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The Hub
(the owner's blog)
The "No Drop" Myth
Here’s a little secret about “no drop”
group rides. You may think this means the group is going to stay
together without anyone getting dropped. Wrong. “No drop” rides
result in more drops than regular rides. On regular group rides you
get dropped once and then ride alone, or with other dropped riders,
to the finish. On “no drop” rides the fast riders drop the slower
riders then wait for them at intersections or hilltops. This
scenario repeats itself over
 and
over. So instead of suffering the humility of getting dropped once,
the slower riders are dropped repeatedly.
A particularly frustrating scenario is
struggling up a hill where the strong riders are already at the top
waiting for you. They have had time to rest, catch their breath and
have a drink. As you reach the group gasping for breath and in need
of a drink, they take off before you’ve even unclipped. As you try
to catch a wheel to follow you contemplate the irony that it is the
strong riders who have just enjoyed a rest while the weaker riders
don’t get any break.
Not all “no drop” rides are like this. There
are rides where the group actually stays together. Maybe there
should be separate categories: one for “no drop” and another for
“wait and catch-up”.
No matter the type of ride, I enjoy every opportunity to ride with
fellow cyclists and I appreciate the leaders who organize them.
Write me
about your "no drop" ride experiences.
To comment on 'The Hub' email:
phil.duncan@bicyclegifthub.com
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reserved.
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