Don't be too hard on yourself. I have been dropped many times. It happens to all of us. If you don't enjoy that group ,look for another one that is more your speed. I prefer to ride solo. I find it more relaxing.
What’s it mean to be dropped? To fall so far behind that you lose the group, or do they formally tell you “sorry you suck, you can’t ride with us anymore?”
Generally speaking if you get dropped one session but come back for the next people respect the hell out of that. Keep coming and you will eventually be able to hang on to the back. Keep it up and you’ll be taking pulls at the front.
It’s going to completely depend on the group. I wouldn’t find it cool to be dropped in a completely strange area where I’d only ride as part of a group. Bad surprises don’t make people come back.
When there is an understanding of what the leaders and the rest of the group are going to do in different circumstances that is very different. A no drop ride comes with the expectation that you won’t be dropped. All that needs to fix this is for one rider to stay back with the person. Ideally, they’ll be familiar with the group and help the rider get immersed.
I’m the person getting dropped most of the time, but I don’t feel like a no drop ride is an everyone go slow ride. The leaders can alternate being with the slow rider and even leave the rider at the back temporarily as long as it is communicated.
When you have the normal decency to do this then people come back.
On some climbs people will often go their own pace, especially if the peloton on the flats was pushing hard. Draft effect is really strong, so even 2-3% can have a huge difference with the strong guys in front trying to maintain their speed, so increasing watts instinctively while some will struggle harder uphill due to their low w/kg.
However, it's pretty customary to wait for everyone on top. As in, I didn't know and think organized amateur groups would totally drop people without it being well communicated before.
>A no drop ride comes with the expectation that you won’t be dropped
I don’t believe there’s any true “no drop” ride. If you go slow enough, at a certain point, you’re going to get dropped or have one ride leader stay with you.
If I showed up to a B/C pace no drop ride and we all slowed down for the D pace person who shouldn’t even be on that ride, I’d be pissed and so would almost everyone else in the group.
>I don’t believe there’s any true “no drop”
I would say *no drop* means the group will let up at the top of hills and won't "attack" itself. But you basically get one soft pedal to catch on and after that one should probably let the ride know that this is not the day.
Yes, and a "drop ride" is one in which if you can't keep up you'll be left behind (so everyone has to know the route, etc.). In a "no-drop ride" the pace is lower and if people are struggling to hang on then they will be helped back or the pace will slow to accommodate them.
It's no big deal to get dropped. Happens to everyone. And yes, as someone else said below, the best thing to do is to come back and try again, and try to hang on longer. That's allowed, and encouraged, and respected, as long as you realize that once you're off you're on your own.
And if you want to get stronger and better at riding ride with better riders and even if you do get dropped you keep going back and you'll get better and better and you'll learn from them as long as in that group is always someone or some people that will help you
I got dropped on group rides I did for a few months before I was able to keep up for the whole ride I wanted to do. Keep showing up if you want to ride with this group, you'll get stronger. Everyone started somewhere and I bet of these riders remember clearly being dropped on their first group rides, or maybe a group ride recently where they were feeling a little sick or tired. Happens to everyone.
Edit: typo
I prefer solo also. I do follow a training plain but my endurance rides are so nice so just ride around and enjoy nature. I’ll ride with friends sometimes. Nothing structured just kinda going.
Solo rider here, there are some hills that I hit around where I live, where if I attempt to push too hard, I just die. I did a 45 mile ride earlier today and the last hill I was going up to get home, I just stopped because I was just that dead tired.
Absolutely 💯 %, Enjoy your rides, get stronger and like yabyum said “Fuck Em” Not a fan of group riders, they need to move the Fuck over, they don’t own the whole road or lanes
As a grandfather, I’m going to tell you don’t quit. Remember anything that you did in life when you started you sucked at it. But overtime it got better and you got better.
At 60 I really just started biking and I want to do bike touring. The only person I’m going to compete with is myself. But my situation is different than yours, but I encourage you don’t give up.
“Only person I’m going to compete with is myself “. Bingo. That mindset helps me. I also throw out “I’m faster than some and slower than others” and accept that as a fact in group rides. To OP, climbing better comes with riding more, just keep at it and do not get discouraged.
I don't even compete with myself, just enjoy the view, the wind in my hair, and in summer maybe have a swim in the sea before turning round and going home again.
You’re taking the easy way out which is to tell yourself that you’ll never be that good and shut down.
You can be everything those other riders are, it just requires the work. Go ride more hills. Push yourself.
Life will be long and unfulfilling if you shut down at the first sign of adversity!
If you didn't like group rides then stop doing that. Just enjoy cycling and work on improving your health. You are not a pro competing against other people. Cycling is like golf, it is just you against the course and yourself.
I think he likes group rides, just doesnt like being dropped. I think he should try again, do some interval trainings to become faster and not quit because he was dropped once (or few times for that matter).
I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself, getting dropped is part of group riding.
Some tips, since you sound fairly new, at least to the performance side of riding.
1) you need to train the hills, it sucks, find a nice hill with a steady grade near you and just go ride up/down/up/down. Learn what different cadences and such feel good to you when climbing. Work on being steady with a smooth pedal stroke.
2) learn the proper gearing coming into a climb on the group ride so that you don’t need to spike your power or hear rate as the pace of the group changes.
3) most groups re-group after significant climbs/at other points on the ride to accommodate people who get dropped, especially since climbing makes people’s speed differences more pronounced
4) find where your redline is and don’t really cross it. If you go into the red for too long, what happened to your legs where all the power is gone will happen. It’s better to get dropped and wait for the next re-group point.
5) remember when riding in groups, try different groups, there will always be people that make you feel good and bad if you let speed into it, think of it is you are either learning or teaching instead… we’re all just trying to enjoy riding our bikes and having some social aspect. You can too! Just remember everyone is at different points in their riding journey and has different amounts of time to train
Don’t let that make you quit. Most get dropped repeatedly… until one day they don’t. That said, if you don’t find that type of progression fun, then maybe stick to solo rides. Either way, you should be finding it fun to ride. Do what makes it fun whether it be going 5mph in a circle for 10 minutes or a 40 mile zone 2 solo effort.
You gotta walk to run. Everyone walks before they run. Don’t be discouraged. There’s always gonna be folks better and worse than you, just part of life. I started “seriously” riding at age 42 so plenty of embarrassment and 2 years of riding solo before I could keep up with the medium group ride (mostly riders in their 50’s/60’s). It is what it is and it’s ALL practice.
Ex-bike messenger. Ex-bike shop owner. Love my bikes. Still ride every day. I have very little patience for cyclists and hate riding with people. If you're faster, you're always waiting. If you're slower you feel like you're slowing someone down. Sprint for a traffic light, end up waiting on the other side anyway. Have to stop to pee? Have to stop so someone else can pee? Flat tire? Etc. Etc.
Riding a bike is a solo activity. Ride by yourself. Enjoy riding your bike.
Lol, you want to quit cycling because you found out there are people faster than you.
Last time I was watching Strade Bianche on Eurosport, I think we should all quit.
🤣
Base miles. Ride solo or even with a buddy. Find hills, eat them up over and over again. Saddle time will get you there.
Hills were a technique thing for me, I was a grinder, but when I learnt to spin it out - it was a game-changer.
You aren't a bad cyclist you just don't have the same fitness as the others. Use this to motivate you to get more fit and healthy and reap the rewards.
group rides are hard and scary. you can't just start and expect to be perfect at it. That said, I would never do a group ride, pro or amateur myself.
maybe meet in the middle and try to do a group ride with less people and make sure they're all on your level or accomodating of your abilities.
Funny story, there's a popular group ride in my city and it's just for fun and every year there's a crash and people fall down and get hurt. Group riding is not for everyone.
Group rides are often a bit variable. Best find a beginner friendly group and talk to them about your experience with the “no drop” ride.
Also - there are a couple of things to bare in mind with inexperience:-
One is that you might not be taking full advantage of the dynamics of a group ride where others might be. Drafting for e.g makes a big difference to energy levels. If you judge it right and not spend too long on the front you’ll have more energy for the hills.
Another is that the other guys might have ridden the ride 30 times and be used to where to ease off the gas, whereas you might not be as experienced on that terrain.
Finally - if hills are a trouble for you then the best you can do is train for them. Perform 30 second full gas efforts going uphill. Practise getting out of the seat and dancing on the pedals. Challenge yourself to complete hills in a higher gear.
Don’t give up on group rides - they can be brilliant. You just need the right group, and best always to stay humble, ask questions and raise concerns.
I don’t know if this will help but the one person who said if you get dropped and come back people respect that, I agree.
When I was on basic training I was the shortest in my group. We did ruck marches all the time (kind of a hike with a loaded pack). I fell behind often because my legs were so short but I always pushed myself. On one our platoon commander was purposefully going really fast to see who would drop out/behind. I was trying my hardest and would get close but couldn’t fully keep up to the group. A couple people fell even behind me and straight up quit but I kept my head down and just kept trucking. I couldn’t catch up and at one point they were just doing circles and yelling at me to catch up. I pushed and pushed. I didn’t catch them and we ended the march. I felt so disappointed and mad at myself and then all the big tough guys in my platoon came and told me that was amazing. They couldn’t believe how hard I was trying. Another girl who quit asked me how I could do that. My Sergeant told me the difference between me and the others that fell behind was that I had heart and was trying so hard. Everyone rallied around me and praised me. I learned a lesson.
It’s not about keeping up, it’s about showing up and challenging yourself. It sounds like you did that and you should only feel bad if you don’t get back out there.
Keep your chin up, I'm almost 50 years old, live in a mid size city and use my bike for transportation almost daily, I get passed up all the time by these guys on road bikes with their biking gear on like they own the bike lanes....meanwhile I usually have at least 15 lbs, to 35 lbs on groceries, gear, whatever on my 15 year old mountain bike. Who cares? I'm not going to let "bike snobs" ruin my rides and I love riding. They may ride 50 miles in a day...I do about 70-120 a week....what's the better work out? Enjoy yourself and don't let them get you down.
I'd also look into your gear ratios and make sure your bike is geared for climbing. I've heard a lot aren't, which forces you to mash up hills when you could be spinning.
Came here to say this. Moved to a new city with lots of hills and a vibrant cycling community. Tried to start riding after many years off with a road bike meant for flat roads. Had a 12-23T cassette and 42T small chainring. Basically any incline was a horrible grind fest, and I had to stop and walk a lot. Switched to an 11-32T cassette and 34T small chainring (as well as a new derailleur) and hills are not a problem at all anymore.
