Query about Etiquette

[Roy Zipris]

What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.

I ride with a recreational bike club--that is, serious but not
necessarily racers. Although I got out as much as this past SE
Pennsylvania winter allowed, the rides weren't very challenging for
conditioning, and I have been looking forward to getting in some real
mileage to push myself a bit. Besides my longer weekend rides, I also
enjoy the club's twice-weekly rides that just began earlier this
month, with Daylight Saving Time.

Tuesday night at 6pm, a group of 17 went out at a projected 14-16 mph
pace, expecting to do about 25 miles before darkness reined us in.
Because of the size of the group, the leader asked for someone to ride
in the back and let him know if everyone makes it through lights, and
I volunteered. About 6 miles into the ride, someone flatted. Another
rider and I helped to change the flat but we had a terrible time
getting the wheel back on the bike and as a result of the long delay,
we had to head back prematurely. Instead of the hard 25 miles I had
hoped for, we did 12.5.

My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
large group ride, must someone stop and help? If you offer to help,
are you obligated to stay even when the problem gets out-of-hand? If
there's another person also helping, can you then take off?

Frankly, I'm a bit conflicted, as they say. On one hand, I somewhat
selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own
instigation--I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to
help the flatted rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders
in a group have some basic obligations to each other and to the group;
it also would not have been safe (considering traffic conditions and
waning daylight) or courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even
considering that another rider came to help, I didn't feel that,
having stopped to help, I could then leave the two of them to the
task.

Most cyclists I come across around here make it a point to stop and
offer help, and that's one of the aspects of cycling--that sense of
shared community--that I value. What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris

 

[Doug Huffman]

It is etiquette, not mandatory ethically or morally.


"Roy Zipris" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.
|
||
| Most cyclists I come across around here make it a point to stop and
| offer help, and that's one of the aspects of cycling--that sense of
| shared community--that I value. What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris

 

[BanditManDan]

Roy Zipris wrote:
> What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.
> My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
> large group ride, must someone stop and help? If you offer to help, are
> you obligated to stay even when the problem gets out-of-hand? If there's
> another person also helping, can you then take off?
> Frankly, I'm a bit conflicted, as they say. On one hand, I somewhat
> selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own instigation--
> I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to help the flatted
> rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders in a group have
> some basic obligations to each other and to the group; it also would not
> have been safe (considering traffic conditions and waning daylight) or
> courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even considering that
> another rider came to help, I didn't feel that, having stopped to help,
> I could then leave the two of them to the task.
> Most cyclists I come across around here make it a point to stop and
> offer help, and that's one of the aspects of cycling-- that sense of
> shared community--that I value. What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris



Proper etiquette would have been to stay with the broken down rider as
long as they needed or wanted help. In my personal experience I would
have told you to continue without me so I didn't ruin your ride but for
a newbe they may have felt much better if someone stayed to assist. Many
people like riding on club rides for the safety in numbers thing and
they rely on the group for directions and help in break downs. Thats why
I think you should have stayed, since you volunteered.

In the club rides in my area the rides are rated (A,B,C,D), the more
aggresive rides (A,B) dictate that you must be able to fix your own
flats and follow a map while the easier rides (C,D) always ensure that
nobody gets left behind.

Dan Ballagh



--

 

[William Holiday]

On 21 Apr 2004 05:12:30 -0700, [email protected] (Roy Zipris) wrote:

<What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.
snip
<we had to head back prematurely. Instead of the hard 25 miles I had
<hoped for, we did 12.5.
<
<My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
<large group ride, must someone stop and help? If you offer to help,
<are you obligated to stay even when the problem gets out-of-hand? If
<there's another person also helping, can you then take off?

<Frankly, I'm a bit conflicted, as they say. On one hand, I somewhat

You lost 12 miles of your ride, around 45 minutes. If you could have done the
tube change in 15-20m, then the three of you would have had a challenge not a
short ride.

<selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own
<instigation--I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to
<help the flatted rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders
<in a group have some basic obligations to each other and to the group;
<it also would not have been safe (considering traffic conditions and
<waning daylight) or courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even
<considering that another rider came to help, I didn't feel that,
<having stopped to help, I could then leave the two of them to the
<task.
<
<Most cyclists I come across around here make it a point to stop and
<offer help, and that's one of the aspects of cycling--that sense of
<shared community--that I value. What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris

When I go on a group ride, I expect to ride with a group but it only partially
works out that way. In the early season, some riders drop off the back. As the
season progresses, many shoot off the front. Some leave with others, it's a hoot
to watch the interactoins. Some folks don't know how to change a tire but they
have a cell phone with them and are prepared to use it.

