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Enjoying a splendid spin along the side of Windermere between hawkshead and newby bridge a few weeks ago on the road bike, and pass a girl pushing her 5 along the road, I stopped (naturally) to ask if she needed help, and indeed she did. Her chain had become horrifyingly tangled in her chainrings. After a little elbow grease and a bit of force (couldn't be bothered getting the Allen keys out, and she couldn't have caught me if I'd snapped something) I got the chain out.
She then went on to explain to me that she'd been out riding with a club that will remain un-named, however for those curios it rhymes with log-rotters and they'd straight up told her that she wasn't fit enough to go with them so had to ride back to the cars on the road. I almost fainted amongst the fallen December leaves when she spoke of these shameful actions. Now I'm sure all the riders in the club that rhymes with log rotters have got World Cup cross country races to train for so their ride pace is important, but it was also the girls first ride with them and I got the impression she was jolly miffed!
Should they have dropped their pace a little to include her and maybe done a motorpacing session in the afternoon to make up for it? Or did they do the right thing? Obviously I cannot account for the precise happenings of what went on but the end factor was a first time group member left walking along an a-road with a broken bike, in an area she did not know, on her own. Not great for participation/memberships! Possibly a few training tips and recommendations of a slower group after the ride over a couple of scones would have been a better idea.
And discuss....
Agree with you 100%. At the very least someone should have ridden back with her and then caught up with the rest of the club.
If that's true that's pretty low. Even if you plan a fast ride if someone turns up who's slower someone should accompany them round.
I'm sure someone will be along to give a different side of the story soon but, on the face of it, it does seem well out of order.
There is no excuse for dumping someone though, especially a new rider and without being sexist, a girl too. Like it or not, they do have a specific set of vulnerabilities that suggest seeing her back to the car park would have, at least, been the decent thing to do.
No, I don't think that's sexist, just pragmatic.
If what she says is true, that was appalling behaviour.
I used to ride with a University club and they used to do the same. I was just able to keep up but hung off the back most rides. Used to be pretty miserable, but I didn't know anyone else or the area. If anyone new came they wouldn't be warmly welcomed and no-one but me would chat with them. I generally used to ride with them at the back to encourage them but it would be very rare you would see them the next week.
I don't think they ever liked me as they would have to wait a bit for me on the uphills but they had zero technical skills so I would thrash them on the downhills even though I'd be knackered. Taunting them about that probably didn't help!! 😉
If that's true, they sound like a bunch of ****ers..
Heard similar stuff about the log rotters before. Riding with them never really appealed to me TBH - big groups riding busy, narrow footpaths in the Lakes on a sunny weekend doesn't sound like a great plan.
Thats disgraseful. If i was in any mountain bike group no matter what the situation, I would never leave anyone behind for the sake of their safety.
What a bunch of ****s
IMO your post could be unfair as you don't have the full story.
lets say she couldn't make the first mile and there was another 15 very hilly/technical miles to go.
advising her to abandon the ride could have been the best option for all.
I used to ride with these guys and I found them to be hugely hospitable to new riders!
I seem to remember lots of information on there website about the rides they put on. They used to rank them 'easy, medium, hard' etc and state a rough level of fitness you'd ideally need for each ride. in fact they had maps with all the terrain / info too.
it sounds like she was unfortunate getting her chain stuck...not the clubs fault IMO. you said this was on a road too (so probably close to her car...so he wasn't abandoned in the wilderness)
Also you have to think about your other members too. what if 20 riders have prepared / travelled upto 2 hours to the ride to find out its ruined by a woman 'who's massively bit off more than she can chew'?
Bourbon anyone?
Any pics?
I've been out with groups of pretty mixed ability and we've never left someone behind.
That's a rotten thing to do
surely someone could have accompanied her?
that's what puts me off group rides
I know I'd be slowing everyone down
Is it too early for a Hobnob?
I almost fainted amongst the fallen December leaves when she spoke of these shameful actions.
Apart from anything else, I think you probably need to MTFU 😉
Jeeeze if you can not keep up with the BogRotters on a Saturday you must be friggin slow. Rides are posted up with level of ride and they will vary with types of riders Saturdays do attract a lot of lady riders. The rides usually have a leader who makes the calls, pretty sure the lady in question would have been giving options/made sure she had the right equipment and knew how to get back to her car. This time of year is usually cold and wet group of 10-15 hanging around not a good idea, maybe she did not bring the £2 to ride with us 🙂
Regardless of her ability to keep up one of the faster riders who knew the route should at least have been detailed to make sure she returned to the start point safely before rejoining the ride.
