Was I That guy?

[dsteady]

I need some insight from the group here:

Last Sunday I partook in a notoriously undisciplined group ride on the North Shore of Chicago. It wasn't my plan. My plan was to sit in with a small team (at their invitation) on their Sunday training ride. Somewhere between our meeting point and the spin up north the team decided to go hook up with the Judson ride (see above) and that is where I found myself.

I'd say there were close to 30-40 people turned out for the ride which in itself raised red flags for me. Early on the accordion began to take effect and I made a conscious decision to check my speed by drifting slightly off my line -- deliberately and in control -- to catch some wind in my chest rather than over-working the brakes.

This is when I heard the guy behind me say "this guy is wigging me out" just as he rode around me on the right. It was pretty clear he was talking about me. (This was early in the ride before the group had a rhythm and before a double pace-line was properly set up).

Should have I held my line instead and feathered the brakes? (I noticed people all around me working the brakes but it didn't seem to be doing the group-dynamic any good). I felt I was riding predictably and in control, but that guy's comment made me pretty unnerved about by group skills.

Thanks,
Dn'l

FWIW, I've read both Tom Kellogg's and Simeon Green's group ride etiquette articles numerous times. And this particular ride doesn't even begin to resemble the beautiful ideal of group riding that they each reference in their articles. In the future I'll avoid this particular ride, but I'm still wondering if I was doing something wrong.

[Aghartha]

Sounds like a) guy was a douche and b) no one knows how to ride in a pack. Were you that guy? To them, maybe. To rational people? Probably not, but some folks may have wondered what the hell you were doing anyway.

[false_aesthetic]

Looking at their website will answer your question.

Which team invited you?

[dsteady]

Looking at their website will answer your question.

Which team invited you?

You mean, "An Anarchy devoted to cycling" ??

It's not the mantra of well organized ride, is it?
I was riding with the Play it Again Sports team. They're new, small, but recently took 2nd and 5th at a local race, I think in 3s. I ride frequently with one of them, who's a good friend.

[SteveP]

people sometimes get nervous when someone they dont know shows on a group ride... understandably to a degree,
it can be dangerous
i think its important to raoidly get a sense of the ride... if it looks chaotic...
i, for one, will bail.
im not interested in busting something for no reason.

[EricKeller]

probably best to feather your brakes in that situation

[ridethecliche]

probably best to feather your brakes in that situation

This.

More predictable than changing your line.

[WadePatton]

the more folks join our sport, the more watered-down and fecked up it will get. a reflection on people, not the sport.

[maunahaole]

Most likely no. "That guy" does not possess the self awareness to think that he may be "that guy". You were probably in a pack full of "that guys" who were frightened by your lack of "that guy"-ness.

[0nelove]

Yes, that guy was you.

1) It was your first ride with the group.

2) Group rides= be normal and predictable.

3) You catching wind was likely exasperating any yo-yo effect behind you, regardless of where you actually were.

4) If sitting up a bit and catching some more wind that way doesn't work, you may not be in as good of control of your momentum as you think.

[dsteady]

Yes, that guy was you.

1) It was your first ride with the group.

2) Group rides= be normal and predictable.

3) You catching wind was likely exasperating any yo-yo effect behind you, regardless of where you actually were.

4) If sitting up a bit and catching some more wind that way doesn't work, you may not be in as good of control of your momentum as you think.

0nelove, thanks! that's a really candid response and I appreciate it. Points 1, 3 and 4 I agree with. Point 2, however, it's hard to judge in this case. This ride seems to be a cluster fu*k from the beginning. I only want to be more aware on the next, the other group ride. The sane one.

Thanks all, we can put this one to bed.

dn'l

[William]

I tend to just hang back on group rides these days. No need to feather brakes...I'm fixed.




William

[Tom]

Personally I have a bigger problem with people that go forward and back than people that go side to side - if they are doing it for a reason. The forward and back guys make me think about riding somewhere else or finding the group where if you go forward and back you're off the back so nobody does it.

[Too Tall]

Yeah you are that guy but who cares? You were being careful and predictable so it's all good.
If you want to tighten up your act I'd advise to leave a larger gap and learn to look ahead 4 or 5 riders. Softpedal but never stop peddaling unless you must. Stay off the brakes...make a game of it. If you are riding heads up you'll learn to anticipate. Despite the surges a good rider can help to smooth pacelines by doing this.
Rock on pal, it's a fun game. Eff the haters.

[William]

...Rock on pal, it's a fun game. Eff the haters.

William

[dsteady]

....
If you want to tighten up your act ....

I do, and I'm thinking spring training in VA, 2011.

[Blue Jays]

One of my goals while in a group is to effectively never cease pedaling...even if only applying 20% propulsion force...to help eliminate the "slinky" effect to riders behind me.
As mentioned by Too Tall above, softpedaling (done properly by a good rider in the middle of a bunch) can actually make the group more cohesive.

[ThomasRZ]

Judson is awesome, but it's stressful for all involved. The name of that game is smooooothness. Lots of folks who lead that ride have been racing forever or are absolute engines -- I think you know by now how fast that ride is -- and as such, are very prone to speaking out when they don't like someone's riding. I usually prefer smaller group rides -- after being yelled at by some cops for running lights and

Because Sheridan is such a lousy road from Kenilworth to Tower, people are swerving all over anyway, but people expect that. Swerving to slow down is probably not the best policy.

Anyway, come out again.

[nahtnoj]

Since the question seems to be answered, I'm going to start with the PCU references.

Were you wearing the shirt of the band you were about to go see?

[WadePatton]

Most likely no. "That guy" does not possess the self awareness to think that he may be "that guy". You were probably in a pack full of "that guys" who were frightened by your lack of "that guy"-ness.

i like this answer better than my snooty reply.