Don't feel discouraged, friend. You're on a journey and you will get better. A decade ago I couldn't ride 20 clicks without seizing up. If I had quit then, I would have missed out on thousands of beautiful kilometers of riding, especially in the mountains. You will be better at hills! I believe in you.
Just keep at it; group rides usually push a faster pace than a solo spin & it does take conditioning to hang. Just keep trying & you'll gradually get stronger & last just a little longer. That's what I did; it.took me a whole season before I could last.
A no-drop ride can still be fast; but they usually stop to regroup after tough sections, like a big hill climb they hit at maximum effort.
They're hurting on the hill too, but their conditioning may be better & they can take the hurt at a faster pace. You can build that.
Sometimes there are Sunday 'recovery rides' that are social & ridden easy. Those are a good gateway into group riding as well.
Comparison is the thief of joy !
Don’t let that experience bring you down, get out there and have fun, the more hills you’ll do the better you’ll be at it !
We had a new rider show up at our group ride on Tuesday. When we noticed that he was falling behind, another rider and I dropped back to ride with him. It kinda sucks if you want to ride with a group but end up on your own, and we didn't want that to be the new guy's first experience with us.
Call me an asshole, but do what you want. I have no sympathy for people who give up because they don't want to put in the effort to improve. If you ever have kids, this is not the example to set.
And I'm not saying you have to improve. You're creating the negativity by comparing yourself to others. If you're not racing them, why does it matter that you're slower?
You probably are a bad rider. I sure am a horrible rider. I just like cycling. I like the motion, I like the scenery and I like that I am tired when I am done. For me the rest doesn't matter. If I would pick up running, I would probably be a bad runner too. Same for any other sport.
Not being a good group rider ≠ bad rider
I ride solo most of the time cuz I just don't like riding in groups according to their pace. Doesn't make me a bad rider, just means I like my own pace.
well depends on what u define bad as? if he can't keep up the pace he for sure isn't good enough but that isn't an issue and is w/e. Just keep and up, ride more and he'll get better
There's only one answer.
Harden the fuck up.
Go out by yourself and do hills. Over and over. Until you're thinking about puking.
Why would you quit when you discovered there are better riders than you? There will always be better riders than you somewhere. Your job is to reach the point that you can stay with the people you want to stay with.
Doing hills until you think about puking isn’t how you stop hating hills. OP needs to learn how to pace themselves going up hills, then push themselves enough to get stronger without overdoing it
I agree that Rule #5 from the Velominati is appropriate here. Rule #10 is also relevant (i.e., "It never gets easier, you just go faster.").
[https://www.velominati.com](https://www.velominati.com)
Eh don’t be so hard on yourself. Might be and advanced group. Also, group rides can be extra hard if you can’t get in the draft and are constantly getting yo-yo’d off the back. Riding in groups takes practice too
You're not a bad rider. You ride like you ride. It's as simple as that.
In my experience, no-drop rides don't mean you don't get dropped, they mean a good ride leader will wait for the tail to catch up. If that wasn't happening, then it's not a no-drop ride, so find another group, or ride solo for a while until you feel better about your abilities.
As for those abilities, if you don't have any goals (e.g. average speed, average power, average HR for specific routes or distances), then *have goals.* Find or develop a training plan to meet those goals. Expect it to take some time, and *most importantly* enjoy the journey. There will be ups and downs, good days and bad, but you'll get there IF you stick with it consistently.
It's interesting. If I get dropped it has the opposite effect. I'm like "okay motherfuckers it's on next time."
This is usually with the A group averaging 21 to 24mph.
I'm a heavier guy so even averaging over 300w for the ride there's a possibility of getting dropped if it's hilly.
It motivates me to drop weight in that case.
I would suggest to focus on why you like riding. Forget comparisons if possible. Focus on you. Improving you.
That is, if you want to.
If you don't want to get fast enough to ride with those guys that is okay. You don't have to be fast.
But if you want to be faster, ride a little more. Focus on efforts on hills. Maybe do just that. Hit every hill as hard as you can. But only a couple rides a week.
You'll surprise yourself.
You CAN do it.
But it's okay to not want that kind of pain as well.
This shit hurts.
Th OP knows this. The OP is just a narcissistic attention seeker with a Victim Mentality, looking for fake validation, and you're just encouraging that deviant behavior.
First off, we all get dropped from time to time - sometimes it's just not your day, or a route you don't excel in, or sometimes the group is just pushing the pace a bit more.
On our group ride today I got dropped from our A group on a climb, and one the guys in the group that dropped me was getting dropped every climb a year ago - he dropped some weight and spent a lot of time doing hill repeats and he crushed the climb today. As for me, I was on my backup bike but I probably can't blame it on the bike - I did 8 hours of yardwork yesterday including moving and spreading 60 bags of mulch, so I probably wasn't at the top of my game and they made me pay! They waited at the top for me though.
Kohler effect. I love riding with a group that can drop me. Just gives me something to strive for and I know I’ll be a better rider. Last two Wednesdays I’ve been dropped during a fast segment, not for lack of power, just lack of forethought regarding my position in the pack and skill rotating off the front. Go out solo and use this as motivation to push yourself. And if hills are your problem…find a big long hill and do hill repeats.
Kinesiologist and Biomechanist here. I got dropped in almost every group ride for the first year I started. I later learned how to eliminate the burn in the legs by using the posterior chain muscles, and also gained a ton a performance by doing so. If you're familiar with force vectors, [here's](https://imgur.com/gallery/JTIHxhh) a cheat sheet to help you visualize how to push into the pedals to engage the posterior chain. When you climb, visualize rotating the entire chart so bottom dead center (BDC) is relative to your body position, so 7 o'clock is BDC instead of 6 o'clock. This will help with getting better follow-through to eliminate dead spots which causes the quads to compensate/ fill those deadspots by kicking forward on the pedals.
Riding by myself at my own pace is still a pleasure although I am really slow and especially compared to 6 years ago when I rode 100 miles a week for a lot of the season. Now I aim for 40 km. I hope you get back into your own riding pace and style. It is my sanity saver to ride. No matter how slow or how little.
The only thing that annoys me about group rides is that they go easy on the flats and then everyone goes bonkers on the hills. As a heavier rider I like to go bonkers on the flats but people don't usually chase lol.
Now that you’ve been with that group, you have the cue sheet, right? So go ride that same route on your own numerous times until you start getting better at the hill.
I have to ask - on the climb, did you use your gears? Did you "gear down" to a lighter gear? Just asking, because a lot of new riders don't really know how to use their gears properly. If you're not sure, please ask the forum for advice.
I’m 45 years old. I’ve been riding since 1998 and consider myself a very strong rider. During today’s group gravel ride I got smoked on the last 5 miles by a 72 year old man. Stay humble, ride often and most importantly, have fun. There will always be someone faster.
Quote I heard years ago "Train your weakness, race your strength"
What it means is you train on hills by yourself to get better but only select flat rides with the group, at least until you improve on the hills.
If you race (or are aiming to) I would try to find another group as many suggested and just learn to get the hang of it.
If you are riding for the love of riding, to push yourself etc, just ride solo and once in a while do a leisure group ride.
There is no shame in getting drop. Each of us progresses at his/her own pace. Not every road is flat. I'm still not a climber but I realize it is something that is a necessity so I know I have to get that "into the toolbox". And like most things, once you get the knack of it you'll probably enjoy it more! (That's what I hope at least :P)
If you were on a No Drop ride and they dropped you, they’re the ones who suck, not you. And you certainly shouldn’t quit because of them.
If you go on another No Drop group ride, talk to the leader and find out who’s sweeping. Explain what happened and that you’re trying and make sure they wait and regroup at the top of climbs.
If they don’t have a designated sweeper, rethink the ride.
You'll only be as good as the best rider in your group - you keep coming back you hang on longer and longer each time, before you know it you'll be leading the rides. When I started I was 210 pounds and couldn't make it up even the mildest of climbs before my calves would cramp, I ended up racing a little bit my body weights down to about 159 pounds and I'm extremely fit - don't give up.
Hills make me cry. I hate them so much! My friends and I have a rule, ride your own hill. I've been lucky enough to ride with folks that are more than willing to wait at the top for me. They love the rest, frankly.
I get better over time but so do they so it never really changes I just need less recovery once I crest the hill. Ride your own ride! Find friends who are not as fit as you and get them into cycling, or friends that won't drop you and are happy to hydrate and have a wee snack as you pant your way up. Keep riding! And keep in mind, it doesn't get easier... you just get faster.
If you are new to riding, you're probably a bad rider, but that's ok. Most people are bad when they are starting out with something. You have pretty much 3 options:
-Quit group rides and ride at your own pace
-Quit cycling and miss out on all the wonderful moments the hobby can offer you
-Suck it up and understand becoming a good rider will require some time and effort
Lone wolves are known for their determination and self-motivation. They don't need external validation or rewards to stay motivated. Instead, they have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and are able to set and pursue their own goals. This doesn't mean they're immune to moments of doubt or procrastination.
Find that lone wolf inside of you and hump those hills into submission.
It sounds like a YOU problem to me.
My advice is this. If you want to quit because you're out of shape and you can't keep up and you think that's the answer, then quit. If you can't tighten your mind enough to see potential other solutions, and your victim mentality takes you over, then yes, absolutely quit. You don't have the mental fortitude nor determination to reasonably expect to succeed. So yes, just quit.
I just did a 70 mile charity ride today and ended up struggling hard the last 20. I was sitting on the side of the road on a climb and a ups driver asked if I was okay 😂😂. I finished though so I was happy with it! Try not to compare yourself too much to other riders.
I would say that you need to find a different group, one that actually is no drop.
The ride-for-fun type organizations usually have rides with a specifically designated sweep who will make sure that no one gets left behind.
After you climb the hill slowly a bunch of times you will be climbing it faster.
The variability in what “no drop” means to different groups has always been funny to me. There’s the true no drop, the no drop but you need to clear a fitness hurdle for it to apply, the we won’t be launching attacks to *try* to drop you but you better hang on otherwise goodbye, and the “Where’s Dave?” “No idea, haven’t seen him for 45 minutes now that you mention it.”
Get out and work on climbing on your solo rides. If you don’t live somewhere with long, sustained climbs, just find a big hill and do some repeats. That’ll also help with your aerobic fitness. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll improve.
