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TON.....(closet roadie)
he's too modest, he's actually a whole [b]wardrobe [/b]:o)
barnes, HOW much fun did we have today??????
how was your walk up helvelynn 😉
Well that's not so good ton. My lot will even fix my punctures, the knack is to fumble about long enough and one of the old boys will step in and take over. Our lot know every road within a 40 mile radius and most rides are planned on a GPS and they are all good riders. I joined them as a MTBer and did exactly what matey boy did on my first hill. They had a word and now I spend time on the front and give it some on hills as well, you get some grudging respect for that.
Wow, I have been slowly getting into road riding with my daily commute and have been thinking about doing a bit more. Not sure I want to now after reading this!!
Seems very regimented all this club riding.
Serious question - does his behaviour slow you all down? If not then how is it any different to if he hadn't turned up at all? Why do you even care?
Obviously it's going to take someone new to road riding a while to get used to the strange rules of the darkside,just like the roadie who you take out on a proper bike ride and insists on standing up on the pedals at every small incline and brings his fluids in a little plastic bottle that falls out of its stupid little cage thing every time you go over a bump!Yes you could get narked at him or you could give him some advice and after a few rides with you it will have sunk in and everyone will be happy just riding bikes :-).
sounds intriuging road club rides, think i may just stick to road rides solo, i can do all the work on the front, climb as hard or easy as i like, avoid all the potholes myself and not worry about upsetting eveyone else. And i assume if i do all the hard work at the front i won't need to ride for as long on the road as if i was in a group leaving more time to mtb
At the risk of getting lynched i know exactly where the OP is coming from. There was a guy out on our Thursday night run last week, he didn't do a single turn on the front but thought he was God's gift winning the two town-sign sprints. More amusing than annoying in this case, but it was only a 30-mile ride.
how was your walk up helvelynn
it just wasn't my day 🙁
Enjoying a road ride myself (avec baggies, hairy legs, Camelbak, fully finger gloves, peaked helmet and muddy spuds) i've read a number of roadie magazines and fora that give advice for newbies apprehensive about going out on a club ride. Without fail, the advice is that you won't be expected to take a turn on the front if it is your first time because it can be daunting, and it is not the easiest thing to do: there is the route to consider, one has to be able to maintain the correct pace save you go too fast or slow for the rest of the group, and there are all the little hand signals to remember that often take a while to not only learn, but to be able to do when setting a fast pace. Personally i think that is reasonable.
Now, the this newbie was asked if they'd consider taking a turn on the front, [i]"We even spoke to him about it, calmly suggesting that it might be worth doing a turn"[/i]. As we know the newbie didn't feel confident enough with the route to do this. That is fair enough in my mind. Imagine the hullaballoo if they'd got the group lost (they'd be a whole lot of team knickers in a twist then!), not something you'd want when out with a group of people you don't know.
As it turns out then, even though someone in the group had asked the new rider to take a turn on the front and he didn't, so the group upped the pace in the last few miles to drop him anyway.
Sounds like a) there was a bit of a communication problem, b) the group are a bunch of asses for deciding to drop him (tantamount to bullying i'd say), c) DavidB should drop the patronising tone, we're mountain bikers, not idiot and understand basic aerodynamics!
what are all those hand signals anyway......
I'm sure they all make a lot of sense and are very useful, but I think I need to get a set of instructions somewhere....
-)
CaptJon - thanks ..made I laugh
CaptJon - thanks ..made I laugh
*imagines maniacal supervillian laugh*
I try to explain the difference between roadying and mtbing [url= http://www.phased.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=15 ]here[/url] if you can be arsed.
ianc - I think the hand signal on this thread is a closed fist waved up and down in a rhythmic manner and directed at me
Oh God, a blog. I tell you Dave me old mucker, i'll imagine all the differences between mountain bikers and road bike riders and assume you described them in the most witty of ways. That way it will save me reading about how you like to ride both on and off road, and how - and i'm guessing here - one helps enjoy the other.
blog - how dare you - it's a showcase for my published work.
Ahhh, this is great. A thread that reaffirms my opinion that roadies are humorless, ignorant, road hogging poseurs who are bitter and jealous of people who ride proper bikes on challenging terrain and who posses actual bike skills. 😀
So, you're either a freelaner or a wannabe writer? If the former you probably enjoy being bent over and royally, well, you know. If the latter, you'd better lube up boi, those publishing houses - unless you're very lucky and/or are willing to sell your soul - are gonna make you feel like the lad you dropped today. Only after the publisher dropped you miles from home, you got gangbanged by Billy Bob the badger and his pony mates.
