Riding on a group ride is more than just showing up on your bike. It is really about proper etiquette and following the vibe and dynamic of the group. Here are 10 things that will earn you the ire of the group. Do some or all of these, and you probably won't be invited back:
10. Show up late to the start. If the ride says its starts at 9 am, that doesn't mean showing up to the parking lot at 9 am and then trying to assemble your bike and get dressed. New comers should arrive 15 min ahead to set up their bikes and get ready for the start.
9. Do your interval training on the group ride. Unless you're the ride leader and everyone understands that it will be an interval ride, don't try to do your own interval training, especially if the group is riding tempo. If everyone is going 18 mph and then you suddenly jump out of the paceline to ride 24 mph for 4 min, its going to disrupt the group. Similarly, if the group is riding hard that day, don't come out expecting to ride recovery.
7. Come out with a bike fraught with mechanical issues. One flat tire is no big deal, but if you started the ride with worn out tires and you're on your 3rd flat, no one is going to want to wait for you. Similarly, a loose crank bolt, pedal or seatpost should be dealt with in your shiop- not on the ride. A poorly maintained bike is also dangerous, if your chain skips in a sprint or you pop out of your pedals due to worn out cleats.
6. Wear yesterday's sweaty clothing. Excuse me, but bike clothes need to be washed after every ride, not every 3rd ride, No one is gonna want to draft behind the stinky person in the paceline.
5. Talk about work, religion or politics on the ride. These are taboo subjects. Most of us have day jobs and when we're on our bikes, we don't want to stray into the workplace. Religion and politics are too heavy subjects for rides. Listen to what the rest of the riders are talking about... equipment, racing, coffee, food or training,
4. Ride in the middle of the road. There is simply no reason to do this and it will only infuriate motorists, so stay in a tight paceline and don't ride on the yellow line.
3. Randomly attack the ride. On many rides there are set sprint points and places where there are jams. Sometimes its a bridge, the town line sprint, or a certain climb. If everyone else is going, then by all means jump on. But when the group is all sitting up talking and a person just randomly attacks, he is going to be thought the fool. Some riders will get tired of these antics and counter attack the rider and drop him- for good.
2. Disrupt the paceline. This could be speeding up too much at the front, not pulling through, staying at the front too long, not slowing down in the relief line so the next person can't pull through, or going too slow on the relief line. Any and all of these will upset the person on your wheel.
1. Show up with aero bars. You may as well show up to the ride with a billboard saying "clueless." Do not come to a group ride with a Time Trial bike.
