Group Road Ride Ethics

Poor form from the ‘faster’ part of the group.  Perhaps a suggestion that a decision is made to split the group at the start of the ride if this always happens.  Would make it far more enjoyable for all involved.

No, people **** up group rides.

As a club, we have rules that are repeated before every ride, but even when riding with mates the same applies.

It's a a social ride, approximately X mph, but pace determined by the rider at the back.

No one gets dropped.

Faster riders can go off the front if they want, usually hills, but wait at the top to regroup.

If its a training ride or chaingang, then different rules are agreed.

To be fair, we have 400+ members and there are 5 different social rides to choose from today, so maybe 50-60 of us out.

The problem is always finding someone prepared to lead the "slow/short" ride. Our ride captains do it on a rota if no one volunteers.

Our club is exactly as per MCTD ^^

It seems like every week the same riders just split the bunch rather than ride steady to keep it together

Would one of them have the initials GR?

Let the faster people do their own "slightly faster" ride, following the same route if they want. I think the challenge with that shop ride is there are far fewer people than pre Covid so there are only the 20 MPH+ group and then everyone else.

It sounds like you're leading this? Just tell them at the start to either wait for you or clear off and do their own ride at whatever pace.

And if it annoys you that much, just stop doing it.

Agree the rules before you set out? The ones that used to annoy me where the ones that sat-on for 100km, never took a turn and then suddenly tried to make some sort of ‘breakaway’ near the finish because they “know the way back home”.
Eventually gave up leading group rides and just rode with mates because too many times have to deal with someone else’s lack of preparedness/mechanical breakdowns/don’t know way home.
In a bizarre way, you’re not really a ‘cyclist’ until you’ve grovelled your way home due to a lack of fitness/over-ambition/foolhardiness - helping build a bit of resilience means you’re better prepared for the next time.

I went on precisely one road ride with Edinburgh Road Club. Was the beginners' group, roughly 35 easy miles out into East Lothian and back. There was one club member there who bitched and moaned the entire time due to folk not being fast enough for him, having to wait for punctures, first-timers not knowing how to chain-gang, etc. He got told to climb back in his box somewhere near Longniddry and then eventually gave up sulking and pissed off on his own on the way back to Edinburgh, but it was the first time out for about half the group and I'd be surprised if I was the only one who never went back.

The point being that, for whatever reason, some folk act up and can turn what is supposed to be an enjoyable activity into something else. Accept it or nip it in the bud before the ride.

It’s a a social ride, approximately X mph, but pace determined by the rider at the back.

No one gets dropped.

Faster riders can go off the front if they want, usually hills, but wait at the top to regroup.

If its a training ride or chaingang, then different rules are agreed.

Indeed, normal rules for being a human being imo!

It sounds like you’re leading this? Just tell them at the start to either wait for you or clear off and do their own ride at whatever pace.

What I don't get is why the need? Surely if you turn up for a group ride the clue is in the title

Every now and again I think it might be nice to have another go with a road riding club, and then I read threads like these, and I'm reminded that they're almost inevitably have a quota of socially maladjusted idiots who don't understand, or refuse to comply with simple instructions, and I bin the idea off again.

I'm sure other sports have them, road cycling seems to hold some weird fascination for them though.

When I'm leading I make it clear, the ones at the front riding faster than the advertised pace, can bugger off. I don't care about them. I place my self mid group and look after the ones behind me.

Everyone wants to enjoy the ride and I have no issue with people going hard if they want to but I won't skew the ride to keep up with them.

As a club ride leader, leading most weekends....pretty much the same as MCTD in terms of etiquette. To which I would also add a few thoughts.

Someone's always the slowest rider, it's inevitable. Not necessarily the same person, sometimes we have good and bad days, or maybe the ride is better suited (hills vs flat where us big boys can power along). Treat as you would be treated, sometimes we're the pigeon, other times the statue.

Also be aware that being the slowest means you won't get dropped but in turn we expect you to be putting some effort in. Almost as painful as the knobs that won't move up a group and instead are constantly champing at the front to push the pace up, is the person that has overestimated but doesn't want to get a sweat on trying and wants everyone to slow down so they don't have to. If you're the weakest rider today, don't expect it to be easy.