You must admit though that mtb-ers on road club riders aren't as bad as triathletes.
We used to know one that couldn't unclip and would run off onto the verge and fall over every time the group stopped, admittedly they couldn't go round corners either.
ARGGG HE SAID TRIATHLETES
Roadies aren't perfect,
I was working Saturday-I cycle and i'm a courier in a van!
A mixed group of about 12 were cycling towards Loggerheads in Shropshire. They were 3 deep across the road and the "lady" at the back held tight onto the centre line, making it really difficult for me to get passed.
I gave them plenty of room, but i wanted to more than 10mph! Didn't gesticulate or vent until i pulled along side. Then it was a friendly, pull in a bit love.
Got my goat......B*******s
😈
http://www.phased.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9&Itemid=13
seriously, wtf.
😉
hahaha!!
No, honestly, on a complete change of thought, that was really quite amusing, it made me laugh anyway!
This thread has reminded me how much I love riding on my own.
Road riding etiquette is there for a reason, I agree with most of what the OP has said. Life is simpler and more pleasant for all concerned if a few basic rules are followed when riding in a group, anyone turning up and breaking those rules is usually given fairly short thrift. It's not rudeness, it's partly down to the fact that, to an experienced roadie, the etiquette is second nature and you'd only break it intentionally (ie if you were trying to split the pack or drop someone or wind another rider up). People are more than willing to explain and demonstrate group riding etiquette to newcomers but if they're not going to listen or if they think they know best the usual answer is just to drop them.
It works in a similar way in MTBing too. Imagine a newbie turns up to your regular riding group and insists on pushing to the front on every descent in spite of the fact that they're the slowest. Imagine how annoyed you be if everytime you got to a ripping descent, they pushed in front and minced down it holding the entire group up. Same sort of thing...
Imagine how annoyed you be if everytime you got to a ripping descent, they pushed in front and minced down it holding the entire group up.
has this [b]ever [/b]happened ?
Failing to help pull everyone else along hardly seems to be the same
Nice trolling Dave 6/10 but seriously moaning about MTB'rs on a road ride on an MTB forum? Did you expect ANY sympathy??? I suggest you get out for another lap of fun on yr road bike or better still get out on yer SS MTB - sounds like you enjoy it more than yr road bike.. 😉
Dave I think the natural progression for your sporting/social life is a good private golf club.
Quite an entertaining thread you've kicked off all the same.
Weren't they taking a turn at the front on the climbs? Roadies are weird (I have a road bike btw and ride it most days).
Dave, you are wasting your time; the hairy knuckle draggers are like Americans, in that 'not doing irony' kind of way.......
I'd rather have a shit in the woods and fall backwards than go on a road ride. You could add nettles into the equation over my desire to go on a club ride.
Imagine how annoyed you be if everytime you got to a ripping descent, they pushed in front and minced down it holding the entire group up.
i wouldn't be annoyed, i'd pass them....
Crazy legs, the scenario you describe does happen, no reason to get annoyed about it, just stop and give them a bit of time or overtake if you can. I'd never drop someone from a ride, that's just rude.
Question for you, how do all these roadies get "the knowledge"? Does it come in a book? Surely at some point everyone is a newbie and needs to be educated, not dropped. Personally, I've never ridden in a group before on the road and would definitely not be confident at the front. I do have bottles though. I am assuming that some roadie clubs are less interested in this stuff?
DavidB - name your club. Highly unlikely it's one of the three I'm thinking of joining but if it is, I'd like to know.
A real shame the op didn't present his point better in the first instance, but I expect the usual anti-roadie prejudices would have come out.
I'm not new to road riding but new to riding in a group. If/when I turn up for my first club ride I will avoid time at the front, not because I'm a free-loader but because I don't know the rules. As and when I pick up the rules, I'll do my turn.
Except DavidB would have burnt me at the stake in the meantime.
And I go up hills at my own pace. I get in a rythmn and I go. Most of the time this is slower than the people I ride with. But if it's faster, it's because that's the pace the suits me, it's not me showing off.
And I'll carry my water how I like, thank you.
[i]Crazy legs, the scenario you describe does happen, no reason to get annoyed about it, just stop and give them a bit of time or overtake if you can. I'd never drop someone from a ride, that's just rude.[/i]
It's not always possible to pass someone, at some point the MTB etiquette thing has to be explained to some people too.