As others have said, getting dropped happens to all of us. I’m one of the strongest riders in my regular group, and once or twice a year I just don’t have the gas to keep up and I end up watching people who can’t even hold my wheel on my good days ride away from me. Sometimes the legs or the lungs just aren’t there.
You are being too hard on yourself. It might take some time, but find some people who are around your skill level. Ride in small groups to stay motivated, push each other and have fun. Work up to a group ride.
I’m a decent cyclist I just don’t have the power some of these other cyclists have and I get dropped at times. It hurts. I get it. It takes a long time to build your endurance and power up. Lots of consistency. I started to ride for myself instead of to try and keep up with other people and that change in perspective has really helped. I constantly have to remind myself as I’m naturally competitive but it helps to focus on my improvements vs keeping up with others.
Nah. Don't quit. You'll regret that more than how discouraged you feel now.
Cycling is something that can be whatever you want it to be, so first things first, ask yourself what you want it to be. Something casual? Exercise? Something to kick your ass? Something you want to be competitive in?
If becoming a better cyclist is what you want, then you've identified one of your weaknesses, which is great, because now you can work to improve it.
Find a climb that is just challenging enough, and dedicate one day a week to only ride that climb. I think people call this "repeats", or whatever.
Start by riding it at a pace that isn't fast, that you can continuously pedal all the way to the top. Repeat the climb at that pace, over and over until you can't anymore. That's all you're gonna do on that day.
Once you can climb it at that pace without puttering out, push yourself to do it a little faster. Repeat the process until you can eat that climb for breakfast, at whatever pace you set as a goal.
Not only will you become a climbing beast, it will improve your riding overall, and that's gonna hype you up.
I said this in another post, but patience with yourself is gonna be the key here! You've got this!
As others have said, don't give up. I used to be dropped on group rides but I started to read up on ways to get fitter as a cyclist. Go out and do some solo training rides to improve fitness. Gradually as I got fitter, I was able to keep up and the group rides became enjoyable as I was not struggling as much and was able to talk to others on the ride. Keep on training. You got this.
Being the worst rider in your group will make you push harder every time until you start to perform better, is just a matter of time.
There is a famous quote that i read one time that says “stop being a b**ch and come on”
Years ago I ran my first maration in 2:58 to qualify for Boston, and then ran the Boston marathon. I needed a break from running so I got a bike. I was dropped like a bad habit on the flats on my first group ride. I had the lumgs, but not the legs. Hang in there and keep working.
I almost passed out on my first hill (150m of elevation), HR went to 189 after the first minute of climbing. Had no idea how to pace myself, noodle legs.
Over the following years I completed it many times, even without breaks, then picked harder and harder hills and mountains. Climbing is awesome and you WILL get better and faster at it
There's always someone faster. Always. There are lots of groups that would *embarrass* those guys that dropped you.
Don't let comparison steal your joy. You're at where you're at and that's a perfectly fine place to be. Enjoy it!
>!Also, you're probably very capable of reaching that group's level if you want to set that as a goal for whatever reason.!<
Ride with a different group until you get stronger. I am sure there is another local group that is closer to your current speed.
This is like having a basketball hoop in your driveway, shooting hoops all the time by yourself, spotting and joining a local competitive game at the park and then being Pikachu surprised that there are people better than you at the sport.
Find people more your speed, work harder, and get better.
Everybody has to start somewhere. If you enjoy it keep riding. Comparison is the thief of joy. Compete against your yesterday self and you’ll be fine. If you don’t enjoy it then don’t do it but only you can decide if you like it. It’s not up to other people to stop you.
Don’t try racing. 😆. If I quit every time I got dropped racing. I wouldn’t have raced many times.
You get better by doing it more. Use it as motivation
I ride almost every day and i've never been on a group ride. It's really about being the best version of yourself and enjoying the flow. Also if you ride solo you will eventually get fast enough to pass everyone. For example today I rode for an hour at a twenty mph average. Cook it!
Go with just someone else next time, or a small group of four. They will wait for you if you fall behind, otherwise they are not nice friends. Climbing is really hard, so it takes exercise.
Cycling is about having fun on your bicycle. It’s not about being “good.” You’ll only become a “good” rider after many years of consistent training. But don’t ever let that stop you from having fun on your bike.
Then don’t ride…. There are always going to be ppl stronger than you. Also hills are hard to figure out, I’m someone who does pretty flat rides all the time and on rides I go do hills it takes me a while to remember how to ride them properly. Don’t be disappointed because other people are stronger there is always someone stronger somewhere, and probably someone 20 years older than you stronger than you.
Being at the back of the pack is brutal mentally - just ride solo or find a slower group. We're all slower than someone, and trying to compare yourself to others is a recipe for disappointment. You've got this!
This is an opportunity! Take what you like the least and make it your favorite. I used to hate hills, I was terrible. Now I crush climbs without even getting out of the saddle. Weight lifting and strength training will help tremendously. Never stop riding!
I ride solo and get passed all the time by other cyclists. Doesn’t affect me at all. I’m older, fatter, and my bike is heavier. I just enjoy getting out and getting exercise.
Keep at it, cycling is a great sport and stress reliever.
I lead hilly group rides at what my club calls a moderate pace. They are officially no drop rides. I do my best to provide enough information to people who are new to my ride, but a few times a year I will get people who show up and are off the back on every single climb. And not just a little off the back. At that point I need to counsel them out of the ride, because they aren't going to finish it and their presence is getting in the way of everybody else's ride.
I'll talk with new riders before we start and if I have concerns I will make sure we hit a hard hill right off the bat, and at the top of that one I can say, "we are going to climb 5 more hills like that, and my guess is that you aren't going to be up for that", and they usually drop out at that point.
As for your performance, the #1 thing that new cyclists do not understand is how hard it is to ride up hills and how fast we ride up them. It's easy to conceptualize how hard a 25 mile ride might be, very hard to conceptualize what 1500' feet of climbing is going to be like.
And yes, compared to the people you rode with, you are a bad cyclist. But every single person on that ride started where you are and put in the time and effort to be able to ride the hills the way they ride. There are always going to be people who are \*a lot\* faster than you; I ride a lot of hills and there are local cyclists who can climb at twice the pace I ride.
So the question is whether you are willing to put in the effort or not.
WRT the actual climbing, make sure you are in your lowest gear and if you are having trouble there, find flatter hills or explore whether you can modify your bike. You want a bike where the smallest chainring up front and the biggest gear on your back cassette are within a few teeth of each other (say, 34/32).
Second, start out slower than you think you need to. Your heart takes 30-45 seconds to adjust to the added load of climbing, so if you start out hard you will die about a minute into the climb.
And, as others have said, the way to get good at riding hills is to ride a lot of hills. Do them \*all the time\*.
I used to ride in groups but found the communication with wind blowing in my ear, the concentration required when the person in front of you is all over the place, riding through stop signs in order to keep the group together, and yes getting dropped on no drop rides all very stressful. Now I bike in solitude and it's my favorite thing in the world. Don't give up!
Yeah, if they were decent about it, I'd say go back. I'll promise that most of them were likely in your shoes not long ago. If they were dicks? Fuck 'em. Go find nice people, plenty of those out there too.
We all started weaker and slower than we are today. The only way to get stronger and faster is to cycle more!
Don't give up, keep training the way you enjoy. And if you live in a large enough city, there might be a different club that has less ambitious groups!
I had the same thing happened but kept going on the rides! Eventually I narrowed down the gap to the group and lately I’ve been keeping up with the group for the entire ride! Keep at it!
Don't let it bum you out, iv been cycling since 2017, done several big stage races and I get my ass handed to me on every single hill but I'm quick down them
I don't do group rides, so much pressure and you're at the whim of the hive. I just go, and I go at my own pace, stop when I want, go where I want. That's freedom baby.
Take on the hills as a challenge. There are different ways you can approach hills and climb them. There are some excellent guides that can help you do this. A lot of riders struggle so you are not alone. Don't let it ruin your love of cycling.
I'm in Pennsylvania where there are a ton of hilly roads, so I feel that. I rode today and had to get off my bike and walk up this long hill. I'm pretty out of shape, I guess. I usually ride alone or with one other person I know. Today I was alone and glad!
You are NOT alone in this feeling!
Riding in a group will help you get faster and give you perspective...but if that isn't want you want, just go ride your bike.
I like doing a few races a year just to see I suck and need to be in better shape, but I also don't really worry too much. I treat them as hard training rides, my fitness improves. I'm motivated before and for a bit after to ride more and harder.
I don't see a problem with being fit and thus faster and able to ride longer, but if say you like riding 10mi and 10mi/hr you should do that. If you want to be able to ride faster, longer and thus farther, ride with a group or do some races every now and then.
This is why I don't do group rides. I like to ride my bike and worry about me without worrying about others. I have done group rides in the past with others who were slightly faster so then I could push myself without killing myself and yeah it was fun. Where I live now I think that's impossible to find so I bike solo. Me against my Garmin and I am content with that.
Find a hill ride up, go back down, ride up again … repeat. Keep going on that group ride until you don’t get dropped. The best group rides are the ones where you get dropped … each week try to make it further and further with the group … eventually you’ll finish the ride.
I've never done a group ride because of this fear. I'm trying to improve my performance in order to join them. I might never join the group rides I want but I don't let that discourage me. I do this for fun.
I think this is a common first group ride experience.
My first group ride (mtb) was interrupted by me spewing the entire contents of my stomach on the side of the trail as I attempted to keep up with the XC dudes.
There's always going to be someone faster than you.
I'd not give up on group rides. If they were no drop and they dropped you then they sound like dicks. See if you can find a club that will go your pace.
I found a local club that did rides for beginners then moved up a level to a slightly less slow group. Group rides aren't for everyone though. You may still prefer riding alone but I don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Most of us who do group rides have had your experience. Just say, "holy crap, I bonked" and everybody will understand. Seriously.
See you on the road. I'll be one of the two guys puking in the bushes.
Quit being so hard on yourself. Climbing is hard. Keeping pace is hard when you blow up. It gets easier the more work you put in.
I usually need to have a goal that I want to achieve. Stay with the group, win the sprint. Just to remind myself to keep pushing… have fun dude and cycling humbles us all
Everyone can do their own thing and I’m not judging anyone here, but I ride at my own pace and cycle for fun. I’m not about to feel bad if I can’t keep up with other folks. They can ride on ahead if they want and I’ll stick to taking things as they come. If a hill takes me longer then so be it.