The blokes at the front (it's always blokes TBH) who won't move up a group - you're not impressing us. If you want to help, take a turn at the front but that doesn't mean add 3kph to the pace. Same pace please, just take the wind. If you don't get that, don't ride at the front. And if I'm sat second wheel for a rest and you drive on, then I'll just let you go. Stop at junctions if you get disconnected, you're not a pro and it's not a breakaway. If you don't and you take a wrong turn, I might wait briefly to see if you come back but it's on you now, and be aware as I said at the start, my routes can change at VERY short notice 😉  If you get disconnected off the back - I'll wait as long as it takes.

Exception - on proper hills, I'll encourage riders to ride at their own pace and regroup at (clear place, eg: the car depot 50 yards over the summit)....nothing worse that 6 riders all over the road on a blind summit of a narrow road!! And if it's a really proper hill I'll invite strong riders to 'top and drop'...when you reach the top, ride back down and join the back of the group and climb again (sociably, or rinse and repeat as many times as you want to avoid standing around getting cold)  Not many seem to take me up on that - they aren't that bothered about standing round clearly, just want to do one big effort and then **** over it on Strava later.

The issue of getting someone to cover the slow / social ride - in my club constitutionally if there are riders for the slow ride, there will be a slow ride above any others (exception tend to be in depths of winter where no social riders want to go out)  In those cases the Ride Leader Co-ordinator will ask someone to drop down to do it if there isn't a matched ability RL already running it. We're not a racing club although some members do race, we're a social club set up for recreational riding and that is priority above all. I've often dropped to lead the group and it's lovely to ride with other people than usual, and if you want to you can easily still make it a worthwhile ride - use low gears and work on smooth high cadence circles, or high gears and ride every hill at 30rpm like a weights session, etc. Be creative, not a moany ****er.

If you do a group ride, you follow the ride "rules," which might well mean you have to ditch aspirations of chasing segment times.

I've looked group road dudes since the late 90s, and they've always had elements of ask the things mentioned above.
I'm a bit is school and like a proper double line group - in reality it means about 6 or 7 people doing it and then there'll be one who decides that actually what's better is to ride between the 2 in front and so the back of the group has a waggly tail. Even riding with another experienced rider at the back constantly getting them back into double is a chore.
Lots of modern riders don't like being given advice.
Half wheeling is standard now.
If you go off the front of one of my rides I'll then control the pace of the group and leave you hanging of the front for as long as it takes.
Ten years ago I left a club in the middle of a not advertised fast club run because a couple of the guys (they're always men) deliberately put someone (a woman) off the back. They got the message when they'd been forced to stop at some lights and we rode up and I asked them what club they were in and where they were off to. Then I told them they could **** themselves and their club and went off on a different route (with the dropped rider).

So my question is, have Garmin’s etc **** up group road rides?

Lots of things **** up group road rides in the UK. Roads and traffic being the main ones - having a group constantly shifting around, singling out, doubling up, stopping at lights, getting going again, avoiding potholes, constantly calling car up / car back / hole left and dealing with impatient drivers is just a nightmare for any kind of cohesive steady work or social chat.

That just doesn't happen in Spain / France / Italy / Belgium where (generally) the roads are far better surfaced, drivers are better behaved and actually know how to overtake cyclists and the group can concentrate on the flow rather than constant swerving to avoid parked cars and potholes.

Lots of modern riders don’t like being given advice.
Half wheeling is standard now.

As is "2-abreast" with the inside rider in the gutter and the outside rider out by the centre line. I can get a bus between you, move in! But you also don't want to be the Ride Leader who's constantly saying "do this! move in! hold the pace! drop back!". That's not a relaxing or fun day out for anyone.

But yeah, state the rules clearly in advance of every ride, repeat them frequently and make it clear that anyone who is not interested in obeying them can go and do their own thing.

Jesus, I ride a bike to get away from this kind of shite.

My club isn’t like the op’s at all. There’s a couple of lads who like to try and hammer everyone else from the front, but if folks can’t keep up they’ll always dial down the pace. Hills are fair game for your own pace, however we always regroup

Never been on a ride where anyone is left behind, however rules are always laid out in advance

Sounds like great fun.

Would one of them have the initials GR

No it wasn't!! But I know what you mean! He once sat on my wheel for 10km as I dragged the slower riders along to try and close to the faster riders and when I had got everyone within range, he sprinted across the gap! FFS I could have done that 10km ago but was trying to help people..