If I'm the rider with the flat, I don't need your help, but by you stopping, we
get to ride in together. And if there are three of us, it's even better. I'd
feel bad if the whole group stopped but dissapointed if no one did. When I ride
group, I actually expect to stop and to be "waited on"... why else would I go on
a group ride? ...and I like riding with like-thinking folks. The twelve miles
you "lost" can easily be made up at a later date, if you expand your time
horizon.

 

[Matt O'Toole]

Roy Zipris wrote:

> What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.
>
> I ride with a recreational bike club--that is, serious but not
> necessarily racers. Although I got out as much as this past SE
> Pennsylvania winter allowed, the rides weren't very challenging for
> conditioning, and I have been looking forward to getting in some real
> mileage to push myself a bit. Besides my longer weekend rides, I also
> enjoy the club's twice-weekly rides that just began earlier this
> month, with Daylight Saving Time.
>
> Tuesday night at 6pm, a group of 17 went out at a projected 14-16 mph
> pace, expecting to do about 25 miles before darkness reined us in.
> Because of the size of the group, the leader asked for someone to ride
> in the back and let him know if everyone makes it through lights, and
> I volunteered. About 6 miles into the ride, someone flatted. Another
> rider and I helped to change the flat but we had a terrible time
> getting the wheel back on the bike and as a result of the long delay,
> we had to head back prematurely. Instead of the hard 25 miles I had
> hoped for, we did 12.5.
>
> My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
> large group ride, must someone stop and help? If you offer to help,
> are you obligated to stay even when the problem gets out-of-hand? If
> there's another person also helping, can you then take off?
>
> Frankly, I'm a bit conflicted, as they say. On one hand, I somewhat
> selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own
> instigation--I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to
> help the flatted rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders
> in a group have some basic obligations to each other and to the group;
> it also would not have been safe (considering traffic conditions and
> waning daylight) or courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even
> considering that another rider came to help, I didn't feel that,
> having stopped to help, I could then leave the two of them to the
> task.
>
> Most cyclists I come across around here make it a point to stop and
> offer help, and that's one of the aspects of cycling--that sense of
> shared community--that I value. What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris

Ditto.

In most groups I've ridden with, the *stronger* riders volunteer to ride "sweep"
or whatever. The strongest riders in a group are usually not being deprived of
anything anyway -- they're stronger because they've been doing more riding
elsewhere, and get their workouts on slower group rides by moving up and back.
They shouldn't deprive folks like you of a relatively (for you) more productive
ride. But that's life. Some groups are very magnanimous, others are full of
selfish pinheads.

In our local club, no one would be left behind, and certainly not like that. I
got lost/dropped one day, and my phone was ringing within 20 minutes (most of us
carry phones). In the MTB group I used to ride with, the strongest couple of
riders would be first to the tops of the hills, then descend to check on
everyone, and offer encouragement to those struggling at the rear.

However, what goes around, comes around. Your karma is higher for doing what
you did, and you'll be repaid one way or another.

Matt O.

 

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Roy Zipris) wrote:

> What do you do when. . . ? Here are the basic facts.
>
> I ride with a recreational bike club--that is, serious but not
> necessarily racers.

> Tuesday night at 6pm, a group of 17 went out at a projected 14-16 mph
> pace, expecting to do about 25 miles before darkness reined us in.
> Because of the size of the group, the leader asked for someone to ride
> in the back and let him know if everyone makes it through lights, and
> I volunteered. About 6 miles into the ride, someone flatted. Another
> rider and I helped to change the flat but we had a terrible time
> getting the wheel back on the bike and as a result of the long delay,
> we had to head back prematurely. Instead of the hard 25 miles I had
> hoped for, we did 12.5.
>
> My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
> large group ride, must someone stop and help?

This is the sort of thing that should be figured out before the ride
goes, and probably varies from ride to ride. The fact that your ride had
a sweep indicates that it was meant as a "nobody gets dropped" kind of
ride. In my opinion, that means that everybody (and 17 is not a big
group) stops when there is a flat or minor mechanical. My club has an 80
km "easy spin" ride (pace around 30 km/h) and the rule of thumb is that
we wait for these things.

In practice, I had a flat one time and then looked down to discover a
broken spoke after I fixed the flat. I told the group (which was
waiting) to go on and I abandoned (this was about 10 km in, so I just
turned back and rode slowly to the start point).

The bonus to this is that if you have 17 cyclists waiting for one flat
to be fixed, one takes the new tube and inflates it, one checks the tire
for the cut point, and if you're having problems getting the new tire
on, there are always more experienced or stronger hands with extra tire
levers (and motivation to get the job done: otherwise the group doesn't
go).