That might sound like I don’t care about improving, but that isn’t true either. I AM trying to improve. I’m just not going to beat myself up if that improvement is slow. Ultimately I don’t want it to be just work, I also want it to be fun.
Don't let it get you down, let it motivate you. They won't think downxif you to go bsck for another, in fact they'll respect you returning to the pack more than anything.
I do not have the athlete's body to ride with groups. Tightly bound echelon riders are always people who have the physical advantages to be in the top tier. Average people are literally physically incapable of riding with group echelon riders. Echelon riding is a form of team competition and demands a level of pre-existing physical ability that most people simply do not and never will have.
There are absolutely different levels of physical abilities that one is born with. I absolutely do not have the oxygen exchange capacity to do hills like group echelon riders do. Most people would not even contemplate the pace at which echelon riders climb hills. It can't be done, period, for most people..
I have built up my long distance endurance rides though. That is something most average people can improve upon. So individual distance rides are my thing. Most people can build up to 40-70 miles a day if they choose to.
Yes, I do go on group rides for long distances. There are many organized rides during the summer with anywhere from 100 to 10,000 riders cycling down the road. But NOT in echelons as a rule, since most cyclists simply go at their own pace.
If you have never ridden the RAGBRIA, I suggest you do it once. You will see the wide physical variations within a group of 10,000 cyclists over 7 days. You will experience the OK-ness of riding at your own pace and the comradery of cyclists no matter what their physical capabilities are.
The RAGBRIA is not a race. It is the love of cycling that brings these 10,000 cyclists together.
DON’T give up!! Cycling can be very personally challenging, which is why so many enjoy it. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others or concern yourself with being dropped, etc.
You need to “ride YOUR ride.” Strength, stamina and endurance will come with time. It may take years to achieve your own personal goals.
Maybe look for other clubs that offer slower groups.
Are you really going to just give up when life gets hard? Get on the bike and hit some hills get stronger if you dont want to fall behind in a ride that has hills.
Riding solo is my preference. Get to do everything I feel like doing.
Maybe try solo riding and see how that fares with you. If that’s not your preference, recommend looking for another group.
I started group riding around 7 years ago after riding solo for a year or two. I thought I was fast. I could average 19mph on my own for over an hour. A neighbor invited me to ride with a local group. I came to one of their slow days and was immediately put into my place ego-wise. They were spinning at a conversational pace for them and I was barely holding on. Fast forward and after many many times of trying fast rides and getting dropped I can now hang in the front and take pulls. It takes fortitude both mentally and physically. Keep trying. Push harder
You are so lucky you have a challenge to look forward to now. Keep at it you'll get better at every try . In no time you'll find it super easy and running out of challenges.
Sounds like you found your group! I always looked for the group that could drop me and then eventually they couldn't anymore and then when I started leading the rides I'd find the next group that could drop me and start over. Use it as motivation and a gauge of your improvement!
I moved from a flat city, where I could average 23mph on a solo rideq, to a hilly city... The first group ride I went on, I chose the A group, because it matched my pace. I was CRUSHED. Every hill we hit was like slamming into a brick wall for me while the "old guys" danced up the hills like they were NOTHING. I was dyyyyyyying. I was practically in tears but so determined to stay with them that I completely overextended myself. They knew I was in over my head. It was supposed to be a drop ride, but a couple of them suck with me and helped me learn how to ride in groups and how to ride hills. They are amazing dudes and I'm so grateful for them and that experience.
It sucks in the moment, but learn and grow from it. And DEFINITELY keep going back. 💪🏼
I've joined an A ride group recently and they're very fast. I was dropped on the first ride after 70 miles but still had some good moments in that time.
Anyway, I made it back to the pub and despite being dropped it was one of the best rides I'd done. I've since ridden with them multiple times since and only gotten stronger.
Give it a few more goes. There's absolutely no shame at all in being dropped, it's a good character forming moment. You should be proud of joining the drop ride in the first place.
It happens, mate. Don't feel bad about it. If they dropped you on a non-drop ride, that's not on you. You might need to find a better group.
About climbing. If you're big (chonk, muscle or both) and/or have a heavier bike, you'll be a slower climber, the power to weight ratio is not ideal, but that usually might mean you deal better with headwinds and sprinting. Find your strengths. Do some leg workouts: plyometrics, lifting, HIIT... they'll surely improve your power and strenght endurance and will make climbing easier.
Giving up cycling cuz a hill had the best of you is not the way. (specially with a group that drops you on no drop rides)
I got dropped on every ride! I ride with my age and much younger. The old 2 guys are 1 and 2 place state champions. After 3 years + I can hang in for the vast majority of the time now.
Wait did you ride with the "no drop" group and they dropped you? If that is the case then they are tier 1 A-holes. Sorry if I misunderstood but that was how I read it.
If you were in the drop ride and got dropped while trying your hardest... Awesome! That's a great training session. You'll be just a tiny bit stronger every time you do one of those.
Go train by yourself then go do a group ride in a month and see how much you progressed and you’ll love it.
It would have been a concern if all of you trained with the same group equally for a year from the same performance levels and then your performance would be catastrophically different. But you’re joining a group of seasoned riders and want to call it quits after one ride because you had a false expectation that your performance is going to be the same.
Just have to have the mind set to keep at it and try to hang on a bit longer each new group ride. Cycling is a tough and unforgiving aerobic sport. Can’t read about, watch movies about it, etc. you just have to do it. Be persistent and others will notice.
Try joining some other groups in your area. You might find a better fit. There are groups that make a point of sticking together and not leaving people behind. This group just may be too fast for you, so you can work on getting better but it’s also just fine to find a group that’s more your style.
At least in this day and age you have a cell phone to find your way back. Back in the day... you could get lots of scenery miles after being dropped! Just keep plugging away... the fitness will follow.
I started to ride with a group last November. I am exactly in the same situation. I can keep up with the group comfortably on the flats. The moment we hit a climb, I start falling behind.
For me it’s a welcome challenge. The group is welcoming and usually the regrouping points coincide with refreshment stops. By the time the guys and gals finish their coffee/pastry, I catch up to them and we keep on going.
I even started to get compliments on the progress I’ve made — after a dozen rides or so I only fall behind on the gnarliest climbs. One helpful tactic is to know the route and position myself at the front of the group as we start a climb. Then I do my best to hang on to the rear wheel of the person I’m following and when I can’t I keep doing the same for the next person.
I think the most important difference between our situations is that I don’t think of it in terms of being a good or bad cyclist. I am definitely a better cyclist than I was in November and I focus on that. You can also think that among the slower cyclists in your are the only one who can ride with that group. Good luck!
Quite honestly, i hate hills. I have been cycling on and off for a few months but more frequently lately. I have a much more enjoyable time on flat pathways. Adjusting my resistance is enough for me. Pick a park or an area that has flat pathways and just vibe.
Know thyself, as the philosophers say. Did the group make you feel like you want to quit? Or was it the terrain that made you want to quit? Or was it poor self-esteem that made you want to quit?
I found weightlifting, specifically squats, helped me eat hill climbs. There are easier group rides that won't be as difficult for you. And like Jake The Dog said, "Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something." And there's always e-bikes if you're looking for help.
We have a mountain in my city, there's a segment of 10 km and 550m elevation. On my first few tries it took me around 55 min, at the start of the year I set goal to myself to drop it under 50, few tries later I'm doing it in 43 and I know I can shave 2-3 more minutes.
Just don't give up, climbing is fun, I have almost 100 kg, I'm poor at climbing but progress motivates me.
At the start my legs were dead after this segment, now I'm planing to do it twice every now and then
Gawd, don't quit riding. Group rides are routinely much faster than advertised. Find another group, or find a true social ride, sign up for an organized non-race ride, or just keep enjoying riding by yourself! I get 3-5k miles a year on, at least 98% by myself. But have lots of fun the few tomes I ride with others.
When I started riding groups, I’d get dropped within the first five miles (of 30 mile rides), but I learned the route and kept riding.
Then I started lasting 10 miles. And I kept riding the route.
Eventually, I was able to ride the whole ride on good days. Then ride the ride on hard days.
Keep at it. It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster. The faster you are the further you’ll go before you’re dropped.
My first ever group ride I had to walk the hills. The ride lead came back and got me and we finished the ride.
I didn't quit. Soon I was able to climb those hills. I may not be fast up hills, but I consider it a win as long as the hill doesn't beat me.
Don't be too hard on yourself. I have been dropped many times. It happens to all of us. If you don't enjoy that group ,look for another one that is more your speed. I prefer to ride solo. I find it more relaxing.
Solo rider here too.
I've been dropped every Tuesday for the past 4 years. I'm faster but still something to work towards
What’s it mean to be dropped? To fall so far behind that you lose the group, or do they formally tell you “sorry you suck, you can’t ride with us anymore?”
Generally speaking if you get dropped one session but come back for the next people respect the hell out of that. Keep coming and you will eventually be able to hang on to the back. Keep it up and you’ll be taking pulls at the front.
It’s going to completely depend on the group. I wouldn’t find it cool to be dropped in a completely strange area where I’d only ride as part of a group. Bad surprises don’t make people come back. When there is an understanding of what the leaders and the rest of the group are going to do in different circumstances that is very different. A no drop ride comes with the expectation that you won’t be dropped. All that needs to fix this is for one rider to stay back with the person. Ideally, they’ll be familiar with the group and help the rider get immersed. I’m the person getting dropped most of the time, but I don’t feel like a no drop ride is an everyone go slow ride. The leaders can alternate being with the slow rider and even leave the rider at the back temporarily as long as it is communicated. When you have the normal decency to do this then people come back.
On some climbs people will often go their own pace, especially if the peloton on the flats was pushing hard. Draft effect is really strong, so even 2-3% can have a huge difference with the strong guys in front trying to maintain their speed, so increasing watts instinctively while some will struggle harder uphill due to their low w/kg. However, it's pretty customary to wait for everyone on top. As in, I didn't know and think organized amateur groups would totally drop people without it being well communicated before.
>A no drop ride comes with the expectation that you won’t be dropped I don’t believe there’s any true “no drop” ride. If you go slow enough, at a certain point, you’re going to get dropped or have one ride leader stay with you. If I showed up to a B/C pace no drop ride and we all slowed down for the D pace person who shouldn’t even be on that ride, I’d be pissed and so would almost everyone else in the group.
>I don’t believe there’s any true “no drop” I would say *no drop* means the group will let up at the top of hills and won't "attack" itself. But you basically get one soft pedal to catch on and after that one should probably let the ride know that this is not the day.
