by
nigelt
Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:36 am
I've been on the Cycleworks Saturday ride a few times and I have to say it doesn't suffer from some of the issues we seem to. The Cycleworks group ride as a group and despite using a much hillier route (usually to Helmsley) always keep it together. No one gets shelled out, no one goes flying off the front- if they do they get left in no doubt that it's a group ride. if the Cycleworks gang want to go hard in training they do it during the week, not on the group rides. This is what Phil keeps emphasising for our rides but the plea often seems to fall on deaf ears.
This to me is the issue- too many people riding for themselves on a Saturday and not enough for the group. The second group on Saturday worked really well because we worked together. I'm sure Phil could have ridden off the front if he wanted, as could Melly who was looking pretty strong, but they didn't, they kept it together at a good pace for the group.
It's okay arguing that we are all at different levels so it's hard to keep together, but the Cycleworks group usually comprise elite riders, a professional triathlete and some other top class riders, as well as the likes of me (on occasion), yet manage to keep it together. We should be looking after our riders, not shelling them out of the back in November.
We all have a responsibility to keep our groups together, perhaps we should be more vocal in doing so. While its good to see so many out on a Saturday, we should make it clear that if people simply want to try and ride everyone off their wheel, they are welcome to do so when they're racing, but not on these group rides, that's not what they're about.