But really, unless it was advertised as 'hard ride/experts only' why turn her away?
Be interestign to get the other end of the story.
Ive ridden with big groups and if newbies start to fall off, I usually split them off the main group and ride at a pace that suits them. The only way to get better is to carry on riding.
Its obviously too early for original, witty comments khani 8)
I've been out with groups of pretty mixed ability and we've [b]never[/b][i][u] left someone behind.
Hear, hear!
Ride at the pace of the slowest, even if it means someone has to sacrifice some of their fun. On big mixed group rides, we tend to take it in turns to lead and sweep. Someone gets to lead out a fun section, then they take their turn at the back sweeping up the stragglers after that. Those of us who act as sweepers always try and make sure we've got tools etc as well, as often we find that the newer/one time riders don't. Very much the case for things like Bike Stag rides, where non-bike friends come along and join the ride group.
Never leave a man, or woman, behind. Simple.
my point was maybe this lady was 'rock bottom' in terms of fitness / experience.
if my guess is true then the only questionable thing is 'did anyone ride back to the road with her'? ' did she know her way back to her car'?
Its obviously too early for original, witty comments khani
Yes, I can see that..
I was on that ride, she knew exactly where she was and was happy to turn back...There was an offer of not leaving her to back on her own too...It was declined.....
if it werent for the extraordinary patience of members of the Chiltern 1stXV MTB club over 10 years ago, there were would be quite a few of us who would never have gone from slow novices to the slow pro riders we are today.
A social ride rides at the slowest pace. If you want to rag it, organise a tempo ride.
Jeeeze if you can not keep up with the BogRotters on a Saturday you must be friggin slow.
*swoon*
What a bunch of cocks, at least one of them should have accompanied her to the car, even a northerner should be able to grasp the concept that you never drop the slowest on a group ride it's just safety/common sense.
Ok I'd have to ride with a paper bag on my head lest someone saw me riding with someone on an Orange 5 but I'm always happy to ride at the back with the newbies.
What day was it? A couple of Saturdays ago (30th)? Think I saw the group on that road (I was out on my road bike). I got a puncture, none of them asked if I was ok, think they were probably just trying to cycle away from that lass as fast as they could .
"its ruined by a woman 'who's massively bit off more than she can chew'"
the best thing to do is to bin her then. Make her walk back by her self that will learn her proper!
I wouldn't have left her or anyone else.
What sefton says above.
They are the most organised & friendly MTB club I have met.
All publicised rides are graded for difficulty.
This sounds like only half a tale from the OP
- why wait until now to post ?a few weeks ago
Also you have to think about your other members too. what if 20 riders have prepared / travelled upto 2 hours to the ride to find out its ruined by a woman 'who's massively bit off more than she can chew'
I would think that at least one person would break off from the main group and either take a shorter/easier route with the newbie. Or at least chum them back to the car if they didn't want to carry on.
I rode with a club for the first time the other day and was by far the slowest up hill (my main weakness), they are primarily a road club but mountain bike in the winter. There was always one or two riders who hung back with me while the rest rode at their usual pace. They took it in turns too, so it wasn't a big problem for any one rider.
Hora to the forum.....
There's an old story that's relevant! 🙂
I was on that ride, she knew exactly where she was and was happy to turn back...
What difficulty was the ride graded at?
sounds like she declined the 'help back to the car'!
...anyway...this post is a waste of time.
Just to nip this in the bud it was the Xmas club weekender and she joined the wrong ride and ended up on the moderate ride instead of the easy ride. Decided to head back to Hawkshead YHA and enjoy the XMAS market but had chainsuck caused by a bent chainring on route back.
Put ya Hobnobs back 🙂
What difficulty was the ride graded at?
Moderate - it was the Christmas weekend, a few different graded rides and she ended up on the moderate by mistake - she knew the way back to the YH they were all staying at
[edit] cross post.
Poor show
From their point of view it can be a bit inconsiderate if someone turns up to a club ride way out their depth in terms of fitness or skills despite being told in advance what is expected. When this is the case some people (including myself as ive been in the position before) would prefer to ride on alone and let the group go on at their own pace. Some others say they want this then afterwards complain about the pace being too high and being left behind. I have no experience of the club in question but i doubt they are all dicks and it was as simple as telling her to go on her way and make her own way back to the car without someone at least offering to show the way.
Someone from that ride has posted in response already, although the flamefest continues unabated. Certainly paints a slightly different picture.
