the iPod cranked.
Never mind.
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Old 10-03-09, 07:24 AM
  #144  
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i don't think my recent 50-mile run with a ton of riders at the NYCC escape NY event is quite the same as a 'group' ride, but it made me appreciate and understand (after some long stretches of staying with a group, getting passed by a group, and passing groups) the communal aspects even more. it gave me a hunger to try out my local rides by my LBS. i always prefer solo, but an occasional group ride might be part of the equation.
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Old 10-03-09, 07:34 AM
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There are DIFFERENT group rides!

I've got three completely different group rides I can go on. I don't think Rhode Island is the only place that has different groups!

Sat. a.m.: borderline Freds, but good jokes, good coffee and good base miles

Sunday a.m. and Wed p.m.: A "taint" group that has fun with attacking hills, some fast paceline stuff, and a sprint at the end. But we wait after attacks and re-group. Fun competition and good interval training.

Tues and Thurs. PM : racers and tri-guys. I hang on, shut up, and learn as much as I can. If I get dropped, I tell the guys thanks for making me push so hard. These rides have really improved my riding skills and taught me not to get to cocky on the other rides.

I do some hill intervals by myself sometimes, but I'm trying to be more human as I get older and not be just another grumpy old man. It's just bike riding, and 99.9% of us aren't getting paid to do it.
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Old 10-03-09, 07:43 AM
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I ride once, maybe twice, per week group, the rest of the time solo, both are fun to me.
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Old 10-03-09, 09:29 AM
  #147  
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i just spent several hours riding by myself. the worst part was i kept talking to myself. why can't i just stfu!

the non stop rambling was so annoying. oh look at that scenery...oh look at that road kill...oh that looks like a fun detour...my balls itch. i can't stand my own company on rides.
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Old 10-03-09, 11:07 AM
  #148  
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Originally Posted by hopsing08
the difference between you and I is that when i see competition...i step up to it, win or lose. You back down so that you dont have to lose. pathetic.
Get over yourself. Lot of people choose to compete in some things and not in others. The only thing pathetic thing I see here is some guy posturing on the internet about what a bad-ass competitor he is.

V
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Old 10-03-09, 11:15 AM
  #149  
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Originally Posted by vkalia
Get over yourself. Lot of people choose to compete in some things and not in others. The only thing pathetic thing I see here is some guy posturing on the internet about what a bad-ass competitor he is.
V
never said i was a bad ass competitor. notice the win or lose part. what i did say at least 3 or 4 times is that i push myself to be better than the last time. if that makes me a bad ass then thanks, but i hardly think im a bad ass.
the problem is that everyone is so afraid to say that they push themselves to be the best they can be, when its not as good as someone else. thats all i said and everyone's feathers got ruffled. i don't really care, i use that someone else, who is faster than me, as inspiration to push myself harder. sorry if that's not your cup of tea.
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Old 10-03-09, 11:23 AM
  #150  
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Originally Posted by hopsing08
never said i was a bad ass competitor. notice the win or lose part. what i did say at least 3 or 4 times is that i push myself to be better than the last time. if that makes me a bad ass then thanks, but i hardly think im a bad ass.
"You back down so that you dont have to lose. pathetic."

Nothing wrong with competing. If you had just said what you did in your subsequent posts (that YOU like to compete hard), I dont think there would have been too many issues. However, when you denigrate someone who chooses to not compete in ONE area in that manner, you pretty earn all the "BF love" that you get.

V.
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