Group riding - Etiquette?
FatDadSlim
Posts: 497 Member
I had planned a Saturday morning ride with 2 neighbours who i ride with regularly (we'll call them No.2 & No.3), they couldn't make it until 10:00>10:30 so I head out for a 2hr spin at 8am just to warm-up and get some extra miles in. As No.3 normally slows us down I recently took to riding my Hybrid instead of my road bike when he is about, on my road bike i struggle to get over 120 BPM but with the hybrid i can still ride at his pace and get up to 150>160 BPM and this also works out as a better winter option IMO (Hydraulic disc brakes and wider tyres) anyway No.3 now can't make it until 11:00 so i head indoors for an hour after my morning "pre-ride" and wait a bit. Off we all go at 11:00 up to a local mountain looking at a 2.5hr ride. As usual me and No.2 reach the top first, slowing down to wait for No.3 at the top but as he catches up he says that his head is not in it today and turns back home (this is about 45mins into it) once he's gone No.2 explains to me that i shouldn't bring the hybrid as it's kind of disrespectful to No.3. He explained that he did not have a problem with it himself but No.3 had told him that he did not like me bringing it along on our rides. So as i see it i have a few options... Find a group of faster riders to ride with and risk upsetting my neighbours by not riding with them anymore, continue upsetting No.3 by turning up on my hybrid, or use my road bike and try other ways to handicap myself discreetly (maybe adding weights around my body?) any thoughts or opinions, would it upset you if one of your group turned up on a hybrid?
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Replies
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TL:DR
Goes for ride with Friends on road bike.
Road bike is too fast for group.
Turns up on Hybrid bike instead so to still get a decent workout.
Upsets individual as they think i'm taking the piss.
Unsure what to do next for the best?0 -
A club local to me has a 'group ride etiquette'.
Dunno if this is of any use?Group cycling etiquette and helpful advice.
1. Remember, the club is not responsible for your safety and well-being; you are not on a 'guided tour'. you are part of a group of individual riders, members of Hambleton road club on a joint ride, each of whom accepts the risks inherent to group cycling on public roads, many of which are poorly maintained.
2. For your own peace of mind, it is highly recommended that you possess third party insurance cover.
3. Be prepared for the ride – dress for the weather, carry at least one bottle of drink – energy-bars – have some idea of the intended route.
4. The club cannot insist that you wear a helmet, but recommend that you do for your own safety.
5. Observe the highway-code at all times.
6. Remember it's a group ride – start as a group and finish as a group. this will enhance the enjoyment for all members of the group, whatever their ability.
7. Ensure that your bike is suitably maintained, preferably with mudguards if it's to be used in winter. this is for your own and fellow riders comfort. prior to the ride, give your bike a quick mot - check especially for tyre cuts / flints.
8. Front riders point out potential and real road hazards ahead to those riders behind, these signals are then passed down the group.
9. Shout 'stopping' prior to doing so, this warns fellow riders of your intention.
10. Potholes, when riding in pairs, leave room for your partner to avoid them. Single file is best if the road is covered with them.
11. Warn of overtaking vehicles - ‘car up!’ thank the car driver for their patience.
12. Advise following riders if it is clear to continue at road junctions / roundabouts, or the whole group should stop. If the group does not stop, check that everyone is safely across immediately afterwards.
13. Ride in single file, unless road conditions and the volume of traffic dictate it is safe and courteous to ride otherwise.
14. When changing from pairs to single file, the inside rider should move forward. The outside rider should look left and indicate before moving in.
15. Avoid overtaking on the inside, or give a warning if you intend to fill a gap.
16. Let the group know if you are finding the pace too fast / slow. do not suffer in silence. if you do decide to find you own way home please let the group know.
17. It is sometimes better to ride slowly (this can better than stopping) to let those finding it difficult to 'get back on' or 'recover'.
18. Should gaps appear as they inevitably will, especially on climbs, please regroup at the top before proceeding? also, remember that late arrivals also need time to recover at the top before the group sets off again.
19. Riders should try to ride in a safe close and comfortable formation with no large gaps in the group.
20. Ride smoothly. try to avoid braking, swerving sharply and overlapping wheels.
21. Should the group want to indulge in a little 'fun' i.e. sprinting for a designated spot etc., be aware of the safety of the whole group and other road users.
22. Should a mechanical problem occur, however small, the whole group stops and assists in resolving the matter.
23. I-Pods – when riding in a group these are dangerous. they stop the wearer hearing traffic and prevent them from receiving warnings or information from other riders, because of the increased danger to other riders, we highly recommend that they are not worn.
