BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Cat 5 races are serious business.

I was upset the first time I did the ride, too, for the same reasons. Riding with groups is unfortunately like that sometimes. It isn't ok, but it does happen.

In groups you often only notice the few bad riders and not the 20+ good riders.

I have pedaled with Team Decaf--have missed riding with them actually during the last six weeks. Anyway, generally it's a great group of cyclists. Though, i have noticed a few riders weaving in and out of moving and parked cars, riding on sidewalks to get around cars, and blowing red lights. It's certainly annoying, and even enraging. But, they are in the minority, at least in my experience, on the Decaf rides. I have often said things to these riders, only to be blown off or grumbled at. Still very much worth the ride on Tuesday nights.

Morning weekend riders around Highland Park pull the same shit. Are most of them just "racers" and non-commuters? If so, I guess that would explain it.

Racers generally race on the weekends.

When you're cat 5 every ride is a race!

I miss the old Decaf rides with John S. He was a really good leader. I am not sure what it is like now since I ride my bike as transportation only and don't do "rides" anymore, but I owe a lot to the old Team Decaf. John and that group pushed me to a different level as far as using my bike as my main transportation method. Not sure what it is like now, but back then this thread wouldn't have existed. John was a really good group leader. Thanks John, if you are out there.

TDW Dan keeps to the road rules mostly. He is usually not with the lead group though.

If they were real Cat 5 racers they'd be at the Oval on tuesday nights. Just sayin.

Decaf rides are great because it allows you to self-select into the group you're comfortable with.

Don't like the people you're riding with? Slow down, catch another group.

I think Colin means "Cat 6."

Cat this Cat that, who cares. Decaf is a great introduction to cycling and you can learn a lot about getting around for more important things than racing. Like not using a car for example, or using a car much less because you become more comfortable with the city and cycling around it. Cat blah, blah. Whatever.

Yeah cat 6. Sorry.

Hank, just go away.

I'm starting to think maybe I'm a cat 6 guy. For this I apologize, but surround anyone around that much spandex, and fancy bikes, things are bound to get competitive. Trying to win one for the commuters!!!! (I will try to change my ways)

Well, I've stayed with fast group until got dropped on the hill to west end overlook (got there 3 minutes after). The right turn to 16 on red was a little bit sketchy but I did not see anyone turning into traffic. When I turned and another 6 people there was no car coming. But I was not the last one. In regards of west end bridge -- all 18-20 stopped at red light at the bridge end. Just past a little bit of right turn beginning. One guy got a flat and jumped over the barrier to sidewalk. And we all went trough green light when entered the bridge.

There was one red light run out along Penn Ave shortly before 16th bridge by 4 people. I waited for green and got group before 16th.

I wish I got home from work sooner so I could join one of these rides.

I end up getting home about the same time these rides start so I'd be atleast 15 min behind.

pbeaver - that just means you have to ride the fastest

I couldn't ride fast to save my life. Other than when trying to get to a destination at a specific time (meeting someone, work starting, bus leaving), I can't understand the desire to be faster than the people around me. But I don't do competitive - it makes other people so happy to win, I'd rather just let them.

@ejwme: grant peterson says:

If you see another rider approaching you from the rear and trying to catch you, let it happen. Fun is more important than fast.

i do agree in principle. but sometimes fast is fun, and sometimes i just want to work harder for exercise purposes.

Riding with a group is a great way to increase your skills on the bike, as long as the skills you are learning are used for good, not evil. I have had similar experiences on group rides, and it is hard not to be a "follower" and repeat the same bad behaviors that others may be exhibiting.

However, don't let this stop you from enjoying group rides, as I said you can really learn a lot by riding with more experienced riders, just be safe and don't break the rules just because others are.

BS states: "I'm starting to think maybe I'm a cat 6 guy. For this I apologize, but surround anyone around that much spandex, and fancy bikes, things are bound to get competitive. Trying to win one for the commuters!!!! (I will try to change my ways)"

Don't worry about the Cat comparers. There are very few of them that aren't pretenders. Just ride your bike and enjoy it. Let the decked out spandex crowd with their $10K bike pretending they are training for the Tour talk away. Many just like to commute via bicycle because it makes sense to do so.

@pbeaver ride yesterday started at 18:19. The route maps and cue sheets are provided by Dan (TeamDecafWeekend)at least one day before. And if you sign for a list then you will get it in e-mail. Sometimes you can take shortcuts and get slow group really easy. But even without shortcuts you can usually catch slow group.

I find myself mumbling sometimes, "some people just have to be first." i do enjoy going fast sometimes. it is fun. and, going fast does NOT have to mean "be unsafe."

@rice rocket & ericf, riding with groups is a great way to learn riding with others, and increasing skills. the decaf rides are also a great way to increase one's comfort with riding in/with traffic in pittsburgh. good to identify the bad behavior and remove one's self when one can from it. as i wrote earlier, i've said things to people about jumping up on sidewalks and weaving in and out of cars, only to be grumbled at. i've then chosen to slow down a bit and keep my distance from those who push the limits too far, or who are downright unsafe.

on another note, even though i was feeling incredibly nauseous while riding today, and not in the mood to be social, i had a car pull up beside me at a traffic light on the corner of wightman and wilkins, and the driver yelled, "thank you for following the rules of the road. i've been following and watching you for a while. we're all going to get this figured out with cars and bikes!" then the light turned and we were off. i smiled, yelled "thank you!" and proceeded up the small hill feeling mentally pumped by some motorist's affirmation! figuring it out, indeed!