Obviously it's best if group rides stay together, but there does come a limit when the cumulative effect of a slow crawl on a short day can mean the arrival of darkness for the whole group. The key thing was whether she was told to sling her hook, as she claims, or came to that conclusion herself. If she wanted to stay with the group, then the group should have been flexible with the intended route.
Loving all the BogRotter haterz on here, the club probably does more for accomodating Lady riders of all levels 🙂
We even let them map read sometime 😉
😆We even let them map read sometime
sorry...made me chuckle
We had a girl come out on a group ride with us once who was seriously struggling. She had a supermarket BSO and couldn't even keep up on the flat at a gentle warm up pace. We had a chat with her and convinced her maybe this wasn't the ride for her. One of the group then took her back to the start of the ride and made sure she got home safely. Absolutely no excuse for just dropping someone and abandoning them.
Bourbon anyone?
Please. Kettle's on.
We had a [b][i]girl[/i][/b] come out on a group ride with us once...
My hero. 😆
Just to nip this in the bud it was the Xmas club weekender and she joined the wrong ride and ended up on the moderate ride instead of the easy ride. Decided to head back to Hawkshead YHA and enjoy the XMAS market but had chainsuck caused by a bent chainring on route back.Put ya Hobnobs back
Yes but on her own?
We had a girl come out on a group ride with us once...My hero.
The first and last. 😆
I think the shameful act that the original poster was riding around a lake on a friggin road bike! Get on your mtb you pussy :-)or ride up some hills 🙂
Somebody could have volunteered to accompany her, if the group couldn't fix the problem on the spot.
Earlier post answers this. Company back to car offered but declined...I suppose you could insist on accompanying her, but I'm not sure this kind of gallantry is considered the done thing any more.
I still want Hobnobs, though.
The important factors are missing- was she single, and was she hot? If the answer to these 2 questions is yes, then letting her ride away un[s]leghumped[/s]assisted was bang out of order.
I've been the slowest person on rides, if I know where I am I'll go off and do my own thing, it's just riding by yourself, whether you start in a group or not doesn't change that. People shouldn't be abandoned but that doesn't mean they need their hands held either.
yes but on her own
She was not 12!
Somebody could have volunteered to accompany her, if the group couldn't fix the problem on the spot.
Maybe read the replies already - FTR her char wasn't jammed when she left them
Yes absolutely, apologies if my post sounded unfair, I'm sure that you postie-rich and all the others are a great group, and I don't even have a 3rd person view of the situation, my post is just the details that she told me.
She may have volunteered to go back, and turned down company, but who would want to spoil the ride of someone else on the day? She may have put a brave face on at the time but from what she was saying she was just very put out, and she was at least 5miles from hawkshead I'd say (not far from lakeside yha) and it was probably looking like a very long lonely walk back on the road for her!
Again, don't mean to sound slanderous towards the group, I just think that a more responsible decision could have been made.
It is the done thing, because most people are going to decline in that situation as they feel embarrassed at putting the group out - it's foolish to take that at face value. Group leader needs the communication skills to make it clear, in an agreeable way, that accompanying a struggling rider back is the way things are done.martinhutch - MemberEarlier post answers this. Company back to car offered but declined...I suppose you could insist on accompanying her, but I'm not sure this kind of gallantry is considered the done thing any more.
And she wasn't single, her boyfriend was in the group! Oh ohhh!
Our solicitors will be in touch 🙂
Nobody wanted to go to the German market with this lass?
Could have shared a sausage. Chance missed.
Yes postie rich so will mine, my gloves are covered in half a bottle of oily bird from the chain!
And she wasn't single, her boyfriend was in the group! Oh ohhh!
So she's single now, then? 😀
Garry - is that really the way it's done? That totally puts me off joining a group ride on the grounds that if I've been totally humiliated fitness-wise, I want to be able to slope off in disgrace on my own...
[i]her boyfriend was in the group! [/i]
frankly, then, if he wasn't prepared to accompany her back then why should any of the other riders.
Doesn't sound like the BT's did much wrong, tbh.
Woman joins wrong ride (to be with boyfriend?) and can't cope.
Abandons and boyfriend doesn't go with her.
Has mechanical on way back to start and gets upset.
Curry man on a road bike rescues her and then waits a fortnight before posting on a forum in a slightly inflammatory way.
Could have shared a sausage. Chance missed.
I heard she loves sausage too!
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Slander slander slander!