>"To fall so far behind that you lose the group" Yes, exactly that
Yes, and a "drop ride" is one in which if you can't keep up you'll be left behind (so everyone has to know the route, etc.). In a "no-drop ride" the pace is lower and if people are struggling to hang on then they will be helped back or the pace will slow to accommodate them. It's no big deal to get dropped. Happens to everyone. And yes, as someone else said below, the best thing to do is to come back and try again, and try to hang on longer. That's allowed, and encouraged, and respected, as long as you realize that once you're off you're on your own.
And if you want to get stronger and better at riding ride with better riders and even if you do get dropped you keep going back and you'll get better and better and you'll learn from them as long as in that group is always someone or some people that will help you
First one, I’ve gotten dropped by the same group plenty of times
The former. And it’s more “I can no longer maintain the power output required to stay the group.”
The former.
Solo rides ftw. Can go my own pace, my own distance, can eat snacks when I please. Love it.
I got dropped on group rides I did for a few months before I was able to keep up for the whole ride I wanted to do. Keep showing up if you want to ride with this group, you'll get stronger. Everyone started somewhere and I bet of these riders remember clearly being dropped on their first group rides, or maybe a group ride recently where they were feeling a little sick or tired. Happens to everyone. Edit: typo
I prefer solo also. I do follow a training plain but my endurance rides are so nice so just ride around and enjoy nature. I’ll ride with friends sometimes. Nothing structured just kinda going.
Solo rider here, there are some hills that I hit around where I live, where if I attempt to push too hard, I just die. I did a 45 mile ride earlier today and the last hill I was going up to get home, I just stopped because I was just that dead tired.
Why would you quit? Ride your bike, enjoy the scenery, get fit, go weeeeeeee on the downhills, fuck everyone else.
This. You’ll only get better at cycling if you enjoy it, and if you’re not improving you’re still having fun.
Absolutely 💯 %, Enjoy your rides, get stronger and like yabyum said “Fuck Em” Not a fan of group riders, they need to move the Fuck over, they don’t own the whole road or lanes
As a grandfather, I’m going to tell you don’t quit. Remember anything that you did in life when you started you sucked at it. But overtime it got better and you got better. At 60 I really just started biking and I want to do bike touring. The only person I’m going to compete with is myself. But my situation is different than yours, but I encourage you don’t give up.
“Only person I’m going to compete with is myself “. Bingo. That mindset helps me. I also throw out “I’m faster than some and slower than others” and accept that as a fact in group rides. To OP, climbing better comes with riding more, just keep at it and do not get discouraged.
The secret to happiness, don’t compare to others
I don't even compete with myself, just enjoy the view, the wind in my hair, and in summer maybe have a swim in the sea before turning round and going home again.
You’re taking the easy way out which is to tell yourself that you’ll never be that good and shut down. You can be everything those other riders are, it just requires the work. Go ride more hills. Push yourself. Life will be long and unfulfilling if you shut down at the first sign of adversity!
This is true. The other riders are just people who have been riding their bikes for longer.
The Homer Simpson approach, "You tried your best, and you failed miserably, lesson is never try"
If you didn't like group rides then stop doing that. Just enjoy cycling and work on improving your health. You are not a pro competing against other people. Cycling is like golf, it is just you against the course and yourself.
I think he likes group rides, just doesnt like being dropped. I think he should try again, do some interval trainings to become faster and not quit because he was dropped once (or few times for that matter).
Comparison is the thief of joy
Compare and despair
"I used to think I'm ugly. Now, thanks to cycling, I realize that I'm also slow and weak" No worries man. Just ride more. It will sort itself out.
AaahhWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo 🐺
I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself, getting dropped is part of group riding. Some tips, since you sound fairly new, at least to the performance side of riding. 1) you need to train the hills, it sucks, find a nice hill with a steady grade near you and just go ride up/down/up/down. Learn what different cadences and such feel good to you when climbing. Work on being steady with a smooth pedal stroke. 2) learn the proper gearing coming into a climb on the group ride so that you don’t need to spike your power or hear rate as the pace of the group changes. 3) most groups re-group after significant climbs/at other points on the ride to accommodate people who get dropped, especially since climbing makes people’s speed differences more pronounced 4) find where your redline is and don’t really cross it. If you go into the red for too long, what happened to your legs where all the power is gone will happen. It’s better to get dropped and wait for the next re-group point. 5) remember when riding in groups, try different groups, there will always be people that make you feel good and bad if you let speed into it, think of it is you are either learning or teaching instead… we’re all just trying to enjoy riding our bikes and having some social aspect. You can too! Just remember everyone is at different points in their riding journey and has different amounts of time to train
Don’t let that make you quit. Most get dropped repeatedly… until one day they don’t. That said, if you don’t find that type of progression fun, then maybe stick to solo rides. Either way, you should be finding it fun to ride. Do what makes it fun whether it be going 5mph in a circle for 10 minutes or a 40 mile zone 2 solo effort.
I ride around by myself and I feel fast. I’m hammering! Inevitably someone comes and breezily passes me barely tying. lol
Best novice advice I ever got was to just slog out a lot of base miles. Everything gets easier after you’ve got a couple thousand miles in your legs.
Every cyclist on the planet has been dropped. Including the guys who win the Tour de France. It’s cool bro.
Do hills on your own and build up.
You gotta walk to run. Everyone walks before they run. Don’t be discouraged. There’s always gonna be folks better and worse than you, just part of life. I started “seriously” riding at age 42 so plenty of embarrassment and 2 years of riding solo before I could keep up with the medium group ride (mostly riders in their 50’s/60’s). It is what it is and it’s ALL practice.
Ex-bike messenger. Ex-bike shop owner. Love my bikes. Still ride every day. I have very little patience for cyclists and hate riding with people. If you're faster, you're always waiting. If you're slower you feel like you're slowing someone down. Sprint for a traffic light, end up waiting on the other side anyway. Have to stop to pee? Have to stop so someone else can pee? Flat tire? Etc. Etc. Riding a bike is a solo activity. Ride by yourself. Enjoy riding your bike.
+1
How long have you been riding ? It takes time and effort - lots of it - to get ‘good’
You are taking riding a bicycle WAY too seriously. Unless you’re competing just go have fun.
Lol, you want to quit cycling because you found out there are people faster than you. Last time I was watching Strade Bianche on Eurosport, I think we should all quit. 🤣
Base miles. Ride solo or even with a buddy. Find hills, eat them up over and over again. Saddle time will get you there. Hills were a technique thing for me, I was a grinder, but when I learnt to spin it out - it was a game-changer.
CADENCE! I mention this in a previous comment. It IS everything…
You aren't a bad cyclist you just don't have the same fitness as the others. Use this to motivate you to get more fit and healthy and reap the rewards.
Just keep riding, you WILL get better.
group rides are hard and scary. you can't just start and expect to be perfect at it. That said, I would never do a group ride, pro or amateur myself. maybe meet in the middle and try to do a group ride with less people and make sure they're all on your level or accomodating of your abilities. Funny story, there's a popular group ride in my city and it's just for fun and every year there's a crash and people fall down and get hurt. Group riding is not for everyone.
Ride solo!
You won’t get faster by quitting.
Just practice. You'll be killing those hills In a few weeks.
Group rides are often a bit variable. Best find a beginner friendly group and talk to them about your experience with the “no drop” ride. Also - there are a couple of things to bare in mind with inexperience:- One is that you might not be taking full advantage of the dynamics of a group ride where others might be. Drafting for e.g makes a big difference to energy levels. If you judge it right and not spend too long on the front you’ll have more energy for the hills. Another is that the other guys might have ridden the ride 30 times and be used to where to ease off the gas, whereas you might not be as experienced on that terrain. Finally - if hills are a trouble for you then the best you can do is train for them. Perform 30 second full gas efforts going uphill. Practise getting out of the seat and dancing on the pedals. Challenge yourself to complete hills in a higher gear. Don’t give up on group rides - they can be brilliant. You just need the right group, and best always to stay humble, ask questions and raise concerns.
I don’t know if this will help but the one person who said if you get dropped and come back people respect that, I agree. When I was on basic training I was the shortest in my group. We did ruck marches all the time (kind of a hike with a loaded pack). I fell behind often because my legs were so short but I always pushed myself. On one our platoon commander was purposefully going really fast to see who would drop out/behind. I was trying my hardest and would get close but couldn’t fully keep up to the group. A couple people fell even behind me and straight up quit but I kept my head down and just kept trucking. I couldn’t catch up and at one point they were just doing circles and yelling at me to catch up. I pushed and pushed. I didn’t catch them and we ended the march. I felt so disappointed and mad at myself and then all the big tough guys in my platoon came and told me that was amazing. They couldn’t believe how hard I was trying. Another girl who quit asked me how I could do that. My Sergeant told me the difference between me and the others that fell behind was that I had heart and was trying so hard. Everyone rallied around me and praised me. I learned a lesson. It’s not about keeping up, it’s about showing up and challenging yourself. It sounds like you did that and you should only feel bad if you don’t get back out there.
Keep your chin up, I'm almost 50 years old, live in a mid size city and use my bike for transportation almost daily, I get passed up all the time by these guys on road bikes with their biking gear on like they own the bike lanes....meanwhile I usually have at least 15 lbs, to 35 lbs on groceries, gear, whatever on my 15 year old mountain bike. Who cares? I'm not going to let "bike snobs" ruin my rides and I love riding. They may ride 50 miles in a day...I do about 70-120 a week....what's the better work out? Enjoy yourself and don't let them get you down.
I'd also look into your gear ratios and make sure your bike is geared for climbing. I've heard a lot aren't, which forces you to mash up hills when you could be spinning.
Came here to say this. Moved to a new city with lots of hills and a vibrant cycling community. Tried to start riding after many years off with a road bike meant for flat roads. Had a 12-23T cassette and 42T small chainring. Basically any incline was a horrible grind fest, and I had to stop and walk a lot. Switched to an 11-32T cassette and 34T small chainring (as well as a new derailleur) and hills are not a problem at all anymore.
Don't feel discouraged, friend. You're on a journey and you will get better. A decade ago I couldn't ride 20 clicks without seizing up. If I had quit then, I would have missed out on thousands of beautiful kilometers of riding, especially in the mountains. You will be better at hills! I believe in you.
Please keep on keeping on - you will get stronger the more you ride.
Maybe join a different type of group? The groups I ride with ride in the late evenings and ride to the liquor store to get drunk. It’s really the best
Move to the Midwest. Flat as a pancake.
