My inexperience or their rudeness?

[Globalti]

I don't have much experience of riding in a chain gang but my regular cycling buddy and I would like to try it. Anyway last night we were out riding quite hard as usual and we got caught at the foot of a long hill by a local club of about seven riders. The "leader" seemed reluctant to pass me, got ahead but then slowed so I passed him and sat at the front, riding at my absolute limit up the 2 mile climb with a headwind while he and his mates sat behind me enjoying my efforts. When we got to the top of the hill he indicated that my pal and I could get on so we all shot off, eventually getting organised into a through and off. When my turn came at the front I'd already given all I had on the long climb so I soon dropped off and they shot through and dropped me completely; I had nothing left. My cycling buddy stayed with them for a mile then dropped back for me. On the flat they were going very fast, well above what I thought was "club speed".

The effort of hauling those guys up that hill had exhausted me and the remainder of the ride was hard for me despite the ideal conditions.

I do accept that when you catch up with a slightly slower rider it's sometimes a bit awkward knowing what to do, but I feel I allowed them to use me; what would have been the best way to deal with a situation like that? Should I have just dropped back on the hill muttering "You guys are in your forties, I'm 55 and shouldn't be doing all this"? Were they discourteous in allowing me to do all the work? What's the etiquette here?

 

[rowan 46]

Can't help I'm afraid I've never caught up with a slower rider

 

[screenman]

Maybe they were on a constant effort training ride, this will include going steady up hills and faster on the flat.

 

[asterix]

I wouldn't take orders from no chain gang! Why on earth did you feel the need to ride at your absolute limit up the hill? Did they threaten you with whips and scorpions?

 

[monkeypony]

You stated that the leader passed you at the foot of the hill, and you then passed him back. That was foolish! They didn't force you to do the work, you chose to yourself.

They then politely indicated for you to get on the back and because you couldn't keep up you feel they were rude.....

Next time, dont feel like you have to do all the work. There is nothing wrong with dropping back a bit as long as you take your turn back at the front later on. Never thrash yourself to death on a climb (unless the finish line is at the top if it!)

 

[Paulus]

A bit of inexperience i think. There was no need to join the chaingang if you didn't want to, you could of just eased off a bit and let them go.

 

[Globalti]

Thanks for the advice. I guess pride had a bit to do with it!

 

[fossyant]

Mid week chain gang. Take no prisoners - so even if you are a regular, you can get blown off the back - they won't wait - that's what it's about.

They were probably maintaining a steady pace, and you were going at that speed, and got caught up in it.

You probably should have dropped off the front sooner.

 

[Globalti]

Mid week chain gang. Take no prisoners - so even if you are a regular, you can get blown off the back - they won't wait - that's what it's about.

They were probably maintaining a steady pace, and you were going at that speed, and got caught up in it.

You probably should have dropped off the front sooner.

The leader was a youngish guy, obviously very fast and acting bit cocky while and the rest looked like they were hanging on for grim death; there wasn't any banter going on. I've been out at "club pace" with my neighbour who is a former British national hill climb champion and the pace was nowhere like as frantic.

 

[monnet]

Chaingang done properly is, as Fossy says, a brutal no prisoners affair.

Ours is usually run off at a 25mph average, which means lengthy stretches at 28/29mph. If you can't hold or you have a problem, you're gone. No waiting. The rules are if you're in the pace line go through and off and don't hold things up or knock the line out of kilter. There's a couple of hills on our route and it's up to you if you go through, usually it lines out at the back on the climbs with only the strongest riders working. The rest of the time if you don't feel you can work, ride in the tail of the group and don't let any gaps open.

I'd agree with Fossy, you probably shouldn't have stayed on the front for so long and nor should you have gone back to the front when you'd been passed. Not that there's any reason for you to know that.

Chaingangs are very different to clubruns. They are full on training rides done at close to race speed, usually by people who race. The difference is like when you think you're quite a handy rider riding with your mates and then you join a club and find that everyone can do what you do and make it look easy.

 

[oldroadman]

All been said, no need to drive all the way up a climb, in a decent size group no more than 20-30 revs and swing off, or flick the elbow, and get on the back. Pride comes before a fall - and being shelled out!

 

[monnet]

Oh and if you get mixed in with them again, don't be surprised if they shout at you to 'do this' or 'do that'. They might sound snappy, they probably don't mean it. Chances are it'll be good advice, it's just that at that effort level and speed there's not much breathing space or time to give polite explanations. THey might give you a push or nudge as well to help you into the right position, again, don't take it wrong way, they'll just be trying to keep everything safe and if they race they'll be used to leaning on people and having brake levers shoved in their thighs.

Finally, what's not been commented on yet but has just struck me, you did a bloody good job to lead them up the climb and then hang on over the other side. If you're going to take anything away from this take some pride from that, I've never seen anyone latch on to our chaingang and hold on for 3 or 4 miles. Chapeau!

 

[Banjo]

I don't have much experience of riding in a chain gang but my regular cycling buddy and I would like to try it. Anyway last night we were out riding quite hard as usual and we got caught at the foot of a long hill by a local club of about seven riders. The "leader" seemed reluctant to pass me, got ahead but then slowed so I passed him and sat at the front, riding at my absolute limit up the 2 mile climb with a headwind while he and his mates sat behind me enjoying my efforts. When we got to the top of the hill he indicated that my pal and I could get on so we all shot off, eventually getting organised into a through and off. When my turn came at the front I'd already given all I had on the long climb so I soon dropped off and they shot through and dropped me completely; I had nothing left. My cycling buddy stayed with them for a mile then dropped back for me. On the flat they were going very fast, well above what I thought was "club speed".

The effort of hauling those guys up that hill had exhausted me and the remainder of the ride was hard for me despite the ideal conditions.

I do accept that when you catch up with a slightly slower rider it's sometimes a bit awkward knowing what to do, but I feel I allowed them to use me; what would have been the best way to deal with a situation like that? Should I have just dropped back on the hill muttering "You guys are in your forties, I'm 55 and shouldn't be doing all this"? Were they discourteous in allowing me to do all the work? What's the etiquette here?

I dont think they were rude tbh .If you had just kept at your normal pace they would have passed you and you and them could have continued to enjoy your ride.

 

[Globalti]

I emailed a polite enquiry to a local club and have just received the reply that yes, it was them and that was their elite group training for time trials! There was another bigger group out at a more moderate pace that evening and they invite me and my buddy to attend the next club meeting to hear about the wide range of different abilities for which they offer rides.

Sounds interesting and thank you everybody on here for the benefit of your experience!