Hmm, not a bad idea, I'll have to try that for next week.

that rocks julie, very cool. Thank you for sharing that

@ejwme nice reminder that there are some mindful motorists out there & communicating good intentions.

Click here for a video of theTeam Decaf Tuesday Bike Ride to the West End Circle

Reading the posts above doesn't surprise me - I know that lots of riders will blow the red lights or stop signs. It doesn't matter how many times I say "we stop for red lights," people ride their own way anyhow.

I usually ride with the slow or medium paced groups, and honestly, my favorite reason to get a red light is because I can take a break from the pace. My computer usually has 12 - 13.5mph average across a 20-25mile ride.

You might be able to recognize the racers you're talking about in my video. And BTW, the video opens as we are all STOPPED at a red light on N Highland.

My apologies for the whack music selection!

Great turn-out Tuesday night. I miss riding with you guys!

I miss those rides. That got me back on the bike to an extent that I never thought possible. Now my car sits for weeks at a time. I owe some of that to John Strait and Team Decaf as well as the Thursday night ride out of the coffee house. Thanks and glad you do what you do.

I agree about the "hard not to be a follower" thing and this stuff happens on almost every group ride. I *always* stop at stop signs. Except when I'm on a group ride - sometimes I try to stop - but then I have to worry about the people behind me not hitting me, and since they're going through anyways why bother. I don't know what the right answer is. The one that really kills me is how people love to yell "car back" all the way up the line and then not actually single up and move right.

@salty - "car back" seems to be the new "hey guys, a car is coming." Nobody seems to realize it means get in a single lane.

I experienced this on the ride the other night - I was LEADING the ride, but when one person went turned on red or passed a stop sign (which only happened once or twice, I was lucky to have awesome people attending), it was hard not to follow. I just said, "Oh...okay.." and went with it.

Is hcurtis a troll or is he really like this?

For those new to large rides, when you have 40++ cyclists and someone says "car back", it is very hard to ride 40 in a single. The control isn't there at that number. Do you know how long that line is at 40 cyclists in a single line? How do you think a car driver behind 40 feels? Do you feel they are going to pass a line of 40 cyclists on city streets?

I feel there are many unexperienced cyclists on here that seem to be pretty verbose chest pounders. My advice to them is read and learn.

WHAT IS A CLICK?!?!

Is it anything like a clique?

derp

How old do you think the posters to this board are? Please do post some useful info about riding in groups.

You know what no one seems to talk about in public anymore?

Pussy farts.

cb, thats probly good thing.

well, unless your browsing www.bodysoundsofdoom.org

"You know what no one seems to talk about in public anymore?

Pussy farts."

??? I am the one people want to ban for reporting bike theft? Pussy farts? Um, okay.

You people need to listen to more carlin.

S***

P***

F***

F***

C***

C***S*****

M*****F*****

Carlin FTW!

hcurtis, I was starting to feel a little bad about everyone ganging up on you but I'm glad you cured me of that. I'd tell you to take your own advice about reading and learning but I suppose that is unnecessary considering you already know everything. Unfortunately your area of expertise is how to be an ignorant prick, but that's your problem.

"hcurtis, I was starting to feel a little bad about everyone ganging up on you but I'm glad you cured me of that."

Seriously! I was a bit annoyed when everyone jumped on him regarding the crime on the rise thread b/c I felt like they were reading into it... but some of the crap he's said since then. *head desk*

@B.S.

go man go! i get lapped by men, women, and children every night during my "commuterium"

edit- I wish I could make it to cat 6! I will try harder)

@ericf, have you considered fewer spokes and more carbon? I think that would solve your problem. :p

@headloss

No, I haven't. I was thinking of covering my chain guard with stickers. Do you think that would help?

Depends on which sticker.

Aero bars !!!!!

@hcurtis you have no idea how 40 riders could let car pass w/o any problems. Just a little bit of organization and following group ride rules. And this is possible even riding two abreast.

@ericf: I don't think areo bars, carbon, or all the stickers in the world are going to add much go to that pugsley!!!!! Maybe try slamming the stem????

Paint it red. Red things are faster.

ericf: I love the basket on the bike in your avatar. totally jealous.

If painted red does that require new bar tape and a new seat?

You want speed? Go olde schoole: drillium.

get some stickers of flames.

flames make go vrooom!

or could try some bedazzling.

bling that sucker out.

What I found last Wednesday during PMTCC OTB ride is that if someone with real loud voice (Scott nad Sean were leading the ride and Sean has real loud and low voice) calling before stops and traffic lights: "Slowing!" or "Stopping!" then even people that started to move would slow or stop almost right away.

@ Red Dan

Its hilarious to see some of the threads on the WeightWeenies board and the extent some of them go to to "tune" their bikes.

Drillium, too many vortices.