Not got the time to read all posts as ar a duathlon with son. Will read and digest later,vthanks all

Ride solo, problem solved.

I know it sounds like a victorian school outing, it really isn't, only unless someone starts being a dick about it and the rules have to be reinforced.

I was out yesterday, we rode as a group, split on the one major hill but regrouped at the top (by the car depot just before the summit, that was a real example), on one false flat I got the call that the rear was starting to split off so we pulled it back by a couple of kph to allow them to get back on, the rest of the time we had a nice ride and I got to ride with someone I haven't been out with for ages 'cos he's normally leading a faster group, meant we had someone to share the front duties with and I also heard about his week long 900km tour of northern France. And it was sunny, and there was coffee and cake. What's not to like?

One thing I didn't mention, in my RL briefings ...... is that my groups don't get involved with motorists. If we get a close pass, while there might be an involuntary exclamation, that's as much as I'll tolerate. If it's because they're shit driver, they deserve our pity. If they're a headcase, then they're a headcase in a 2T killing machine, I'd rather not see how much of a headcase thanks. Anyone that starts or responds to provocation by a car driver is not welcome on my rides, simple as.

I almost always ride solo. I sometimes would like a bit of company on gravel or mountain bike rides but then get reminded about the way some people carry on and am pretty content on my own.

It’s not unique to road clubs either, there’s a well known running club near me that has similar form, dropping new runners on club runs and basically ****ing them off so they have to find their own way home. Thankfully my running club never leaves people behind, in fact the strongest runners are almost always the ones who ended up looping back and doing hill reps as a result.

Ride solo, problem solved.

These threads often degenerate into a string of complaints about poor group riding but actually, it's rarely that bad. Vast majority of rides, everyone has a good day out, most people will help most other people most of the time and the miles just tick by.

These threads often degenerate into a string of complaints about poor group riding but actually, it’s rarely that bad. Vast majority of rides, everyone has a good day out

Doesn't sound like you're someone who's always off the back of 'social paced rides' and struggling to get back.

Just joined a new club where I've moved to and 3 social rides in I'm very unsure whether I'll join another one as each one has been less than social for me, not because I'm lazy and not trying, it's just been too bloody hard trying to hang on on every single climb and then when they get a sniff of the home run it's TT time.

I was tempted to offer the same route as advertised, but at a lower paced with me, but being new I'm not so sure how that will go down. Only one way to find out....

I used to ride with 5 mates...one would every now and then bring a newbie ...obvs the newbie would be slow, but the person who brought them would just speed off and leave them....me being me would always help the slower riders...fast forward to now
I don't ride with the selfish rider anymore..simple as

Uggghh- everything above sounds like hell on earth. Mostly due to having a ride leader and rules at all it seems 🤣

We are blessed with the infamous Newbury 8am ride.
The route is simple- it’s the same one everyone has been doing for about twenty years so no conflict there.
The rules are simple too- if you don’t keep up you carry on at your own pace or cut a corner off of the loop.
The more people come out, the more groups form on the road.
If the fast folk aren’t feeling a speedy time is on- they may wait at a few choice spots but expect to have to carry straight on when you get there.

It’s the only way it can work I think. Like a pace partner on Zwift. Use it to your advantage and expect nothing from anyone.

I occasionally do the local shop 15mph ride as a Z2 but it runs into a few of the problems listed above. And being a bigger rider- the worst place to have the others stop is at the top of the hill! I want to recoup my advantage on the downslope whilst you’re still gassed- not have you look pitifully at me like I don’t know how to ride a bike whilst you freshen up 🤣🤣🤣

The proper chaingang is the best way mind you. Pull until you can’t and then sit on until you can’t and then solo in vowing to get fitter next week if the elastic snaps completely 🤣

I think that’s the biggest takeaway- only embark on a group ride you are happy to solo round if needed 🤷🏻‍♂️

Doesn’t sound like you’re someone who’s always off the back of ‘social paced rides’ and struggling to get back.

Just joined a new club where I’ve moved to and 3 social rides in I’m very unsure whether I’ll join another one as each one has been less than social for me, not because I’m lazy and not trying, it’s just been too bloody hard trying to hang on on every single climb and then when they get a sniff of the home run it’s TT time.