[i]Question for you, how do all these roadies get "the knowledge"? Does it come in a book? Surely at some point everyone is a newbie and needs to be educated, not dropped. Personally, I've never ridden in a group before on the road and would definitely not be confident at the front. I do have bottles though. I am assuming that some roadie clubs are less interested in this stuff? [/i]
You learn by doing it (although yes, the information is widely available in roadie training books). I did similar on my first ever road ride (brand new road bike too), eager to try it out I'd be off the front on every hill climb, had no idea of how to ride and ended up dying a death and being more or less literally pushed back home by a club mate. During this he explained the basics to me and I listened, took his advice on board and learnt to ride in a group. That meant I could then race with the team, know what was happening and enjoy it more.
Had I continued doing the idiot thing of jumping off the front, not doing a turn etc, the club would eventually have just told me not to bother riding with them again...
how odd. When i joined a road club last year they explained all the signals and rules of the road. Told me i didnt need to take turns on the front til i was confident and they even made sure no one was dropped. I had baggys and peak lid and mtb shoes and they didnt mention it. Now after a year i know all the rules enjoy my turns on the front and have figured out lycra makes sense ive lost the peak but still wear mtb shoes lol 🙂
firestarter: exactly - most clubs are quite patient about it and keen to educate, inform and encourage new riders.
yup and im very happy with mine :-)theyve even got me interested in the tt eve league starting this month lol
So most clubs wouldn't insist on a new rider doing their turn, then drop them when they wouldn't? Sounds like the OP's club is the exception rather than the rule. Might give it a go when I'm a bit fitter.
cynic-al - Member
A real shame the op didn't present his point better in the first instance, but I expect the usual anti-roadie prejudices would have come out.
Al, I'm sure anyone with half a brain saw his point, but (and I think I speak for the majority), the way he portrayed it - valid, or not - gave most folk the impression, that he was in fact the realisation of everyones pre-concieved stereotypical impression of a roadie cock.
Anyway - I may be prejudiced against raod riding per se, as I've done plenty of it in my youth - and it's bloody boring (my opinion and I wouldn't berate anyone for thinking otherwise). One of our best riding buddies does get his fair share of abuse for his road riding tendencies though. 😀
I have no real life experience of a real 'roadie' group ride, or it's participants - however, if more than a small minority come across like our Dave, then I'm happy with my chilled out off roading buddies thank you very much.
I remember my first ( and only) road bike club outing. Turned up with my new road bike, baggie shorts, spd's n mtb shoes, unpeaked lid. I was there, ready for this ride. I've seen tour de france, watched some Eurosport bike riding, i was even happy with my general high fitness. I could ride an average 18mph all day, could sprint when needed to. This was it, it was (bloody) 9am on a cold winter morning, my friend who was a roadie told me when and where and i was there. They all (part from 1 other) had there winter hack bikes, me.... full carbon training/race bike. Well, what can i say........64 miles and 5.5 hours later i was back. We averaged about 12 miles per hour and i was bored as hell. I done more than my fair share on the front, but where i was ready to train at high speeds, most of them spun and gabbed all day. The hills, ah the hills. I would attack them from the front, a few would tag on but by the top i was alone and would have to wait 3-4 minutes for everyone else to join up. Bottom line, i dressed like a mtb'er, done my time at the front, cahatted to EVERY single other biker, but most of the riders were just so slow. I hear that club is now separating into speed groups. May go back then
Why on earth would anyone want to ride along with 30-40 guys in skintight fluorescent gear sniffing up his arse? Why on earth would anyone want to ride along in skintight fluorescent gear sniffing up the arse of the guy in front? Wouldn't taking a bus be better?
Sad ain't it?
As a training ride for an mtb'r that was probably a pretty good one I would think.
Long distance with some strength work on the hills. He'll probably do pretty well on his next enduro ride/race.
Sounds like he was on his own agenda but using the roadies as an excuse to put some distance on his ride.
Great thread! Well started OP, though I'm wondering if you haven't been a roadie very long.....
It's the job of the bunch engines to tow the group along. They do that because they're macho and need to show everyone how strong they are. It's perfectly acceptable to sprint past the engines whenever you see fit. Here's an example - say there's a big crew out, perhaps 30 riders, and there's a cafe stop. With a mile or so to go it's normal to pass the engines in order to get to the cafe first, and not end up in a queue.
Plus, being first to the cafe means that your bike is closest to the wall. Meanwhile the dumb engines bike is easiest to get to, so he's first away, on the front, where he needs to be and likes to be.
SB 🙂
PS - I learnt my roadie stuff with the Liverpool clubs back in the 80s. Anyone else remember the 'Two Mills' cafe, or the Crits at Birkenhead Park? Those were the days........yeah and in the winter they use to let us ride through the Mersey tunnel.....