Dumb Ass Move

[bisonesque]

Apologies to Shelagh and the rest of the B3 group for my dumb Ass Move at the marina this morning. I saw a gap and went for it. But, I should have just waited and got off the group later.

Sorry.

Alex

[David Hill]

Thanks for taking responsibility, Alex. You were definitely cursed to hell (literally) after that, but at least you turned right from the right side, and no one was hurt. We had a good laugh, and because you're a great guy and an even better draft (although I can draft behind a child, so what do I know?), it's all good.

Good to remember, though. As with many things in life, dropping off or out of rides is always best done from the back of the pack, and it's also REALLY important to communicate your intentions before you make your move. This way no one gets caught in the gap or tries to follow you home (which may or may not be your intention).

This also applies if one is feeling spent, but wants to stay with the group during a pace line. Just sit at the back, and keep telling people to pull through. You have to do it with each rider, but it keeps you in the group, and everyone knows what's going on. Then when you feel ready, just let them know you're coming in, and jump up.

Finally, if you're in a pace line and you want to go faster, you have to do it in the right hand lane, and then the rest of the group has to be able to come with you. If you surge ahead as if sprinting, then you will gap people, probably burn yourself out, and then possibly disrupt the flow.

Again, communication is really important at all times. I thought our (B3) run around Beacon Hill was pretty good, especially when the B2's were passing. We stayed together and slowed slightly to give them some distance. they finished their lap and held their line. Wow. Safety. Nice. And we averaged 33 kph for the whole ride, so it's not like we lost anything in the process.

Alex, you have to pull 2X as much next time, especially in the sprint lap!

[L2R]

Thanks for the comment, Alex. No harm done and a learning experience for all of us. See you out on the road, soon.
Shelagh

[Rolf]

...it's also REALLY important to communicate your intentions before you make your move. ...

This also applies if one is feeling spent, but wants to stay with the group during a pace line. Just sit at the back, and keep telling people to pull through. You have to do it with each rider, but it keeps you in the group, and everyone knows what's going on. Then when you feel ready, just let them know you're coming in, and jump up.

This is bang on. So many club issues are resolved through on-the-road communication. And given wind noise and the fact making eye-contact is downright dangerous in most situations, communication while riding is greatly enhanced by the use of names.

But I've noticed that since we've grown so much over the past couple of years, many people don't know the first names of everyone on their ride. I try to make a point of introducing myself during a ride to anyone whose name I don't know or can't recall. (Apologies to the many of you with whom it takes me two or three "introductions". )

If you're brand new the club, this is an overwhelming challenge, but if you make a point of learning a few names every ride, you'll soon be able to pick us out by what our butts look like and sit in behind the pace line, barking at each rider to jump and follow the last rider on the outside. "Paula! You're up! Follow Mike!" is much more effective than simply "Follow that wheel!" or "Jump in there!" For that matter: "Last wheel, Dave" is much better than simply muttering "last wheel" and forcing someone to double-check you didn't mean the rider who's still behind you!

Of course the best way to learn names (and remember them) is to make sure you come for coffee and get to know your clubmates...