Of course everything is relative, but what sort of average pace / distance / climbing is the social group in this club? I can only speak for mine but our socials would do 50-60km, at around 20-22kph average and less than evens in climbing (evens being about 500m in 50km, 600 in 60, etc - so about 1%)  Hillier rides will be slower.

And we only do it for fun, so if it isn't fun find another one that is. What area are you, maybe someone can give a recommendation.

We are blessed with the infamous Newbury 8am ride.
The route is simple- it’s the same one everyone has been doing for about twenty years so no conflict there.

You do the same route every week? That sounds like hell on earth to me!

Otherwise is wouldn’t be the 8am 🙄🤣🤣🤣

One old boy has racked up over 200 loops!

Poor bugger, he must be bored shitless.

Not if he has dementia.

I occasionally do the local shop 15mph ride as a Z2 but it runs into a few of the problems listed above.

You do realise you and the OP are talking about exactly the same ride?

Not if it was today Beej 🤔

Poor bugger, he must be bored shitless.

If you ride the same area all week long- it’s not like you can suddenly reach new and exiting scenery by doing different loops from of the same duration from the same starting point 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣

we (Woking) have about twenty places we can go, with multiple variations on route to get there. Windsor, Henley, Twyford, Warren Row, Bushy, Esher, Cobham, Box Hill, Ashstead, Leatherhead, Coldharbour, Peaslake, Holmbury, Cranleigh, Newdigate, Rudgwick, Alice Holt, Farnham, Hindhead, Odiham, Wellington....... I've been to all of these in the last year or so. That's without the big days out (Shoreham for example) and why we 'need' RL's to plan and lead these rides

Flat, hilly, in between you name it. I'm taking the piss a bit but I'm genuinely amazed if you don't have at least a few others to vary it a bit.

From Newbury, I’ve been everywhere from Windsor in the East, to Wantage in the North, Westbury in the West and Basingstoke in the South this year but that’s almost all been solo.
If I want to group ride then the 8am gives me what I need 🤩 🤣🤣🤣

Ride solo, problem solved.

I do that often, but I do like a group ride, yesterday's ride was great once this in front had ****ed off... I spent the first 20km telling those behind not to bother chasing. Next time I'm going to go full Cippolini and ride up to anyone attacking and lob a full bottle at their head 😜

I occasionally do the local shop 15mph ride as a Z2 but it runs into a few of the problems listed above.

There's a good reason for that! I haven't mentioned the shop as they are not involved anymore, it's just a place to meet.

The 8.00am ride is a Sunday isn't it, I can't ride Sundays. It also goes on what are, imo, big open dull roads..

Someone asked about the rides pace, usually between 25-27kmph ISH, and without wishing to boast I could easily not get dropped by the faster riders if I was wanting to not help others.

Jeez, the group I'm in all act like adults.

Teach the newbies how to work in a group, swap over every 3-6 minutes (unless it's summer and windy, then we let an A2 pull us 🤣), kill yourself on climbs and then regroup. If we are doing up and overs it'll be to point A and anyone dropped catches up there.

There is usually a ride leader but we all look out for each other. Fast lads do the first 20km or so with the touring group and then race off to do whatever.

Yes 8am is Sunday 🤣🤣

I’m guessing I *did* do last weeks culprit ride then 😱 😱

Apart from the boring old hills and the boring old narrow scenic lanes and the fact you have to stop for a lovely hot drink and let your legs get stiff it was ‘reet 🤷🏻‍♂️🤣🤣

For all the dissenters about group riding, you really are missing the thrill you get when riding in a well-drilled bunch. There has to be a certain level of trust and skill in riding fast in a tight formation, but when you’re clipping along a country road on a nice day it really is awesome. It’s also why you get some group rides when some numbtie upsets the harmony by pi$$ing on the chips by half-wheeling, missing turns and general baw-baggery 😁

Yes I must say- last weeks chaingang was more fun and enjoyable than any crit I’ve ever done. It was like being in a break where everyone actually wants to work together 🤣🤣

But way too fast for scenic roads 😬 (24mph for 30 miles)

I’m guessing I *did* do last weeks culprit ride then

Last week's ride wasn't as bad as this week's ride. Last week* edit that might have been the week before I dropped the hammer a bit on the climb up to Bradfield Southend and then sat up at the War Memorial and said let's wait and they all buggered off and we didn't see them again till Theale, then they all just rode off again later with us catching up another rider as they couldn't wait for him to take his jacket off...I don't get it. I can get just a good a workout sitting on the front of the others as in a faster bunch.
Where did we go last week? Sheep drove? That one stayed pretty much together, got a bit frisky at points but people seemed to be willing to wait

Yeah Sheep Drove 👍🏻

I think your expectations are too high. It’s a trade off between a bit of company and maybe a bit of draft here and there on the plus side and the inevitable clash of desired outcomes and abilities on the other.

