Club run etiquette
Discussion
I was out on my motorbike on Sunday and came upon a line of about 15-20 cars. I assumed a tractor or something was holding everyone up so started to overtake and work my way along the line of cars. At the front was a group of road bikes riding 3-4 wide. It was like nobody else on the road mattered and they didn't seem to make any effort to allow anyone to pass. This was South Yorkshire area heading towards Derbyshire. Didn't bother me as I was past them and on my way but I can understand why people in cars get frustrated.
I've considered going on some club runs as I usually ride alone but reading and seeing things like this doesn't make me want to join in.
I've considered going on some club runs as I usually ride alone but reading and seeing things like this doesn't make me want to join in.
d8mok said:
a group of road bikes riding 3-4 wide
When I'm commuting round Regents Park (on a bike) on a week day they usually ride two abreast which is a bit daft. On a weekend when I'm driving round there it's often 3+ which is ridiculous. Last Sunday I came across a dickwad riding as if he were three abreast. Except there was noone on his left. That's just ignorant. I guess it's like when MTB;s were all the rage. They used to attract the people with all the gear and no idea. Now it's all about road bikes so that's what they do.
okgo said:
You cannot see holes when you're in a tight group, shouting hole is a must. It happens in road races still for the very same reason.
When your at the back of a group and you hear someone at the front shout hole its of absolute no use what so ever. What is useful is if the rider in front of you points to a hole. Funny topic.
A couple of weeks ago I did a 200 mile charity ride. By far my longest and my first taste of road biking in a group of more than 2. Bizarre to see the behaviour of the proper 'club' cyclists and as you say, the shouting gets way, waaaay too much.
The other thing that did bemuse me was the people who would fly past on the flat and then completely stop on the next hill. And kept doing it. I'm no Bradley Wiggins but it did grip my s
t slightly.
This lot sound like a bunch of knobs though, and part of the reason cyclists are not well liked in general.
A couple of weeks ago I did a 200 mile charity ride. By far my longest and my first taste of road biking in a group of more than 2. Bizarre to see the behaviour of the proper 'club' cyclists and as you say, the shouting gets way, waaaay too much.
The other thing that did bemuse me was the people who would fly past on the flat and then completely stop on the next hill. And kept doing it. I'm no Bradley Wiggins but it did grip my s
t slightly.This lot sound like a bunch of knobs though, and part of the reason cyclists are not well liked in general.
Just do what I did, get invited to a club ride by a friend (Usget on here!). Turn up and ride with the group, when your friends rear mech sts itself ignore him and carry on riding with your new friends leaving him behind and then go back in the car an hour later to collect him from the side of the road.
ts itself ignore him and carry on riding with your new friends leaving him behind and then go back in the car an hour later to collect him from the side of the road.thiscocks said:
When your at the back of a group and you hear someone at the front shout hole its of absolute no use what so ever. What is useful is if the rider in front of you points to a hole.
Spot on.If your lucky enough to hear a warning, then comes the dreaded "where the f--- is it" and preparation for a quick hop over it...
It would be interesting to hear from the OP as to which club it was.
Cappuccino in Harrogate prides itself on being pretty aware and well drilled, although there is always the odd incident which usually gets pointed out pretty damned quick.
I agree with the calling though. For a danger yes, a bit of rough tarmac, no. It does get a bit wearing; Hole! Inside! Outside! slightly bumpy bit!
Cappuccino in Harrogate prides itself on being pretty aware and well drilled, although there is always the odd incident which usually gets pointed out pretty damned quick.
I agree with the calling though. For a danger yes, a bit of rough tarmac, no. It does get a bit wearing; Hole! Inside! Outside! slightly bumpy bit!
d8mok said:
I was out on my motorbike on Sunday and came upon a line of about 15-20 cars. I assumed a tractor or something was holding everyone up so started to overtake and work my way along the line of cars. At the front was a group of road bikes riding 3-4 wide. It was like nobody else on the road mattered and they didn't seem to make any effort to allow anyone to pass. This was South Yorkshire area heading towards Derbyshire. Didn't bother me as I was past them and on my way but I can understand why people in cars get frustrated.
I've considered going on some club runs as I usually ride alone but reading and seeing things like this doesn't make me want to join in.