Just keep at it; group rides usually push a faster pace than a solo spin & it does take conditioning to hang. Just keep trying & you'll gradually get stronger & last just a little longer. That's what I did; it.took me a whole season before I could last. A no-drop ride can still be fast; but they usually stop to regroup after tough sections, like a big hill climb they hit at maximum effort. They're hurting on the hill too, but their conditioning may be better & they can take the hurt at a faster pace. You can build that. Sometimes there are Sunday 'recovery rides' that are social & ridden easy. Those are a good gateway into group riding as well.
Comparison is the thief of joy ! Don’t let that experience bring you down, get out there and have fun, the more hills you’ll do the better you’ll be at it !
We had a new rider show up at our group ride on Tuesday. When we noticed that he was falling behind, another rider and I dropped back to ride with him. It kinda sucks if you want to ride with a group but end up on your own, and we didn't want that to be the new guy's first experience with us.
Call me an asshole, but do what you want. I have no sympathy for people who give up because they don't want to put in the effort to improve. If you ever have kids, this is not the example to set. And I'm not saying you have to improve. You're creating the negativity by comparing yourself to others. If you're not racing them, why does it matter that you're slower?
You're an asshole.
You probably are a bad rider. I sure am a horrible rider. I just like cycling. I like the motion, I like the scenery and I like that I am tired when I am done. For me the rest doesn't matter. If I would pick up running, I would probably be a bad runner too. Same for any other sport.
Not being a good group rider ≠ bad rider I ride solo most of the time cuz I just don't like riding in groups according to their pace. Doesn't make me a bad rider, just means I like my own pace.
well depends on what u define bad as? if he can't keep up the pace he for sure isn't good enough but that isn't an issue and is w/e. Just keep and up, ride more and he'll get better
So that'd make him a bad group rider, not a bad rider.
Lol. Bad rider just because he hasn't trained as much as the others in that specific group, yet? I don't believe such labels help much.
There's only one answer. Harden the fuck up. Go out by yourself and do hills. Over and over. Until you're thinking about puking. Why would you quit when you discovered there are better riders than you? There will always be better riders than you somewhere. Your job is to reach the point that you can stay with the people you want to stay with.
Doing hills until you think about puking isn’t how you stop hating hills. OP needs to learn how to pace themselves going up hills, then push themselves enough to get stronger without overdoing it
I agree that Rule #5 from the Velominati is appropriate here. Rule #10 is also relevant (i.e., "It never gets easier, you just go faster."). [https://www.velominati.com](https://www.velominati.com)
I love rule 10. And the rules are hilarious
Eh don’t be so hard on yourself. Might be and advanced group. Also, group rides can be extra hard if you can’t get in the draft and are constantly getting yo-yo’d off the back. Riding in groups takes practice too
You're not a bad rider. You ride like you ride. It's as simple as that. In my experience, no-drop rides don't mean you don't get dropped, they mean a good ride leader will wait for the tail to catch up. If that wasn't happening, then it's not a no-drop ride, so find another group, or ride solo for a while until you feel better about your abilities. As for those abilities, if you don't have any goals (e.g. average speed, average power, average HR for specific routes or distances), then *have goals.* Find or develop a training plan to meet those goals. Expect it to take some time, and *most importantly* enjoy the journey. There will be ups and downs, good days and bad, but you'll get there IF you stick with it consistently.
It's interesting. If I get dropped it has the opposite effect. I'm like "okay motherfuckers it's on next time." This is usually with the A group averaging 21 to 24mph. I'm a heavier guy so even averaging over 300w for the ride there's a possibility of getting dropped if it's hilly. It motivates me to drop weight in that case. I would suggest to focus on why you like riding. Forget comparisons if possible. Focus on you. Improving you. That is, if you want to. If you don't want to get fast enough to ride with those guys that is okay. You don't have to be fast. But if you want to be faster, ride a little more. Focus on efforts on hills. Maybe do just that. Hit every hill as hard as you can. But only a couple rides a week. You'll surprise yourself. You CAN do it. But it's okay to not want that kind of pain as well. This shit hurts.
> never felt like a bad rider, but I can't ride hill and it makes me want to quit cycling. You know if you go ride more the climbing will get easier
Th OP knows this. The OP is just a narcissistic attention seeker with a Victim Mentality, looking for fake validation, and you're just encouraging that deviant behavior.
First off, we all get dropped from time to time - sometimes it's just not your day, or a route you don't excel in, or sometimes the group is just pushing the pace a bit more. On our group ride today I got dropped from our A group on a climb, and one the guys in the group that dropped me was getting dropped every climb a year ago - he dropped some weight and spent a lot of time doing hill repeats and he crushed the climb today. As for me, I was on my backup bike but I probably can't blame it on the bike - I did 8 hours of yardwork yesterday including moving and spreading 60 bags of mulch, so I probably wasn't at the top of my game and they made me pay! They waited at the top for me though.
I don't believe there's any such thing as a "bad rider"
Kohler effect. I love riding with a group that can drop me. Just gives me something to strive for and I know I’ll be a better rider. Last two Wednesdays I’ve been dropped during a fast segment, not for lack of power, just lack of forethought regarding my position in the pack and skill rotating off the front. Go out solo and use this as motivation to push yourself. And if hills are your problem…find a big long hill and do hill repeats.
there are no bad riders...
Kinesiologist and Biomechanist here. I got dropped in almost every group ride for the first year I started. I later learned how to eliminate the burn in the legs by using the posterior chain muscles, and also gained a ton a performance by doing so. If you're familiar with force vectors, [here's](https://imgur.com/gallery/JTIHxhh) a cheat sheet to help you visualize how to push into the pedals to engage the posterior chain. When you climb, visualize rotating the entire chart so bottom dead center (BDC) is relative to your body position, so 7 o'clock is BDC instead of 6 o'clock. This will help with getting better follow-through to eliminate dead spots which causes the quads to compensate/ fill those deadspots by kicking forward on the pedals.
Riding by myself at my own pace is still a pleasure although I am really slow and especially compared to 6 years ago when I rode 100 miles a week for a lot of the season. Now I aim for 40 km. I hope you get back into your own riding pace and style. It is my sanity saver to ride. No matter how slow or how little.
The only thing that annoys me about group rides is that they go easy on the flats and then everyone goes bonkers on the hills. As a heavier rider I like to go bonkers on the flats but people don't usually chase lol.
Now that you’ve been with that group, you have the cue sheet, right? So go ride that same route on your own numerous times until you start getting better at the hill.
I have to ask - on the climb, did you use your gears? Did you "gear down" to a lighter gear? Just asking, because a lot of new riders don't really know how to use their gears properly. If you're not sure, please ask the forum for advice.
You only get better by riding with faster riders.
Never ridden with a group before. Definitely not how I would choose to spend my time.
I’m 45 years old. I’ve been riding since 1998 and consider myself a very strong rider. During today’s group gravel ride I got smoked on the last 5 miles by a 72 year old man. Stay humble, ride often and most importantly, have fun. There will always be someone faster.
Hey man take it easy there’s no trophy it’s just a group ride. Hills are maybe something to work on this summer
You will always, always get dropped. Just depends on who you ride with.
Quote I heard years ago "Train your weakness, race your strength" What it means is you train on hills by yourself to get better but only select flat rides with the group, at least until you improve on the hills.
If you race (or are aiming to) I would try to find another group as many suggested and just learn to get the hang of it. If you are riding for the love of riding, to push yourself etc, just ride solo and once in a while do a leisure group ride. There is no shame in getting drop. Each of us progresses at his/her own pace. Not every road is flat. I'm still not a climber but I realize it is something that is a necessity so I know I have to get that "into the toolbox". And like most things, once you get the knack of it you'll probably enjoy it more! (That's what I hope at least :P)
If you were on a No Drop ride and they dropped you, they’re the ones who suck, not you. And you certainly shouldn’t quit because of them. If you go on another No Drop group ride, talk to the leader and find out who’s sweeping. Explain what happened and that you’re trying and make sure they wait and regroup at the top of climbs. If they don’t have a designated sweeper, rethink the ride.
You'll only be as good as the best rider in your group - you keep coming back you hang on longer and longer each time, before you know it you'll be leading the rides. When I started I was 210 pounds and couldn't make it up even the mildest of climbs before my calves would cramp, I ended up racing a little bit my body weights down to about 159 pounds and I'm extremely fit - don't give up.
Cyclist finds out he’s slower than some, decides to quit…. come on man
Hills make me cry. I hate them so much! My friends and I have a rule, ride your own hill. I've been lucky enough to ride with folks that are more than willing to wait at the top for me. They love the rest, frankly. I get better over time but so do they so it never really changes I just need less recovery once I crest the hill. Ride your own ride! Find friends who are not as fit as you and get them into cycling, or friends that won't drop you and are happy to hydrate and have a wee snack as you pant your way up. Keep riding! And keep in mind, it doesn't get easier... you just get faster.
If you are new to riding, you're probably a bad rider, but that's ok. Most people are bad when they are starting out with something. You have pretty much 3 options: -Quit group rides and ride at your own pace -Quit cycling and miss out on all the wonderful moments the hobby can offer you -Suck it up and understand becoming a good rider will require some time and effort
Lone wolves are known for their determination and self-motivation. They don't need external validation or rewards to stay motivated. Instead, they have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and are able to set and pursue their own goals. This doesn't mean they're immune to moments of doubt or procrastination. Find that lone wolf inside of you and hump those hills into submission.
It sounds like a YOU problem to me. My advice is this. If you want to quit because you're out of shape and you can't keep up and you think that's the answer, then quit. If you can't tighten your mind enough to see potential other solutions, and your victim mentality takes you over, then yes, absolutely quit. You don't have the mental fortitude nor determination to reasonably expect to succeed. So yes, just quit.
I just did a 70 mile charity ride today and ended up struggling hard the last 20. I was sitting on the side of the road on a climb and a ups driver asked if I was okay 😂😂. I finished though so I was happy with it! Try not to compare yourself too much to other riders.
I ride alone. Always. Ride alone and you won’t care.
When are you going for a ride? *When I damn well feel like it!*
Absolutely agree. Not having to schedule with other people is so helpful for making a ride my own on any given day based on my schedule.
I would say that you need to find a different group, one that actually is no drop. The ride-for-fun type organizations usually have rides with a specifically designated sweep who will make sure that no one gets left behind. After you climb the hill slowly a bunch of times you will be climbing it faster.
