How do You Handle the Slowest Mountain Biker on a Group Ride?

Do you wait for your slower riding companions, ride their pace, or meet them back at the trailhead?

By Gerow
September 29, 2019

13 comments

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We all have different amounts of time and energy to ride, and our confidence and skill discrepancies can prevent us from shredding in unison. On group rides, there will always be a “slowest” rider, and how everyone else interacts with that person can affect their experience on the trail.

Do you have any suggestions for riding with slower or faster friends? Are you often the slowest rider? Please share any group riding tactics that have helped make your singletrack experience better.

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13 Comments

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Hap Proctor Florida // 2014
Sep 30, 2019

I spend part of the ride with the faster folks and some with the slow rider, even riding sweep if needed. Group rides all about riding and fellowship.

1 reply

charding New Hampshire // 2018
Oct 2, 2019

I do the same and agree with your take on group rides. I try to meet different people of different skill levels during the ride.

0 reply

tcat001 New York // 2016
Oct 3, 2019

A lot of times I'm the slowest rider and I really appreciate people's patience at those times. It's a privilege that they let me ride with them. When you're in that position I think that you need to find a way to pay it back. Whether it's building trails, staying with a person with a mechanical so the rest of the group can go on or just buying the first round. Always try to be positive. You volunteered for this activity. When you're the slowest no one wants to hear you complain about the climb, the heat, the cold, the bugs or the rain.

Han-so-slo Pennsylvania // 2017
Sep 30, 2019

A more experienced mid pack rider, usually me, will ride in one of the last 3 positions or sweeper. The lead pack will sometimes rip to the next intersection or pace themselves depending on the mood. If it's a fairly experienced slow rider I'll ride in front of them to keep some flow. If it's a newbie I'll ride behind and try to give them pointers to make riding easier and more fun. We advertise our Wednesday group rides as all skill level rides, so we get everything and we do our best to get them to come back again and again. Another thing that has helped is if someone shows up on an inadequate bike we find a loaner. If they still want to ride the thing we just work with it and applaud them when they make a difficult section. We had a kid show up on an early '90's GT with road tires last year. It even had a rack on the back. He rode every trail we did and only went down once. So we encouraged him and told him that was quite an accomplishment. He bought a new bike and joins us when he can.

eplanajr Washington // 2018
Sep 30, 2019

Although I am not the most experienced rider, I tend to be one of the faster ones in the group. My common practice is to wait at various sections of the trail that may be a little spicy to either A) help them through it B) cheer them on to clean it C) catch breath and chat.

I view my fun rides and rides that need to be fun for all. Nobody likes to be left behind. If I want to go my hardest or train then I will usually ride alone or with somebody that I know will know that is what I am out to do.

Emerald MTB Ireland // 2019
Sep 30, 2019

I generally ride alone. When I do ride ina . group locally, I am rarely at the back and we tend to wait at major intersections or the bottom of a trail for the slower riders to catch up and catch their breath.
On a recent trip, I found myself to be the slower rider on climbs and much appreciated it when the others would wait for me at the top.

jgmtb Italy // 2013
Sep 30, 2019

I practice a mix of the 2nd and 3rd options (waiting at intersections, and short breaks to let them catch their breath. When i have a really heterogeneous group (also in terms of ability and fitness) and i know the trails really well, we sometimes split up and then meet back up at designated points, that way everyone feels like they get in a bit of riding (e.g. to tack on an extra climb and difficult dh).

Revengel Maryland // 2019
Sep 30, 2019

I ride alone . . . primarily due to a lack of riding partner/group. I have seen an organized group geared toward younger riders and they approach it by keeping a sweeper at the back. She/he stays with the slowest riders while the rest of the group rides at whatever pace is comfortable to them.

Post move I hope I can find a group and a schedule I can work with.

rmap01 Maryland // 2013
Oct 6, 2019

I think a lot of this has to do with the dynamics of the group. Where I ride there are a number of group options available, i.e. New/Beginner/Slow vs Intermediate vs Advanced. Riders should pay attention to the descriptions posted (when provided) for each group. Not only is pace and terrain typically listed but also groups will indicate if they are drop/no drop. For example, a beginner should not show up at the Intermediate group ride even though the group will wait. You don't want to be "that guy" (at least I don't) that people are always waited a while for. [NB: Being the slowest in a group is fine... provided your pace is relatively close to the other riders your with]. I usually ride with Intermediate riders and consider myself "mid pack". There are days I am with the lead dogs but just a few weeks ago I was the laggard as I just didn't have it. On that day, I offered several times to break from the group so that they could keep our typical pace but they wanted to wait for me which I appreciated. For larger groups, it is not uncommon for groups to splinter based on pace which is what I would recommend. Regardless of pace/grouping/etc it's always best when the group spends times together socializing afterwards... usually with a beer ;)

vapidoscar Ohio // 2018
Sep 30, 2019

I'll ride alone, with my kids or a riding partner but have rarely done group rides.
The last one I did, I was on a streak of flatting every ride and the group ride was no exception. Got to the top of the first climb and flatted about a 1/3rd way down. I was pretty far back in the group (2nd to last) because I was riding my handy excuse to ride slow - my single speed. It was also 99 degrees and we aren't accustom to that in Cleveland.
I eventually caught up to the group when they were waiting and told them I had a flat. We waited a while longer and eventually the ride leader said someone should go look for the last person. I volunteered and when I finally found her she was walking because the trail was too technical (not a mechanical). As soon as she was comfortable again, she rode away. She was supposed to be the sweeper.
The lesson there is the sweeper should be comfortable with the trail and probably stay with the rider with a mechanical/flat. I would have told her to go ahead but I expected she would have walked back with me.

Called2RideMTB Maryland // 2017
Oct 6, 2019

I'm as slow as a herd of turtle going uphill in molasses, but I ride. I mostly ride alone, but I have ridden with groups that do all of the above. It depends on what we are out riding for, and what the group is trying to accomplish.

Slicer Georgia // 2019
Oct 3, 2019

Our trails are usually 5-10 mile loops. So we typically ride at the slowest rider pace for the first 2-3 laps, stop for a short break and group chat, then after that it's every man for himself. The fast riders typically "race" against other fast riders in the group and the casual/slow riders ride together in their own group. Some stragglers who prefer to ride on their own after the first few laps. People leave at their own will when they had their fill of riding for the day.

Jon_Dunn 2010
Sep 29, 2019

There will always be a “slowest” rider in any group. Waiting at intersections is common courtesy. If it is going to be a race pace drop ride, the route should be known so everyone knows where to get a cold beer post-ride.

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