Same here, this as well as a lot of other elitisms and general numpties that I see riding road bikes puts me off riding with others massively.I've considered going on some club runs as I usually ride alone but reading and seeing things like this doesn't make me want to join in.
It doesn't help that since cycling is getting ever more popular, there will be much more numpties in the sport than there would otherwise have been.
samj2014 said:
Same here, this as well as a lot of other elitisms and general numpties that I see riding road bikes puts me off riding with others massively.
It doesn't help that since cycling is getting ever more popular, there will be much more numpties in the sport than there would otherwise have been.
Unfortunately we also have to share the same oxygen with numpties but don't let that put you off breathing!It doesn't help that since cycling is getting ever more popular, there will be much more numpties in the sport than there would otherwise have been.
But seriously, find a group or club which suits you and you'll be glad you did. In my experience, you will not become a better rider until you ride with others who are more experienced/better than you.
JEA1K said:
No, its not normal and you shouldn't accept that it is either. Sounds like a bloody nightmare to me. Dis-guarding of litter would have pushed my buttons for starters.
I always guard my litter closely.I'm fairly new to the UK, what is it with this littering mindset that seems so prevalent? It's really frowned upon where i'm from. Littering? Shows total disrespect to the place you live. I have even heard people say that it gives someone a job to go and pick it up! Lazy B'stards.
Dizeee said:
thiscocks said:
When your at the back of a group and you hear someone at the front shout hole its of absolute no use what so ever. What is useful is if the rider in front of you points to a hole.
Spot on.If your lucky enough to hear a warning, then comes the dreaded "where the f--- is it" and preparation for a quick hop over it...
It was Selby Cycling Club
I had heard good things about the club and was keen to try a ride out with them
I can't say that the rogues in the bunch were typical of Selby CC generally (there are over 100 members apparently, so Sunday's group may have been a misrepresentative sample).
It might also be that amongst the rogues were other non members (like me) having a ride out with them
Two other groups set off on different at the same time as the group I rode with. Maybe I was just unlucky
When 3 of us went the right way and separated from the other 8, the other 2 were definitely club members and we rode as well as any 3 I have ever been in before.
Unfortunately for me as this is my most local club, the experience was significantly bad enough that I won't be going back
I had heard good things about the club and was keen to try a ride out with them
I can't say that the rogues in the bunch were typical of Selby CC generally (there are over 100 members apparently, so Sunday's group may have been a misrepresentative sample).
It might also be that amongst the rogues were other non members (like me) having a ride out with them
Two other groups set off on different at the same time as the group I rode with. Maybe I was just unlucky
When 3 of us went the right way and separated from the other 8, the other 2 were definitely club members and we rode as well as any 3 I have ever been in before.
Unfortunately for me as this is my most local club, the experience was significantly bad enough that I won't be going back
JPJPJP said:
It was Selby Cycling Club
I had heard good things about the club and was keen to try a ride out with them
I can't say that the rogues in the bunch were typical of Selby CC generally (there are over 100 members apparently, so Sunday's group may have been a misrepresentative sample).
It might also be that amongst the rogues were other non members (like me) having a ride out with them
Two other groups set off on different at the same time as the group I rode with. Maybe I was just unlucky
When 3 of us went the right way and separated from the other 8, the other 2 were definitely club members and we rode as well as any 3 I have ever been in before.
Unfortunately for me as this is my most local club, the experience was significantly bad enough that I won't be going back
I was out on that day and saw Selby CC coming out of Taddy heading toward Wighill - there was a big 'peloton' (of around a dozen riders) in the lead. One of the lads in the group shouted out to join in at the back if we wanted (we didn't) - so perhaps your comment about non-members is correct in this case I had heard good things about the club and was keen to try a ride out with them
I can't say that the rogues in the bunch were typical of Selby CC generally (there are over 100 members apparently, so Sunday's group may have been a misrepresentative sample).
It might also be that amongst the rogues were other non members (like me) having a ride out with them
Two other groups set off on different at the same time as the group I rode with. Maybe I was just unlucky
When 3 of us went the right way and separated from the other 8, the other 2 were definitely club members and we rode as well as any 3 I have ever been in before.
Unfortunately for me as this is my most local club, the experience was significantly bad enough that I won't be going back
There did look to be around four cars waiting behind the 'peloton' at that point. I then saw a smaller group of riders of around 4/5 around 30 seconds behind the bigger peloton.
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