In that case fair enough, sounds like he got the wrong group. I'd still be uber-friendly with him though in case he decides cycling isn't for him 
Now I think about it we started a small cycling 'club' a couple of years ago on my estate - nothing serious, just a bunch of middle aged blokes who wanted to get a bit of exercise on a Sunday morning. It did get a little frustrating having to stop every mile or two to regroup, and there was never a good enough turnout to split out into two groups.
We had a guy like that turn up on the university club ride a couple of years ago. He was banging on about how he was super fit from rowing, and he'd ridden loads on his own. And he was trying to get his flying licence and he was a medical student, but that's by-the-by.
Anyway he did well for about 10 miles, then started to slow down, then started to *really* slow down and we had to push him up hills. He was so buggered he stopped at a pub to call a taxi back to Sheffield, even though Hathersage train station was about 3 (downhill) miles away.
Never saw him again. In his defence he was a bit embarrassed at the end.
That's the danger isn't it.
When I was 15 just about five miles from home my body stopped working. I can recall it vividly, sat on the verge of the A41 while they fed me dextose tablets and Mars bars.
And we have had to actually push a guy along on one occasion to get him home.
I would say and it's a massive generalisation that those that start humble endure.
Oldgit: I was once that person - I remember being pushed home by a clubmate when we were out on a (very cold) winter clubrun, very early in my road biking career. In fact it may even have been my first ever road ride, I was about 17.
On the other hand at least I a) hadn't turned up on the worlds flashiest bike and b) hadn't banged on about how amazing I was. Another plus point was that I'd been in the club for a while as a MTBer so everyone on that club ride knew me. And I never made the mistake of not eating/drinking on a ride again...
Turning up on a top end bike is fine if you say that it's your first time, you'd like to learn the ropes, meet new people etc then most road clubs will be very welcoming and patient.
Turning up on a crap bike is fine.
Turning up on a top end bike telling all and sundry how great you (think) you are, get dropped and you've got to expect people to take the piss or at least make you eat a bit of humble pie.
I'm sure he's googling interval trainings etc etc right now...might be back in a year to drop you all 
That guys sounds like a complete joke, I mean what an idiot!!!
By the way, I know this should probably go on the classifieds, but anyone want to buy:
Pinarello Dogma, full carbon everything.
HTC team bibshorts, size XL
HTC team jersey, size XL
HTC team gilet, size XL
HTC socks
HTC aero overshoes
HTC cycling cap
Giro Ionos Livestrong Helmet
Garmin 8000000 Sat Nav
...oh and two HTC 500ml bottles
All reasonable offers considered
EDIT: and a pair of HTC team race mitts
Oh dear, in a similar but less extreme vein one of the senior managers at my work has just made his first 'proper' bike pruchase a Pitch for commuting to work.
A Pitch, for commuting, on the roads.
He lives about three miles from work and likes to ride in during the summer, i did a comedy double take when i saw it in the shed. I asked him how he was finding it and apparently its a bit heavy but the suspension is good for potholes, the bikeshop said it was a good mountain bike so he bought it.
I have a nice bike and love riding but I'm not fit, I ride on my own mostly for that reason, go at my own pace, have a rest when I feel like it.
But on the few occasions I have ridden with others off here some kind soul has helped pull me along and the group has never left me behind - immediate thoughts go to Junkyard, Simonfbarnes, EZAKIMAK, Lowey, Steve, Deejay etc
A Pitch, for commuting, on the roads
Full marks.
They are masters at avoiding effort
Sounds like me.
S'OK though - I ride a Five.
I have a nice bike and love riding but I'm not fit, I ride on my own mostly for that reason, go at my own pace, have a rest when I feel like it.
If you fancy a more sociable ride some time - I must be somewhere near you and am also very unfit
A Pitch, for commuting, on the roads.
Wow. Get him out on the trails on it!
There is a massive differential between thinking one is fit for the bike, and actually being bike fit.
I've had the ignominy of being given a shove, and I've also coaxed plenty of riders home. We do all have to learn somewhere.
