When I started riding bikes, there were few resources about bikes, races, training, touring – just a few. The way you learned about bikes was to be a part of a group and listen and learn.
It often went like the following. Somehow you find a group ride. There was no internet, so you made a personal connection somewhere. Probably at your local bike shop. You showed up. They did a quick survey of you and then off you rode. Individuals in the group would provide feedback and instruction to you. How to be better in a paceline. When to pull. How to handle certain actions. How to communicate. Fitness advice, but also skill advice. It was a community of people on bikes. You learned from others. It was a good system.
It should be no different now. That is not my current experience. There are some good clubs that take that training/teaching to heart. Thankful for them. It is not always the group that is the sticking point – it is often the individual. In our current time, when someone joins a group, it appears they are less open to instruction or guidance than in the past. They have read a book (or probably an internet article) and they believe they know it all. If you try to speak to them about something many are offended.
Have you experienced the same?
I seem to see it over and over again. And – the more fit a person is – the more exaggerated the ‘I know it all’ attitude. Since they are fit, they know it all. Because we all know the size of your bicep (or thigh) is directly proportional to the knowledge in your brain. Duhhhh – we all know that. NOT!
Why do I bring this up? Well, I see adults that are not open to listening to others. Let us be real. I will use myself as an example. I ride alone the majority of the time. Riding alone is nice and has some advantages. Riding alone also allows us/me to fall into bad habits. That is not preferred but often not dangerous when you are alone. Once you get back in a group, those bad habits are somewhere between annoying and unsafe.
You want an example? Transition from sitting to standing on a hill. Truly, most do this poorly but those that ride alone tend to be sloppy with this skill. Sloppy with that skill is dangerous in a pace line. When we are on our own, we just do what we want. When we are with a group, we must fit in with the group. Act in a manner that is safe for the group.
As I said previously, the ‘I already know it all’ attitude seems to correlate with fitness level. The higher the fitness level the less the person is open to listening. It also seems to be related to age. Those that are young that join the group usually seem more open to listening than those that are older. Yes, you heard me correctly – in my experience the older rider is less open to listening. The old rider that has been riding forever – he is most often open to listening – he gets it. The older rider that has been riding for a short period of time – he is the worst. He decided to start riding. He ‘did his research’ – which likely was watching races, what fancy racing bike to buy and how to increase his FTP. I find this person the least receptive to listening. I get it, you are older and have life experience. But you are still new to this sport which is a skill. I hear you; you have been riding ‘seriously” for 3 years … or 5 years. Truly, you have more to learn; in fact, we all can increase our knowledge and skill. Do not tar and feather me yet. I once rode with a guy that was that way, and he brought his son that was in high school. He would not take input, nor would he allow you to guide his son. So then, why do you come to these group rides? Why bring him here if you know it all? To try to be a big shot? That complicates it all. It was dangerous. When conversation and communication was not accepted; I stopped riding with that group. Safety is more important.
To be fair – I see the other also. I rode with a young kid that was exceptional. He was fast. Faster than any of us in the group. He listened and wanted to learn. He improved and now is very far beyond us. He did not believe in the ‘I am faster than you so I cannot learn from you’ attitude of many people with much greater age (and should have much greater wisdom). His father rode with us infrequently. Of course, that is why his son was open; his father was open. His father liked the influence and instruction of the group. The father modeled a behavior and the son naturally also acted in like manner. That is the way it is done. That kid is older now and is a confident, skilled and fit rider … and bonus, he has a great personality also.
Why do I take the time to say this?
Well, if you are new to cycling and joining a group ride – glad you are here. Welcome. In the past, people were open to information/guidance. Now they seem to be closed off. So, if you are new (or old) to cycling or to a particular group simply open your mouth and say, “I am glad to be with your group, if you see anything that would help me please feel free to speak with me about it.” Sad, but many are gun-shy and would not have offered feedback for fear of the response, but now they know you are open.
If you have some knowledge and want to share it – share it. Be kind. Be specific. Be helpful. Be open to hearing feedback also. This is not a time to ‘prove what you know’. This is a time to help another. Help another be a better rider, more comfortable, safer … and do it in a kind manner.
I know you have an experience in this area, please share it.
The GCA (GA’s answer to NICA) team I coach and sponsor has kids from grades 6 through 12. Up until very recently I mostly would ride with older kids who are are incredibly talented; our team is ties for second in the state currently. I only did this as I was riding my e-bike which was the only chance I had to keep up with them. My input and supervision with this group was vague and minimal and tbh, I grew bored b/c like you said they already believe they know everything.
Similar to my boredom with the elite group, I grew tired of the e-bike and it’s currently for sale. (hit me up; such a deal!) A few weeks ago, I changed it up and began riding with the youngest kids on the team along with another close friend who is also a long time coach. They are all energy and excitement. They want to try everything and more importantly love to play. The park we practice in is filled with features and obstacles. We do all kinds of games with them and give prizes for the efforts (Skittles, Blowpops, etc). I tend to say very little other than encouragement when one of them clears an obstacle, but another coach told me that a bunch of the kids ask to ride with me. Who knows; children and animals seem to find me entertaining. Just changing a perspective and/or your audience can make a big difference.
This struck a cord with me, Robot. I haven’t been riding with our group for four or five years now. My treatments have sapped my strength, and my Irish guilt doesn’t want to make the group slow down for me. They’re out to get a workout. But when I was riding with the group, often three or four times a week, we would tell anyone new to the group, “Please stay in the back and watch. Do not try to pull or get into the rotation. You can do that when you have a few rides with us under your belt.”
It wasn’t personal, it was all about safety. Most new folks understood. Instruction was honest and direct. Tips were given. And the new folks learned before they rolled through the line.
A number of years ago, a guy who was an acquaintance of mine (but who wasn’t a rider) asked one day if he could ride with the group. He was very fit, but knew nothing about cycling. I told him we did a 60-mile ride on Saturday and an 80-mile ride on Sunday. I recommended that he do the 60 first because the route was straightforward and if he got dropped, he could find his way home.
“No, I want to do the 80.”
I cautioned him that general fitness and cycling fitness were two different things. He was arrogant and insisted on joining the Sunday ride. So off we went. He was okay on the first 40 out to our turn-around point, but as we started back, he bonked. Hard. He had nothing left. I told the rest of the group to go on. I was pissed. We’re 40 miles from home and this guy can limp along at about 12 mph, tops. I stayed with hm because this was pre-GPS, and I knew he’d never find his way back. Ruined my Sunday. When we finally got back to his place (just a few blocks from my place), I told him, “Listen to me from now on if you want to keep riding with the group. You don’t know what you’re doing and you need to learn.”
He would come out from time to time, and he was never prepared — never had food in back pocket, often had mechanical issues, would get to the front and ride too hard and gap the group. What a pain in the ass. He gave up cycling eventually. He wasn’t missed.
With great apologies to Conner who wrote this piece…when I posted it, I forgot to switch author names.
Well, kudos to Conner! Thanks, Robot!