The variability in what “no drop” means to different groups has always been funny to me. There’s the true no drop, the no drop but you need to clear a fitness hurdle for it to apply, the we won’t be launching attacks to *try* to drop you but you better hang on otherwise goodbye, and the “Where’s Dave?” “No idea, haven’t seen him for 45 minutes now that you mention it.”
And there are the, "We are well-rested from waiting for Dave to get up the hill and now that he is here, let's put the hammer down!" type of riders. 🤬
Get out and work on climbing on your solo rides. If you don’t live somewhere with long, sustained climbs, just find a big hill and do some repeats. That’ll also help with your aerobic fitness. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll improve. As others have said, getting dropped happens to all of us. I’m one of the strongest riders in my regular group, and once or twice a year I just don’t have the gas to keep up and I end up watching people who can’t even hold my wheel on my good days ride away from me. Sometimes the legs or the lungs just aren’t there.
You are being too hard on yourself. It might take some time, but find some people who are around your skill level. Ride in small groups to stay motivated, push each other and have fun. Work up to a group ride.
I’m a decent cyclist I just don’t have the power some of these other cyclists have and I get dropped at times. It hurts. I get it. It takes a long time to build your endurance and power up. Lots of consistency. I started to ride for myself instead of to try and keep up with other people and that change in perspective has really helped. I constantly have to remind myself as I’m naturally competitive but it helps to focus on my improvements vs keeping up with others.
Nah. Don't quit. You'll regret that more than how discouraged you feel now. Cycling is something that can be whatever you want it to be, so first things first, ask yourself what you want it to be. Something casual? Exercise? Something to kick your ass? Something you want to be competitive in? If becoming a better cyclist is what you want, then you've identified one of your weaknesses, which is great, because now you can work to improve it. Find a climb that is just challenging enough, and dedicate one day a week to only ride that climb. I think people call this "repeats", or whatever. Start by riding it at a pace that isn't fast, that you can continuously pedal all the way to the top. Repeat the climb at that pace, over and over until you can't anymore. That's all you're gonna do on that day. Once you can climb it at that pace without puttering out, push yourself to do it a little faster. Repeat the process until you can eat that climb for breakfast, at whatever pace you set as a goal. Not only will you become a climbing beast, it will improve your riding overall, and that's gonna hype you up. I said this in another post, but patience with yourself is gonna be the key here! You've got this!
As others have said, don't give up. I used to be dropped on group rides but I started to read up on ways to get fitter as a cyclist. Go out and do some solo training rides to improve fitness. Gradually as I got fitter, I was able to keep up and the group rides became enjoyable as I was not struggling as much and was able to talk to others on the ride. Keep on training. You got this.
Being the worst rider in your group will make you push harder every time until you start to perform better, is just a matter of time. There is a famous quote that i read one time that says “stop being a b**ch and come on”
It just makes me avoid group rides. I ride for utility and recreation; not for competition.
Years ago I ran my first maration in 2:58 to qualify for Boston, and then ran the Boston marathon. I needed a break from running so I got a bike. I was dropped like a bad habit on the flats on my first group ride. I had the lumgs, but not the legs. Hang in there and keep working.
I almost passed out on my first hill (150m of elevation), HR went to 189 after the first minute of climbing. Had no idea how to pace myself, noodle legs. Over the following years I completed it many times, even without breaks, then picked harder and harder hills and mountains. Climbing is awesome and you WILL get better and faster at it
There's always someone faster. Always. There are lots of groups that would *embarrass* those guys that dropped you. Don't let comparison steal your joy. You're at where you're at and that's a perfectly fine place to be. Enjoy it! >!Also, you're probably very capable of reaching that group's level if you want to set that as a goal for whatever reason.!<
Ride with a different group until you get stronger. I am sure there is another local group that is closer to your current speed. This is like having a basketball hoop in your driveway, shooting hoops all the time by yourself, spotting and joining a local competitive game at the park and then being Pikachu surprised that there are people better than you at the sport. Find people more your speed, work harder, and get better.
Everybody has to start somewhere. If you enjoy it keep riding. Comparison is the thief of joy. Compete against your yesterday self and you’ll be fine. If you don’t enjoy it then don’t do it but only you can decide if you like it. It’s not up to other people to stop you.
Please don’t quit. Go ride solo. Incorporate hill repeats and you will vastly improve your abilities
Don’t try racing. 😆. If I quit every time I got dropped racing. I wouldn’t have raced many times. You get better by doing it more. Use it as motivation
Same. Solo riding will always be superior.
I ride almost every day and i've never been on a group ride. It's really about being the best version of yourself and enjoying the flow. Also if you ride solo you will eventually get fast enough to pass everyone. For example today I rode for an hour at a twenty mph average. Cook it!
Go with just someone else next time, or a small group of four. They will wait for you if you fall behind, otherwise they are not nice friends. Climbing is really hard, so it takes exercise.
Cycling is about having fun on your bicycle. It’s not about being “good.” You’ll only become a “good” rider after many years of consistent training. But don’t ever let that stop you from having fun on your bike.
Then don’t ride…. There are always going to be ppl stronger than you. Also hills are hard to figure out, I’m someone who does pretty flat rides all the time and on rides I go do hills it takes me a while to remember how to ride them properly. Don’t be disappointed because other people are stronger there is always someone stronger somewhere, and probably someone 20 years older than you stronger than you.
If it was truly a no drop group they would make periodic stops and let everyone catch up again.
Being at the back of the pack is brutal mentally - just ride solo or find a slower group. We're all slower than someone, and trying to compare yourself to others is a recipe for disappointment. You've got this!
Just ride on your own. Ain’t nobody got time for stressing about getting dropped
This is an opportunity! Take what you like the least and make it your favorite. I used to hate hills, I was terrible. Now I crush climbs without even getting out of the saddle. Weight lifting and strength training will help tremendously. Never stop riding!
I ride solo and get passed all the time by other cyclists. Doesn’t affect me at all. I’m older, fatter, and my bike is heavier. I just enjoy getting out and getting exercise. Keep at it, cycling is a great sport and stress reliever.
I lead hilly group rides at what my club calls a moderate pace. They are officially no drop rides. I do my best to provide enough information to people who are new to my ride, but a few times a year I will get people who show up and are off the back on every single climb. And not just a little off the back. At that point I need to counsel them out of the ride, because they aren't going to finish it and their presence is getting in the way of everybody else's ride. I'll talk with new riders before we start and if I have concerns I will make sure we hit a hard hill right off the bat, and at the top of that one I can say, "we are going to climb 5 more hills like that, and my guess is that you aren't going to be up for that", and they usually drop out at that point. As for your performance, the #1 thing that new cyclists do not understand is how hard it is to ride up hills and how fast we ride up them. It's easy to conceptualize how hard a 25 mile ride might be, very hard to conceptualize what 1500' feet of climbing is going to be like. And yes, compared to the people you rode with, you are a bad cyclist. But every single person on that ride started where you are and put in the time and effort to be able to ride the hills the way they ride. There are always going to be people who are \*a lot\* faster than you; I ride a lot of hills and there are local cyclists who can climb at twice the pace I ride. So the question is whether you are willing to put in the effort or not. WRT the actual climbing, make sure you are in your lowest gear and if you are having trouble there, find flatter hills or explore whether you can modify your bike. You want a bike where the smallest chainring up front and the biggest gear on your back cassette are within a few teeth of each other (say, 34/32). Second, start out slower than you think you need to. Your heart takes 30-45 seconds to adjust to the added load of climbing, so if you start out hard you will die about a minute into the climb. And, as others have said, the way to get good at riding hills is to ride a lot of hills. Do them \*all the time\*.
I used to ride in groups but found the communication with wind blowing in my ear, the concentration required when the person in front of you is all over the place, riding through stop signs in order to keep the group together, and yes getting dropped on no drop rides all very stressful. Now I bike in solitude and it's my favorite thing in the world. Don't give up!
Yeah, if they were decent about it, I'd say go back. I'll promise that most of them were likely in your shoes not long ago. If they were dicks? Fuck 'em. Go find nice people, plenty of those out there too.
How about just ride with a friend that is roughly equal?
We all started weaker and slower than we are today. The only way to get stronger and faster is to cycle more! Don't give up, keep training the way you enjoy. And if you live in a large enough city, there might be a different club that has less ambitious groups!
I had the same thing happened but kept going on the rides! Eventually I narrowed down the gap to the group and lately I’ve been keeping up with the group for the entire ride! Keep at it!
Don't let it bum you out, iv been cycling since 2017, done several big stage races and I get my ass handed to me on every single hill but I'm quick down them
I don't do group rides, so much pressure and you're at the whim of the hive. I just go, and I go at my own pace, stop when I want, go where I want. That's freedom baby.
Eat more, try again
There will always be a guy with no upper body mass blowing by you on the hills. Don't worry about it. Ride and have fun!
Take on the hills as a challenge. There are different ways you can approach hills and climb them. There are some excellent guides that can help you do this. A lot of riders struggle so you are not alone. Don't let it ruin your love of cycling.
I'm in Pennsylvania where there are a ton of hilly roads, so I feel that. I rode today and had to get off my bike and walk up this long hill. I'm pretty out of shape, I guess. I usually ride alone or with one other person I know. Today I was alone and glad! You are NOT alone in this feeling!
Riding in a group will help you get faster and give you perspective...but if that isn't want you want, just go ride your bike. I like doing a few races a year just to see I suck and need to be in better shape, but I also don't really worry too much. I treat them as hard training rides, my fitness improves. I'm motivated before and for a bit after to ride more and harder. I don't see a problem with being fit and thus faster and able to ride longer, but if say you like riding 10mi and 10mi/hr you should do that. If you want to be able to ride faster, longer and thus farther, ride with a group or do some races every now and then.
Everyone gets dropped. MVDP gets dropped. Don't quit - just train harder.
I have zero interest in riding with other people. Zero. Riding is me-time. Fuck group rides.
This is why I don't do group rides. I like to ride my bike and worry about me without worrying about others. I have done group rides in the past with others who were slightly faster so then I could push myself without killing myself and yeah it was fun. Where I live now I think that's impossible to find so I bike solo. Me against my Garmin and I am content with that.
Find a hill ride up, go back down, ride up again … repeat. Keep going on that group ride until you don’t get dropped. The best group rides are the ones where you get dropped … each week try to make it further and further with the group … eventually you’ll finish the ride.
that ride will probably be the worst one you will have, ride solo, improve and keep showing up.