I know the ‘19’s’ keep upsetting each other too so at least it’s not just you 🤣

I just think buggering off with about 15km done is just odd if you want a group ride, I enjoy a good smash sometimes but just wait till 10-20km from the end. One of the riders had a heart issue a few weeks back so it doesn't hurt to hang back and make sure everyone is OK if they are struggling.

I enjoy a good smash sometimes but just wait till 10-20km from the end

Rich and I always had the 10km rule - if you're not the ride leader and there's less than 10km to go, you can start racing to get to the coffee and cake. That only really works if the cake is at the end though.

For all the dissenters about group riding, you really are missing the thrill you get when riding in a well-drilled bunch. There has to be a certain level of trust and skill in riding fast in a tight formation, but when you’re clipping along a country road on a nice day it really is awesome. It’s also why you get some group rides when some numbtie upsets the harmony by pi$$ing on the chips by half-wheeling, missing turns and general baw-baggery 😁

I agree. And it does take quite a bit of work and practice to get right, but it's well worth handling a few numpties and sticking with it for the end resuts. Although it must be said that some groups probably are beyond hope, simply because they have no desire to ride in an orderly fasion - in which case just find another group.

Sadly I think with the relatively recent advent of so many small pseudo teams, a lot of the more experienced (and disciplined) riders have left the mainstream clubs and are not there to pass on etiquette and discipline to new riders.

The route is simple- it’s the same one everyone has been doing for about twenty years so no conflict there.

This made me laugh - there's quite a big club near me who are at the same cafe at 11am every Saturday - they'll have 30-40 riders in different paced groups, and the cafe reserves half the indoor seating for them. If I get my ass moving I can get there just in time to get my order in ahead of theirs.

Was an interesting club ride this morning - stepped "up" to the inters group, and we split into a faster and slower version, though Strava suggests only half a mph between us in the end.

Couple of times a rider got detached on hills, though the sweeper stayed with them so they were never alone, and a couple of us were feeling it towards the end, but the feeling of being pulled along effortlessly by the group at 20mph along a 5 mile flat section was glorious.

Rich and I always had the 10km rule – if you’re not the ride leader and there’s less than 10km to go, you can start racing to get to the coffee and cake. That only really works if the cake is at the end though.

Or you race to the town sign at the end!

The route is simple- it’s the same one everyone has been doing for about twenty years so no conflict there.

Our local tri-club does the same route every Saturday - would drive me insane.

I ride with a different club and a few of use route set each week. I always try and find new route variants, just to keep it varied. I did almost get dropped on my own ride yesterday - joint last up the last hill - my legs were totally shot. Luckily they did wait on the other side....

Or you race to the town sign at the end!

We always have that - amazingly I managed to hang on right to the sign, which given I'd almost been dropped a few miles earlier was quite a surprise....

As for the OP, I don't think there is a right or wrong for group rides, each group sorts out it's own behavioral norms and those who don't like it, just find another group to ride with.

The route is simple- it’s the same one everyone has been doing for about twenty years so no conflict there.

One day , just try it the other way round, please! 🙂

Our local tri-club does the same route every Saturday – would drive me insane.

In some respects that's quite useful. Rapha London do early-morning Regent's Park laps a couple of times a week, aimed at the cycle commute crowd and it more or less means there's always a group there who'll do however many laps they want - some people will do 2hrs worth, others will drop in for a lap or two and then ride on.

I wouldn't do it on a weekend; that's the time for proper riding, exploring the lanes etc but for a midweek thing, having a set route where you know there'll always be a few clubmates out is a good little social thing without too much planning.

TBH, i changed the route and cafe stops on a no drop ride on a training camp a few years ago when a handful of dickheads decided they knew better. They didn't do it again.

