Out on my hill repeats this morning the local club ride passed me by. It was my first ascent of the morning and I was still warming up, but the long stream of riders flying by me put me in a bit of inner turmoil, and brought on this blog article.
In general, what would you do in this circumstance? 3 scenarios ran through my mind before the last guy’s slipstream drifted out of reach:
- Get stuck onto a wheel no matter what my original intentions for my workout were.
- Give each rider a friendly ‘salut’ and go about my business.
- ‘Let’ them go, resentfully muttering to myself how lucky they were that I was only warming up.
I’m sure there could be other outcomes, such as not letting them pass me at all, taking the next right to avoid any possible confrontations, or challenging them to a race to the top. What did I decide in the end? I’ll let you guess, based on how well you know me now.
But boy, that last guy really had a fat ass…
The Vicious Cycle 
haha! Awesome! I thought I was the only one who thought like that! I’ve been in that position so many times, from a recovery ride to hill repeats to sprint intervals. I’ve caved before and walked them down, only to regret it later.
I’ve done all the above, too. For me it’s a ‘mood’ thing, but I know there are those who just can’t resist (they are usually French in my experience).
Ha-ha! Exactly
I was happy with scenario iii until the last line then I had to rethink…
ask them where they’ve hidden their motors
I’ll keep that line handy. Thanks.
I have got to chase, always, its a curse…
I see that you are no different 🙂
I know your type all too well!
I go about my business confident in my grand plan. Most of the time!
Me, too, unless I’m feeling feisty.
Personally, on any ride except where I have pre planned intervals, i would have definitely stayed with them and even tried to drop them if I were strong enough. But, when I have a plan laid out since the night before, I stick with it, and let them fly by.
I’m not surprised by this answer, Rich. Do you find that most French riders share this attitude? It’s almost inevitable where I ride that if I pass a guy he’ll latch on at all costs.
I could claim age . . .
@Gerry: I don’t think many french local club riders follow any plan at all, and thus would surely latch on at all cost. I just had a great conversation this afternoon with a pro from the U23 Axeon team (axel mercx’s team) and he told me that the more serious 12-14 yr olds already have power meters with training plans. I think in France that few so far have power meters, at least below the pro level. It’s not in the culture. So, I agree, very few in France would share my view.
That’s an amazing difference between French and North Americans. It makes you wonder which way is better, since the good local riders here are certainly no slouches.
Not a problem for me at all! Bon jour, au revoir.
Number 1. Six days a week and twice on Sunday.
Fat asses make an AWESOME draft! Woohoo!
This was going uphill, so the fat-ass drafting benefits were reduced.
😉 I’d still have to try. It’s a sickness really. I’m thinking about going to therapy.
protocol says if you join them to state you are and then take your turn on the front once warmed up. Me i just go up the other side of the road wheeli’ng like Sagan whilst drinking beer. (one of these sentences might not be true.
Rich, you deserve one of my very rare ‘HA’s!