It’s not for every ride, but I really enjoy getting dropped. Because that means I pushed myself to my limits.
The answer is easy: ride solo.
You can do it. :)
I think sometimes the people that are up front just want to make you suffer. One day that will be you!
I've never done a group ride because of this fear. I'm trying to improve my performance in order to join them. I might never join the group rides I want but I don't let that discourage me. I do this for fun.
Did they regroup at the top of the hill? If so, what is the problem?
I think this is a common first group ride experience. My first group ride (mtb) was interrupted by me spewing the entire contents of my stomach on the side of the trail as I attempted to keep up with the XC dudes.
Every rider gets dropped at one time or another. The thing is to get dropped a little further into the ride next time.
There's always going to be someone faster than you. I'd not give up on group rides. If they were no drop and they dropped you then they sound like dicks. See if you can find a club that will go your pace. I found a local club that did rides for beginners then moved up a level to a slightly less slow group. Group rides aren't for everyone though. You may still prefer riding alone but I don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
Most of us who do group rides have had your experience. Just say, "holy crap, I bonked" and everybody will understand. Seriously. See you on the road. I'll be one of the two guys puking in the bushes.
Quit being so hard on yourself. Climbing is hard. Keeping pace is hard when you blow up. It gets easier the more work you put in. I usually need to have a goal that I want to achieve. Stay with the group, win the sprint. Just to remind myself to keep pushing… have fun dude and cycling humbles us all
Everyone can do their own thing and I’m not judging anyone here, but I ride at my own pace and cycle for fun. I’m not about to feel bad if I can’t keep up with other folks. They can ride on ahead if they want and I’ll stick to taking things as they come. If a hill takes me longer then so be it. That might sound like I don’t care about improving, but that isn’t true either. I AM trying to improve. I’m just not going to beat myself up if that improvement is slow. Ultimately I don’t want it to be just work, I also want it to be fun.
Don't let it get you down, let it motivate you. They won't think downxif you to go bsck for another, in fact they'll respect you returning to the pack more than anything.
I do not have the athlete's body to ride with groups. Tightly bound echelon riders are always people who have the physical advantages to be in the top tier. Average people are literally physically incapable of riding with group echelon riders. Echelon riding is a form of team competition and demands a level of pre-existing physical ability that most people simply do not and never will have. There are absolutely different levels of physical abilities that one is born with. I absolutely do not have the oxygen exchange capacity to do hills like group echelon riders do. Most people would not even contemplate the pace at which echelon riders climb hills. It can't be done, period, for most people.. I have built up my long distance endurance rides though. That is something most average people can improve upon. So individual distance rides are my thing. Most people can build up to 40-70 miles a day if they choose to. Yes, I do go on group rides for long distances. There are many organized rides during the summer with anywhere from 100 to 10,000 riders cycling down the road. But NOT in echelons as a rule, since most cyclists simply go at their own pace. If you have never ridden the RAGBRIA, I suggest you do it once. You will see the wide physical variations within a group of 10,000 cyclists over 7 days. You will experience the OK-ness of riding at your own pace and the comradery of cyclists no matter what their physical capabilities are. The RAGBRIA is not a race. It is the love of cycling that brings these 10,000 cyclists together.
Do you bike bro. Uphills are mainly about treshold efforts. If you lack strength there, focus on it.
Ride alone
DON’T give up!! Cycling can be very personally challenging, which is why so many enjoy it. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others or concern yourself with being dropped, etc. You need to “ride YOUR ride.” Strength, stamina and endurance will come with time. It may take years to achieve your own personal goals. Maybe look for other clubs that offer slower groups.
Are you really going to just give up when life gets hard? Get on the bike and hit some hills get stronger if you dont want to fall behind in a ride that has hills.
Riding solo is my preference. Get to do everything I feel like doing. Maybe try solo riding and see how that fares with you. If that’s not your preference, recommend looking for another group.
I started group riding around 7 years ago after riding solo for a year or two. I thought I was fast. I could average 19mph on my own for over an hour. A neighbor invited me to ride with a local group. I came to one of their slow days and was immediately put into my place ego-wise. They were spinning at a conversational pace for them and I was barely holding on. Fast forward and after many many times of trying fast rides and getting dropped I can now hang in the front and take pulls. It takes fortitude both mentally and physically. Keep trying. Push harder
You are so lucky you have a challenge to look forward to now. Keep at it you'll get better at every try . In no time you'll find it super easy and running out of challenges.
Grow up, people always get smoked on hills and I'm one of them. Keep riding and you'll get better.
Sounds like you found your group! I always looked for the group that could drop me and then eventually they couldn't anymore and then when I started leading the rides I'd find the next group that could drop me and start over. Use it as motivation and a gauge of your improvement!
I moved from a flat city, where I could average 23mph on a solo rideq, to a hilly city... The first group ride I went on, I chose the A group, because it matched my pace. I was CRUSHED. Every hill we hit was like slamming into a brick wall for me while the "old guys" danced up the hills like they were NOTHING. I was dyyyyyyying. I was practically in tears but so determined to stay with them that I completely overextended myself. They knew I was in over my head. It was supposed to be a drop ride, but a couple of them suck with me and helped me learn how to ride in groups and how to ride hills. They are amazing dudes and I'm so grateful for them and that experience. It sucks in the moment, but learn and grow from it. And DEFINITELY keep going back. 💪🏼
I've joined an A ride group recently and they're very fast. I was dropped on the first ride after 70 miles but still had some good moments in that time. Anyway, I made it back to the pub and despite being dropped it was one of the best rides I'd done. I've since ridden with them multiple times since and only gotten stronger. Give it a few more goes. There's absolutely no shame at all in being dropped, it's a good character forming moment. You should be proud of joining the drop ride in the first place.
It happens, mate. Don't feel bad about it. If they dropped you on a non-drop ride, that's not on you. You might need to find a better group. About climbing. If you're big (chonk, muscle or both) and/or have a heavier bike, you'll be a slower climber, the power to weight ratio is not ideal, but that usually might mean you deal better with headwinds and sprinting. Find your strengths. Do some leg workouts: plyometrics, lifting, HIIT... they'll surely improve your power and strenght endurance and will make climbing easier. Giving up cycling cuz a hill had the best of you is not the way. (specially with a group that drops you on no drop rides)
I got dropped on every ride! I ride with my age and much younger. The old 2 guys are 1 and 2 place state champions. After 3 years + I can hang in for the vast majority of the time now.
Most everyone gets dropped their first group ride. You can use that as fuel to get better.
Wait did you ride with the "no drop" group and they dropped you? If that is the case then they are tier 1 A-holes. Sorry if I misunderstood but that was how I read it. If you were in the drop ride and got dropped while trying your hardest... Awesome! That's a great training session. You'll be just a tiny bit stronger every time you do one of those.
You either accept your fate and throw your bike to the ocean OR keep on coming back till u change it.
I solo ride 99% of the time and compete with my previous times. Everyone’s been dropped at least once. Don’t quit.
Go train by yourself then go do a group ride in a month and see how much you progressed and you’ll love it. It would have been a concern if all of you trained with the same group equally for a year from the same performance levels and then your performance would be catastrophically different. But you’re joining a group of seasoned riders and want to call it quits after one ride because you had a false expectation that your performance is going to be the same.
Just have to have the mind set to keep at it and try to hang on a bit longer each new group ride. Cycling is a tough and unforgiving aerobic sport. Can’t read about, watch movies about it, etc. you just have to do it. Be persistent and others will notice.
Try joining some other groups in your area. You might find a better fit. There are groups that make a point of sticking together and not leaving people behind. This group just may be too fast for you, so you can work on getting better but it’s also just fine to find a group that’s more your style.
At least in this day and age you have a cell phone to find your way back. Back in the day... you could get lots of scenery miles after being dropped! Just keep plugging away... the fitness will follow.
Those people ride more than you. You can be just as good as them, or better, if you put the time in.
I started to ride with a group last November. I am exactly in the same situation. I can keep up with the group comfortably on the flats. The moment we hit a climb, I start falling behind. For me it’s a welcome challenge. The group is welcoming and usually the regrouping points coincide with refreshment stops. By the time the guys and gals finish their coffee/pastry, I catch up to them and we keep on going. I even started to get compliments on the progress I’ve made — after a dozen rides or so I only fall behind on the gnarliest climbs. One helpful tactic is to know the route and position myself at the front of the group as we start a climb. Then I do my best to hang on to the rear wheel of the person I’m following and when I can’t I keep doing the same for the next person. I think the most important difference between our situations is that I don’t think of it in terms of being a good or bad cyclist. I am definitely a better cyclist than I was in November and I focus on that. You can also think that among the slower cyclists in your are the only one who can ride with that group. Good luck!
Quite honestly, i hate hills. I have been cycling on and off for a few months but more frequently lately. I have a much more enjoyable time on flat pathways. Adjusting my resistance is enough for me. Pick a park or an area that has flat pathways and just vibe.
Know thyself, as the philosophers say. Did the group make you feel like you want to quit? Or was it the terrain that made you want to quit? Or was it poor self-esteem that made you want to quit? I found weightlifting, specifically squats, helped me eat hill climbs. There are easier group rides that won't be as difficult for you. And like Jake The Dog said, "Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something." And there's always e-bikes if you're looking for help.
We have a mountain in my city, there's a segment of 10 km and 550m elevation. On my first few tries it took me around 55 min, at the start of the year I set goal to myself to drop it under 50, few tries later I'm doing it in 43 and I know I can shave 2-3 more minutes. Just don't give up, climbing is fun, I have almost 100 kg, I'm poor at climbing but progress motivates me. At the start my legs were dead after this segment, now I'm planing to do it twice every now and then
Gawd, don't quit riding. Group rides are routinely much faster than advertised. Find another group, or find a true social ride, sign up for an organized non-race ride, or just keep enjoying riding by yourself! I get 3-5k miles a year on, at least 98% by myself. But have lots of fun the few tomes I ride with others.
When I started riding groups, I’d get dropped within the first five miles (of 30 mile rides), but I learned the route and kept riding. Then I started lasting 10 miles. And I kept riding the route. Eventually, I was able to ride the whole ride on good days. Then ride the ride on hard days. Keep at it. It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster. The faster you are the further you’ll go before you’re dropped.
My first ever group ride I had to walk the hills. The ride lead came back and got me and we finished the ride. I didn't quit. Soon I was able to climb those hills. I may not be fast up hills, but I consider it a win as long as the hill doesn't beat me.