One day , just try it the other way round, please! 🙂

We discussed that today. Decided it would be too brutal 😱
More support for doing two laps to make it a century segment 🤣

On our regular group rides, every village sign or hilltop was a ‘prime’, so it was rarely boring. Over the years, various tactic were employed including ‘escapes’ from a long way out. One memorable one for me was 2 guys jumped away for a distant village sign, I looked back to notice the local bus bearing down, so I simply jumped in the draft for a tow to bag the bragging rights 😁

Ha that’s quality 🤣 I once used a tractor draft to get back on after getting dropped hard up a hill. They all have 50k boxes these days though 😞 🚜 💨 💨 💨 🚴🏻

I've never done a group ride. Doesn't sound fun at all.

You should. It is, with the right group.

So crosshair, trying to work out who you are, were you riding a Diverge on the Sheep drove ride?

Yep that’s me 🙌

I’ve never done a group ride. Doesn’t sound fun at all.

Speaking as someone who is ambivalent about road riding, I will say that a well drilled road group ride with people you are confident won't do anything stupid is an awesome experience. 8 to 10 riders is the perfect number IMHO. Unfortunately it's rather a rare thing, as evidenced above.

I’ve never done a group ride. Doesn’t sound fun at all.

I love it, I ride in with two different groups - one is definitely more banter / social - never drop anyone. The other is a fast group, which is very much 'anything goes' - sometimes really sedate, sometime a succession of strong riders go on the front at 100% and string it out into a line and everyone else is just chasing wheels with no time to notice if someone gets dropped. Really good fun but bloody hard work - I see max HR most weeks and that's just following wheels! Pretty much every week the whole group gets top 10 Strava places and if there's a tail wind we normally take the KoM on a few sections. The girls in the group normally get all the QoMs along the route. The next day, I'm totally wiped out though....

8 to 10 riders is the perfect number IMHO.

Yep, we had 17 on Saturday, reminded me of being in a road race. Does mean you have to be very confident in a bunch and have a bunch of good riders where no one will do anything stupid at 35 mph.

The other problem with larger groups is even though everyone calls out holes, unless you're right at the front you have no idea where it is and just hit them full on, but at least you have time to brace! My 404s have survived some pretty big clunks where I was convinced it had blown out based on the noise of impact - but so far, puncture free from hole impacts.

I’ve never done a group ride. Doesn’t sound fun at all.

A good (ie competent!) group of similar ability, shared aims etc on decent roads is brilliant. It's even better in a road race situation where a breakaway of about 6 or so working through and off is just poetry on wheels.

A bad group with basically a bunch of individuals all riding for themselves or trying to do it in heavy traffic can be an exercise in frustration. The problem is it really only takes one muppet to cause issues - someone who's idea of "going through" is to put it into the biggest gear and smash it for example will shred a group instantly. Similar if a rider tries to join a group that is above their abilities - you can argue that the group should support and help this rider or that the newcomer is ruining the established ride but either way someone is going to end up unhappy.

Club vs shop rides....I think this is a subtle but important difference. Club feel more 'family' - people join to be part of something. There are long term friendships. You often used to or still do race together. The old timers are part of the fabric of the club and people want to support them if they get left behind on a climb. The newbies are invested in with a bit of support and generally other members want them to enjoy it and become regulars. Shop rides.....I think they are often collectives of people who want to group ride for what they gain personally from it. It's less about investment into a club and more about self. It also works for the introverts who don't really 'get' clubs or get people.

I like a group ride. But given the choice I'd far rather ride in a group of 8 max. Any more than that is a ball ache imo. 8 riders feels like a team. Anyone can look around and do a head count and clock someone is missing. There is less 'group think' where blowing it apart or splitting at a junction feels a non issue. People think more collectively rather than as individuals. There are less punctures and mechanicals. You can rock up at a cafe and not dominate the place. There seem to be less incidents on the road - cars manage to navigate around an 8 without getting stressed and again the heard mentality of riders being needlessly aggressive towards drivers seems to be quelled. I genuinely can't see any up sides to riding in bigger groups than that.

I would add that a gentle ride out chatting to mates can be a great group ride also.

A few years ago, working on a multi-day event as a Ride Leader, we had a corporate group who'd mostly taken to riding together, they were of fairly similar ability. Anyway, their method was for Rider A to sit on the front and tow everyone along at 23, 23...22...20...17 as he got tired. Eventually, from somewhere in the middle of the line, Rider D would get bored of this, pull out, smash it to the front and sit on the front at 22...20...17...

