I built up an IRO track bike yesterday, and was quite excited to ride it. An easy group ride passes close to my house on Wednesdays so I jumped in as they passed. I have been doing this ride on and off for over a year but generally it is too easy for me so I use it as a recovery ride, but with the track bike with one on gear 46X16 and no breaks I thought it would make it more of a challenge. I jumped in and saw a friend of mine and I pulled up next to him and started chatting. He is a Cat2 trackie and was excited to see I finally had a track bike.
So we are having a nice conversation when this older dude pulls up to me and says, "This is a PBA sanctioned ride. You don't have any brakes on that bike, it is unsafe to ride in a group and I don't want you on this ride." I mean not even a hello my name is... nothing just jumped into what the fuck he wanted. I am a member of PBA, this is a public roadway and if you don't want to ride with me then drop back, but I didn't say anything. I just looked at my friend and we both shook our heads and continued our conversation ignoring his stupid ass.
We get to the first stoplight and he pulls up to me again and says, "Did you hear me, I said I don't want you on this ride. There are inexperienced people in this group and you won't be able to stop in time." This guy doesn't know me from Adam nor does he know my skill level or abilities so that was a hell of an assumption on his part. I learned a long time ago it is not worth pandering to these types of idiots, so I replied, "If you are worried about me stopping then I will ride up front and pull, and you can ride in the rear out of harm's way."
Which is precisely what he did. He went to the rear and intentionally created a gap between himself and the slower riders and the lead group, so we left him. What a tool.
Otherwise it was a great ride and one hell of a workout. Climbing hills and sprinting with the group with only one gear was twice the work in half the time. Can't wait to hit the velodrome this weekend!
So we are having a nice conversation when this older dude pulls up to me and says, "This is a PBA sanctioned ride. You don't have any brakes on that bike, it is unsafe to ride in a group and I don't want you on this ride." I mean not even a hello my name is... nothing just jumped into what the fuck he wanted. I am a member of PBA, this is a public roadway and if you don't want to ride with me then drop back, but I didn't say anything. I just looked at my friend and we both shook our heads and continued our conversation ignoring his stupid ass.
We get to the first stoplight and he pulls up to me again and says, "Did you hear me, I said I don't want you on this ride. There are inexperienced people in this group and you won't be able to stop in time." This guy doesn't know me from Adam nor does he know my skill level or abilities so that was a hell of an assumption on his part. I learned a long time ago it is not worth pandering to these types of idiots, so I replied, "If you are worried about me stopping then I will ride up front and pull, and you can ride in the rear out of harm's way."
Which is precisely what he did. He went to the rear and intentionally created a gap between himself and the slower riders and the lead group, so we left him. What a tool.
Otherwise it was a great ride and one hell of a workout. Climbing hills and sprinting with the group with only one gear was twice the work in half the time. Can't wait to hit the velodrome this weekend!
Love,
Annika