Why I ride alone

I do enjoy the camaraderie of riding in a group as much as the next guy, but it seems to me that many ‘cyclists’ are pretty thin-skinned. out on my ride today at the top of basically the only climb on the ride I was behind two other riders. At the crest of the hill the rider in front of me shifted down to start the descent. During the shift our wheels overlapped as the transition from climbing to rolling was not as smooth as it could have been. I said out loud, ‘don’t ease up just keep going.’ The rider that was in front of me took offense, although none was intended. He proceeded question me about what I said, even though he heard it the first time, then he proceeded to lecture me on how long he had been riding, as if that was germane to the occasion. I apologized and said that no offence was meant, then told him to drop it. I guess either he or I or maybe even both of us might have been having a bad day. There was just no reason to get bent out of shape about it.

The other big gripe about group rides is that any ride with an organized stop or turn around usually spends way to much time at that stop. I have been on too many fast paced rides where the stop becomes a 15 – 20 minute social gathering. That is simply too long and too many people just don’t seem to care. When you do want/need to get moving again. some riders get annoyed that you want to keep going. Suggestions are made that you might be better served not riding with the group. Cyclist are very elitist, especially road cyclists!

Now when you ride by yourself, or with one or three other riders you can usually go at a pretty steady pace, you get to learn how each other rides and you are freer to say what is on your mind without fear of offending your fellow cyclists. If you are alone, and you are not 100% you can ease up without anyone yelling at you. If you feel great, you can pick up the pace and no one is there to complain about the speed. You do not have to fear overlapped wheels or someone in front of you easing up at the top of a climb rather than on the descent.

Now there are some group rides that the expectations are different. You expect it to be social. One of the best groups in the area for social riding is The Bee Team. Their Sunday afternoon ride is a very social event. They welcome any level of rider and they don’t yell at you if you do something wrong. You can hammer away and no one says you are going too hard, you can fall behind and there is always someone there to help you. The stops are too frequent and too long, but since it is expected on rides like this it isn’t much of a concern.

Very large group rides are another story. You can pretty much ride as hard or as easy as you want and you can always find a small group to ride with. If you get shot out the back, just ease up a little and before you know it another group of riders will come along and you can latch on to them. No need to introduce yourself, no need to talk to any of the riders around you.

All that said, I am not totally against riding group rides, I am against riding with cycling snobs who are a little to sensitive to what they hear out on the road. It is a hobby, a recreation, and unless you get paid for it it isn’t even your job, It certainly isn’t your life!