Unwilling group ride participant
Scenario: Large metric Century ride (over 2K riders). Cruising along at about 20mph (had a bit of a tailwind, or less headwind, or whatever) and in my mirror I noticed a large group.
Man! I thought we got away from that rest stop clean! I sure don't remember seeing a group like that. They approach like a large freight train. Someone at the head of this mass calls out "Large group" and they begin to pass at a decent pace, a couple of miles per hour faster than me and my riding partner. I don't mind getting passed, but what happened next really pissed me off: they "amoeba-ed" around me and absorbed me into the group. Folks would pass me a couple or three feet to my left, then drop into the group mere inches off my front wheel. As the bulk of the group (totaled about 50-60 riders) got to where I was, they were 3-5 abreast, brakes squealing, yelling "Slowing" "Left" and so forth, and here I am in the middle of this ambulance-ride-about-to-happen cluster thingy. Guys (and gals), just ride past! Don't try to pick me up because I don't know you and have no desire to ride in your group. Scared the crap out of me when folks started grabbing handfulls of brakes....and I had only the ditch as an alternative. You don't want to ride into an Oregon farm country ditch if you can avoid it. You need a ladder to get out. Glad the P******* V*** folks had a nice ride. Jerks. Rant over and out. |
HTFU and STFU
|
If you don't like that, don't ride events.
|
I keed....throw your arm out and ask for 3ft...it's what I do to cars...
|
Sorry you had an unpleasant experience, but there's no need to call them jerks and the solution is very simple: stop pedaling and ride a straight line until they've passed you.
It's doubtful that anyone will give you any guff over opting out if you hold a straight line, but if anyone does, just mention you don't wish to join their group. Peace & safe riding! :) |
Resistance was futile;
You were assimilated. |
Trapper Keeper!
|
Not much of a group rider - 4 or 5 is fine, guys that I know. It was the very mixed group that was the irritant - again, once I was transmorgrified into a pack member, the squealing brakes were quite unnerving. Scary when folks less skilled than me (eek!) pull in front and beside and then start riding twitchy.
I suppose the coast and let 'em pass is the way - I slowed down, but probably not enough. |
Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
(Post 14177442)
HTFU and STFU
|
Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
(Post 14177482)
Resistance was futile;
You were assimilated. |
Next time that happens you wait for your pull then take a wrong turn and lead them in the wrong direction...that'll teach em
|
Originally Posted by david58
(Post 14177507)
DDF, I understand HTFU. This is the 41 - nobody STFU's here. If you ain't interested, go climb on your bike and get some HTFUing done.
|
They were afraid of passing you on the right.
|
Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
(Post 14177519)
I'm on vacay so no riding till Tuesday :(
|
Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
(Post 14177513)
Next time that happens you wait for your pull then take a wrong turn and lead them in the wrong direction...that'll teach em
LOL. I've often wondered if someone would do that on a charity ride to a random formed paceline. |
Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
(Post 14177519)
I'm on vacay so no riding till Tuesday :(
|
Originally Posted by AMFJ
(Post 14177569)
LOL. I've often wondered if someone would do that on a charity ride to a random formed paceline.
|
Ehhhh....I'm waiting to board a cruise ship tomorrow. So for now I'm drinking and just wasting time.
Edit: I'm also involved Ina web venture which is the same reason I'm on bf so much. I spend a lot of time online testing my new sites infrastructure...bf is a nice way to pass the time while I wait for my developer to upload new updates. I'm officially unavailable after tomorrow. |
Originally Posted by dropdeadfred
(Post 14177610)
ehhhh....i'm waiting to board a cruise ship tomorrow. So for now i'm drinking and just wasting time.
|
Originally Posted by dtrain
(Post 14177613)
stfu !
|
Originally Posted by DropDeadFred
(Post 14177610)
Ehhhh....I'm waiting to board a cruise ship tomorrow. So for now I'm drinking and just wasting time.
Edit: I'm also involved Ina web venture which is the same reason I'm on bf so much. I spend a lot of time online testing my new sites infrastructure...bf is a nice way to pass the time while I wait for my developer to upload new updates. I'm officially unavailable after tomorrow. I find now that as much as I like a good IPA, I like riding more. My dear wife is even cooking up vacation ideas that involve bicycles! Cruise ship - no way. |
Originally Posted by david58
(Post 14177642)
I don't have to burn vacation time to drink and waste time.
I find now that as much as I like a good IPA, I like riding more. My dear wife is even cooking up vacation ideas that involve bicycles! Cruise ship - no way. |
OP, had this happen to me (solo rider usually) the other day for the first time. i was "absorbed" into a pack of about thirty and was forced up against the curb and into the detritus. no way i was staying there. so i stood up, accelerated and when i got my wheel in front of the guy beside me, i made it clear i was coming in.
i rode for a while with them, which was not difficult and then signaled when i made a turn. i will say it was a little unnerving, being dependent on the riding consistency and abilities of others to maintain the safety margin i am accustomed to. |
Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan
(Post 14177864)
OP, had this happen to me (solo rider usually) the other day for the first time. i was "absorbed" into a pack of about thirty and was forced up against the curb and into the detritus. no way i was staying there. so i stood up, accelerated and when i got my wheel in front of the guy beside me, i made it clear i was coming in.
i rode for a while with them, which was not difficult and then signaled when i made a turn. i will say it was a little unnerving, being dependent on the riding consistency and abilities of others to maintain the safety margin i am accustomed to. First organized ride I have done where there was a group this large snowballing its way down the road. Nice thing was that we were quick at the lunch stop, and left 'em and never saw 'em again. |
Originally Posted by david58
(Post 14177423)
Glad the P******* V*** folks had a nice ride.
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:54 PM. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.