It was all very disjointed and then there was a near miss when two riders both pulled out together to try and get to the front. So I taught them through and off, riding alongside them, telling them to change, drop back, and so on. They needed a lot of persuading that "coming through" did not mean "smash the shit out of it" and also some persuading that dropping to the back of the line was not a challenge to their manhood but actually within a couple of miles it clicked. Fortunately, we were on fairly open roads at this point so it was easy to get some flow. The group arrived at the feed station absolutely buzzing, they'd averaged over 20mph for about 6 miles of smooth teamwork. They were genuinely made up, high-fiving - like it had all just become clear to them. Nice feeling. 🙂

I would add that a gentle ride out chatting to mates can be a great group ride also.

My main social event each week is a chatty Wednesday ride.

I know there does not seem to be a spate of accidents but slip streaming scares me. I just do not trust anyone else with my safety

I know there does not seem to be a spate of accidents but slip streaming scares me. I just do not trust anyone else with my safety

I have a friend who is ok in a group up to 4 and after that he just rides about 5m off the back. Does mean he's doing 25% more work than everyone else!

Either you're happy or you're not I guess. I do sometimes think WTF when I'm 2" off a wheel going over 30mph with no idea what's ahead of the wheel I'm following. Blind faith. Someone shouts "hole" and I just tighten my grip waiting for impact....

If you ride with the same bunch all the time I find it helps as you know exactly how each person rides, which wheels are good to follow etc and who is a bit erratic etc.

Road races were more interesting, 60+ riders and you only know a few team mates.

In our Saturday group we have one rider who does this really weird thing where he randomly stands up and moves the bike side to side like a Mark Cavendish 2000W sprint finish, but without any acceleration at all. We all take the piss out of him for it....

In our Saturday group we have one rider who does this really weird thing where he randomly stands up and moves the bike side to side like a Mark Cavendish 2000W sprint finish, but without any acceleration at all. We all take the piss out of him for it….

Doing that and not decelerating (and the person behind you riding into your back wheel) is a skill in itself! On fast climbs or short steep mini sections on an otherwise fast bit of road the ability to get out of the saddle and back in without changing tempo is a real asset to a group rider. I've got a funky hip and the urge to get out of the saddle to ease it off comes quite regularly and unpredictably!

Doing that and not decelerating (and the person behind you not riding into your back wheel) is a skill itself!

He does kick back a bit, but anyone following him is sort of expecting it....

I've never asked him why he does it, I guess to refresh the legs or sore arse....

Interesting that so many other clubs have ride leaders. For better / worse our club has never had ride leaders, and just sorts itself into fast / inters / steady groups. All routes are posted beforehand, and its up to individuals to download the route and navigate round. Fast / inters generally do the same route, so if you get dropped from the fast group you can just pick up inters (which is a no-drop group).

@MoreCashThanDash a kind lady involved with your club scraped me up off the road last week and took me to hospital 🙁 Rider in front of me crashed in a fast chaingang situation, leaving me nowhere to go but down...

I know there does not seem to be a spate of accidents but slip streaming scares me. I just do not trust anyone else with my safety

Rider in front of me crashed in a fast chaingang situation, leaving me nowhere to go but down…

I would add that a gentle ride out chatting to mates can be a great group ride also.

Yeah, if I'm out riding with folk it's because I'm feeling sociable.

First crash I've had in 5 years of road riding 🙂

Also first time I've needed a CT scan 🙁

Eugh. Roadies. sounds rubbish.

@MoreCashThanDash a kind lady involved with your club scraped me up off the road last week and took me to hospital 🙁 Rider in front of me crashed in a fast chaingang situation, leaving me nowhere to go but down…

Hope you are recovering ok

Intrigued now as to who you were riding with and who it was who helped you - not seen a mention on the club page but deserves recognition

I was riding with SNCC, but a lady called Leanne stopped in her car and gave me a lift to Ripley hospital. Her fella rides with ICC. I've contacted her and the club to say thanks

We see quite a lot of SNCC down here, often in good size smooth riding groups.

Hope you weren't too badly hurt, nice of you to get in touch to say thanks as well 👍