I would have had sympathy for oldgit's rider but for the fact that he shot his mouth off. I've never met a decent rider who tells anyone how good s/he is - they just batter you from beginning to end and then do another 40 miles home after the ride.
I've just bought a beautiful, expensive road bike. While I'm not the fittest or fastest in the world, I'm by no means the slowest (did 96 miles yesterday at 17mph avg (on the winter bike, it was raining)) and I'm feeling really strange about going out on my new bike, like if I'm not caning it people will think what an idiot, All the gear no idea.
so going back to the OP, do these people not have any shame? or are they oblivous to it all?
C'mon 17/96 is fast.
A Pitch, for commuting, on the roads.
There's a guy in Leicester who commutes on a Stinky.
I wish I had his thighs.
I turned up on my 3rd club ride back in december. It was a cold winters day and there was a guy waiting who i hadn't seen before. Had no club kit on and had winter bike with mudguards etc.
I asked him if he was with the club and said no but a mate in the club had invited him along. I asked him if he rode much and he said "a bit"
Found out when i got home he was a masters road race champion, National Expert MTB series winner (2004), top 20 in World masters road, tt & cross championships and has held and Elite road licence for 8 consecutive years!!! 
grum - sounds good, been off the bike for a while due to a 'medical thing' - I'm in to see a consultant at 10:45 today.......will mail you after that although I'm expecting some sort of small operation in the near future - well I'm hoping its small 
You see peeps on the machines at gyms reading... How on earth do you read if you're going balls out on something (i.e. training with effect)?
Whilst I completely agree he shouldn't have gobbed off about his brilliantness, maybe he was over compensating for being a bit nervous. If it really is a friendly ride shouldn't someone should have dropped back and at least offered him a wheel?
I did my first ever bash last night and was bricking it before hand.
I find these 'more money than sense' people very depressing actually. You just know they'll end up disappointed.
OK - What should he have done? & what bike should he have bought?
OK - What should he have done? & what bike should he have bought?
It's not a case of "he should start on a cheap bike" cos that's clearly rubbish. The guy can buy whatever bike/kit he wants. Turning up and shooting your mouth off about how great you are though deserves some contempt, especially when you're out the back within a few seconds.
Turning up, explaining that you're new to all this and would welcome some advice and I'm willing to bet that he'd have been helped round or at least offered some useful advice.
ok fair point - he needs some good advice followed by years of piss taking "remember the first club ride you came to"? haha...
I bought a PL X SL Red for just over a grand - I posted (on another forum) how to adjust the Sram rear mech - there was a few posts with "sram red/newbie" 
I felt I was tarred with the all gear no idea brush.
truth is I'm relatively fit, bits of fell running, mountain biking etc & had a grand for a road bike (how dare me for not buying a 105 groupset)!
aracer - MemberYou're a "no pain no gain" sort of person aren't you? It is possible to train without going balls out you know.
That'll be the one Yes you can but shirley such low intensity to be able to sitand read a book is going a bit too far? Next we'll have 'training by laying on the sofa eating biscuits' or 'I did 10 miles medium intensity....on the BUS!' 
aracer - MemberYou're a "no pain no gain" sort of person aren't you? It is possible to train without going balls out you know.
That'll be the one Yes you can but shirley an intensity so low as to be able to sit and read a book is going a bit too far? Next we'll have 'training by laying on the sofa eating biscuits' or 'I did 10 miles medium intensity....on the BUS!'
Just joshing, I like watching (read letching) gym bunnies it's just the bullshit that's hard to swallow
shirley such low intensity to be able to sitand read a book is going a bit too far?
I can quite happily read a book whilst level 2 training on the turbo (determined using a HRM). Plenty of training effect there.
The thing I like about road riding is it's brutally honest.
ie: if you're good, you're good and people will respect you for it (so long as you're not a pr*ck about it)
If you talk a lot, have the kit but can't ride, it becomes clear. You can't blag it.
If you're in the latter group but learn how to ride your decent kit and learn to give it a bit less chat, you get the respect that's due.
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