Am I too late to the thread for hobnobs or just to shout 'stone them' indescriminately? 😀
My two experiences of them
1. Was at the back as I had opened a gate. Caught up with someone whose chain had snapped and helped them fix it - never been to the area before - Boggies did not stop. Thankfully , chance not planning as they failed to notice, it was straight path back to cars
2. Riding , by chance as they were in my area, with them., Pass a stopped MTB - one asked if they were ok
"no" came the reply. they all rode off!!!
Add to this there inability to give a **** about where they ride and when and they are not the riding buddies I choose.
Individually they seem fine tbh and they do a lot for the community , sadly not all of it is good.
To be fair we lost 4 people on a STW ride, and did not notice, so it can happen.
Seems like they did do the right thing but I would still rather ride down south than with them
I've ridden with the Bogtrotters on a few occasions (admittedly many years ago) and [b]never[/b] seen them leave anyone behind. Rides were always graded - if anyone wanted something faster they'd do their own thing.
In fact I sold a MTB to a woman who (by her own admission) was obese and she was desperate to lose weight, wanted to start biking to lose weight etc and had heard of this club. She bought the bike from the shop I was working in telling me all about this and I flat out told her she shouldn't ride with them the very next day, she should get used to the bike first.
But no, she turned up the next day to this ride, walked almost everything and even then they didn't leave her behind or tell her to ride back to the car.
I was on that ride, she knew exactly where she was and was happy to turn back...There was an offer of not leaving her to back on her own too...It was declined.....
Well there we go, sounds like you got half a story...
If you think the Saturday rides are unfair do not attempt a Wednesday night ride with the South Lakes Squadron they are a bunch of a holes nothing gets in the way of a beer and savoury snacks post ride!
Sounds like the Xmas do. 60 folks with hangovers 2 or 3 rides for different abilities. Not sure who this was or whether it was the ride I was on but as someone has already said she declined to be led back knew her way at the time and had a working bike when she left.
If it was the ride I was on it was of mixed ability and at the slowest riders pace. We even had the decency to wait around for the air ambulance to take someone to hospital.
But by all means fire up tue outrage bus and lets all go for a ride! Let the flamming continue...
Yours sincerely
Tom Wednesday Northern Nightride Committee member of the most loved bike club on STW.
PS Anyone want to discuss footpaths...
punches ticket for the outrage bus!!! Three coming along at once...
Right for all you who just hate the bogtrotters, this is what actually happened.
The girl in question was struggling on the very 1st hill we came out to. As it was graded a moderate ride with a few miles to go and very little daylight, I suggested to her that it wasn't an easy ride at all and that she will really not enjoy herself as she was already 1-2 miles behind everyone else after 2 miles on the flat so she was quite realistic about it and was very happy to go back and have a ride to the Swan hotel for drinks and food - I'd like to re-iterate that she was quite happy with this.
And as for all you asswipes on here slagging BT's off well tough monkey nuts, you need to get all the facts before slagging someone off.
Sounds like there isn't really a case to answer reading all the posts
Its a difficult situation though as you don't want to alienate newer riders. However, everything is relative, and one mans moderate is another's flat out. When I first joined our local club 2 years ago, I went along on an introductory ride thinking I'd cream it but even that was too quick for me! A few months ago, on a 'medium' paced 3hr club ride in FoD, a new chap joined us thinking he was of 'medium' fitness and ability but was pretty much shot and was struggling with the trails after 15 minutes.
I heard she loves sausage too!
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STW - full of the easily outraged who love [b]nothing[/b] more than a story about someone being shitty to somebody else just so they can express this outrage.
It's a bit sad really 🙁
The only party worth lambasting in this situation is the boyfriend. What an a-hole.
And as for all you asswipes on here slagging BT's off well tough monkey nuts, you need to get all the facts before slagging someone off.
New here? 🙂
Can someone clarify a point , are the hobnobs open ?
Not intended to be a slagging off of the bike club, just sharing an opinion of what I think is unreasonable in a group ride, whether that actually happened or not.
And wwaswas... If that even IS your real name, why shouldn't I wait two weeks to post on a forum? I didn't realise the story had a tell by date, and anyway, I've been off work since then, and everyone knows that you should only use STW when someone is paying you to do something else.
Anyway, can I join your club please?
I heard the boyfriend abandoned and went to the Christmas markets
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Time for a GEEK FITE!
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STW - full of the easily outraged who love nothing more than a story about someone being shitty to somebody else just so they can express this outrage.
Are you not being shitty and express your outrage?
I'm outraged by all the shitty outrage on this thread