24. Carry basic essential tools / spares inc:
• HRC membership card
• Multi-tool, inc: chain tool
• A couple of tubes
• Tyre levers
• Pump
• Puncture repair kit
• A couple of chain links (specific to your chain / gears)
• Money/credit card (for emergencies)
• Mobile phone
• Front & rear lights if it is anticipated riding in the dark
As for who you choose to ride with... I can't help you with that :laugh:0 -
I think it's pretty simple really - find another set of people to ride with for "training" rides, and just accept that when you're riding with the current guy's it's going to be a "social" - schedule it in as a active recovery session if needs be - but whatever you do, either riding the hybrid, wearing diving weights or towing an anchor behind you, you're going to be seen as an *kitten* by #3 while ever you keep handicapping yourself and STILL riding away from him... I know, I've pretty much always been #3 when it came to hills - even when I was a 2nd cat and time trialling regularly I couldn't climb for ****.0
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These are what I would do...
(i) Find a group of faster riders to ride with.
(ii) Still ride with the neighbours but less frequent due to (i)
(iii) Will turn up on hybrid when I do (ii)
No, it would not upset me if a faster rider turn up in a hybrid, 30+lbs downhill bike will be even better as it means I have a better chance keeping up with them.
I am always grateful when faster riders wait for me and I do my best to limit the waiting time.0 -
Thanks for the replies, i guess what i ultimately wanted to know is if i was being a d!ck or not? I didn't do it to intentionally piss people off or in a "i'm a better rider than you statement" but to get a workout in at the pace of the small group. Thing is i enjoy the company of these people and thought i had found a solution that pleased everyone, oh well, I guess i'll have to try and smash it on my commute rides instead and use the weekends for recovery
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Thanks for the replies, i guess what i ultimately wanted to know is if i was being a d!ck or not? I didn't do it to intentionally piss people off or in a "i'm a better rider than you statement"
Nah, if you wanted to take the p155, you'd turn up on a uni-cycle
:laugh: 0 -
I would say that when you are riding with a couple of friends, one of whom is a beginner, it really isn't a group ride so group riding etiquette might not apply. I have been riding with newer riders a lot over the past couple of years and have brought a couple along to a point where they can ride with the actual groups going out. My personal way of handling it is to figure out the door that I am not going to get a serious cardio burn on the ride until they get a lot stronger. If the rider doesn't seem to have any interest in getting stronger I probably am not going to be able to find more than one or two rides max a month to ride with them.
Depending on where we are riding I may be able to get some burn going by riding up the longer (mile plus hills) at my tempo (sometimes going for actual time) and turn around at the top to head down and ride back up with the slower rider. The benefit will be that I get to increase my heart rate and also get in additional miles.
I have been fortunate in that the two novices I have been riding with include my wife who is coming along so well that I think she may end up with almost all of the QOMs on Strava in our area soon and another friend who can now ride very well on the flats although I wish he could ride more consistently to get better on the hills.
I in no way see your riding a hybrid to be insulting. Since you have been advised that is the way rider 3 sees it I think I might drop the fact that you need to bump your cardio on rides and that the hybrid makes riding with this group a win for you on the cardio front as well.
If rider 3 bails a few times in a row I would consider finding myself already committed to other rides when rider 3 wants to go out. You might be considered a jerk for doing so but bailing regularly is not helping anyone.0 -
http://cyclingtips.com.au/2011/09/the-lost-art-of-the-group-ride-2/
Excellent article well worth the read0 -
On of the guys in our club will regularly turn up on his 29er fitted with CX tyres it can be a bit disheartening when he even has the cheek to sprint for the 30's
He just says that he is looking a good workout and its all taken in good humour
I would do what you want..0 -
Etiquette is checking that your cycling shorts haven't worn thin and are now see-thru.
"Mate - if you want me to take a turn at the front just wink."
:noway:0 -
Take your road bike so your friend feels comfortable. Treat these rides as recovery rides. You could also use these rides to be fasted rides. If you are going to ride with them on say Wed. Then go out and do hard intervals on Tue. That way these rides work into your workout plan. You could also take longer pulls.
I have a 12 year old junior racer. I ride with him on all his training rides and I have to ride for myself too. The above techniques is what I employ to get both of our training in. All though my boy is now an A pace rider, so he really doesn't slow me down much. I also draft off of him in a pace line. I get a better workout because I'm not getting much draft compared to everyone else.0