> Frankly, I'm a bit conflicted, as they say. On one hand, I somewhat
> selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own
> instigation--I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to
> help the flatted rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders
> in a group have some basic obligations to each other and to the group;
> it also would not have been safe (considering traffic conditions and
> waning daylight) or courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even
> considering that another rider came to help, I didn't feel that,
> having stopped to help, I could then leave the two of them to the
> task.

Again, the attitude is ride-specific. If you're on a "no wimps, no
waiting" race-training kind of ride, it's simply expected that the group
will break up as things go on. I rode the Pacific Populaire, a local and
popular 100 km ride. Everybody sets their own pace and groupings, so I
just held on to the lead group as long as I could until they dropped me,
96 km in. A co-worker and club-mate on that ride had two flats, and was
dropped rather sooner.

I would say that a ride with a sweep, and especially one with only 17
people in the group, should probably have a wait-and-fix policy for
minor mechanicals. I also think that in most cases, if you are the one
with the mechanical and it becomes clear that it's going to be a mess
and you will either be a long time fixing, the bike will be only
marginally rideable when fixed, or it is unrideable, the victim should
declare that they are abandoning. The only exception might be if the
bike was unrideable and easy transportation unfeasible, in which case
the group has to figure out a solution, even if it just means riding to
the nearest town and summoning a taxi.

All bets are off for medical situations of course, but then it's hardly
a matter of etiquette, then it's a moral issue (and presumably not the
morality of "devil take the hindmost" .

In another case, I was riding with a friend, helping her catch up to
that same Saturday ride (I knew they would wait at the next muster
point, not far off), when a mishap befell and we ran into each other.
She was scraped and hurt in the accident. We asked the next cyclists by
to report to the group, and declare our intention to abandon. We made
sure she was okay, and found that the bike was still rideable, so after
some first aid, we made our way back to the start very slowly. As it
was, a small group of the riders came back to double-check on us, but we
assured them all was okay at that point.

Like I say, I think "friendly" rides have an obligation to be friendly
and wait for flats, but when a repair becomes major, the victim should
have the good grace to let everyone else ride on. Most importantly, this
is a great thing to know _before_ the ride starts. Our goofy little
Saturday ride, as casual as anything going, has a page of rules,
starting with rule 1: Nobody gets dropped. It's a really friendly ride,
so we also have rules that say that veterans of the ride should carry
extra food, extra water, extra tubes, etc. and be prepared to share them
with unprepared newbies. We even have an example of why in that rule
sheet: one day a young rider showed up for the easy spin, and he wasn't
really prepared for it. If the group hadn't made sure he had help up the
hills, made sure they gave him food and kept his hydration level up, he
would have bonked, been dropped, dehydrated, or all three. As it was, he
stayed with the group.

Today that same rider is a Cat 1 member of the fastest team in the
province. So it was worth making his intro to road cycling friendly.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email protected] http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine/wiredcola/
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

 

[B a r r y]

On 21 Apr 2004 05:12:30 -0700, [email protected] (Roy Zipris) wrote:


>My query: how do other people here see the etiquette involved? On a
>large group ride, must someone stop and help? If you offer to help,
>are you obligated to stay even when the problem gets out-of-hand?

I stop and help even if it's not a group ride. <G> That means if I
encounter a broken down cyclist, I offer to help. I may ride a bit
less that night, but I've made friends and helped others to actually
finish their ride.

Barry

 

[Zoot Katz]

Wed, 21 Apr 2004 22:09:21 GMT,
<[email protected]>, B a r r y
<[email protected]> wrote:

>That means if I
>encounter a broken down cyclist, I offer to help. I may ride a bit
>less that night, but I've made friends and helped others to actually
>finish their ride.
>
My new frame pump, after a fiddlyfuk head conversion, can be made to
fit those *other* kind of valves.

The majority of persons I've encountered needing that kind of
assistance are generally using those *other* kind of valves.
--
zk

 

[Hunrobe]

>[email protected] (Roy Zipris)

wrote in part:

---details snipped for brevity---



>On one hand, I somewhat
>selfishly feel deprived (although, I admit, it was at my own
>instigation--I neither had to volunteer to ride sweep nor to stop to
>help the flatted rider). But on the other hand, I believe that riders
>in a group have some basic obligations to each other and to the group;
>it also would not have been safe (considering traffic conditions and
>waning daylight) or courteous to have left the rider on her own. Even
>considering that another rider came to help, I didn't feel that,
>having stopped to help, I could then leave the two of them to the
>task.
---more snipped--
> What do you folks think? --Roy Zipris

I think what you did was exactly the right thing even if you hadn't volunteered
to sweep. That you volunteered obligated you further. Had you ridden off when
the second rider stopped to help, care to guess what their conversation would
be about after you'd left? <g>
You'll make up the lost miles later.

Regards,
Bob Hunt