I'd hafta say that the biggest challenge that I've struggled with in my 5 years with the Program is the dreaded "One Weak Rider" syndrome. I'd be grateful for anyone's tips as to how best handle this situation. For at least 3 of the last 4 seasons we've had one rider that was markedly slower than everyone else.........our Team covers the gamut but we can usually divide the group into a "faster / longer" group and a "slower/shorter" group. We have 2 coaches and there we are - all set.
Unless That One Rider shows up. Then we have 3 groups - the first two and her...off the back and alone unless Nicole or I ride w/ her.
Now - that's not the issue - that's the job and that's what we signed up for. But if I'm waaaay back there w/ her then half the Team is riding w/out a coach. It's not that I'm so convinced that they can't have fun or be safe w/out my presence...but we've struggles w/ this for quite a while now and I just don'ft feel like we're getting any better at it.
Ideas? Thoughts? Advice?
Also - any general thoughts about training rides would be great material to share too!
Mike C
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Mike-
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how your time crunch is perhaps this could be solved by planning and posting in advance a slower shorter ride. Maybe even as a cool down at the end of a longer ride or warm up before hitting it hard with more advanced riders.
Tim
Hey Tim - thanks for the thought. Are you suggesting that we try and set up a seperate ride for this rider? I can see that working in some ways but also enforcing th esense of isolation that she already feels in another. The fact is that even if we set it up that she could join the rest of the group towards the end of a ride (for the last 15 miles or so for instance) she'd still not be able to hang - even if everyone else was trashed.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonn athink about that though - and talk it over w/ co-Coach Nicole. You might be onto something. Thanks again!
How many of your fast/long riders are veterans of the ride or just really good riders? Do you have one consistent rider who you can ask to watch over the front group? He/she may not be a coach, but it may be a good way to see if they have the potential to be a future coach. I tend not to worry about the group ahead of me and the slow rider if I know the lead group has experienced riders or vets to the program. I've kinda taken on the philosophy that the group that finishes the fastest and goes the longest probably doesn't need a coach with them to enhance their ride experience. The riders in the back probably do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donnie. We're not talking about a "normal" slower rider here - we have plenty of those, always have had, always will. This is the kind of deal where her average pace in in the single digits and we end up w/ the "A" group, the "B" group....and either Nicole or I acting as a personal escort for 1 rider. She misses out on lots of the "Team Stuff"....and I'm not sure that it's helping her. I might try putting her on the back of my tandem in the short-term.....it'll enable her to do more miles and at least have a chance to ride w/ someone. Obviously it's not a "real" solution - she can't ride w/ me forever - but I'm thinking that it might help her "bridge the gap" a bit.
ReplyDeleteHer goal for VT is 35 miles - virtually all of her team mates are aiming for the century )and about 80% will probably make it) so from the get-go we're talkin' about a tough situation to bring together.
Thanks for the ideas - and for the record I'm in complete agreement w/ your thoughts about asking veteran riders to help out. AND w/ your thoughts about how the folks in the back need more attention. The issue here is whether we can afford to give that one rider so much attention and when is it no longer fair to the rest of the team?
We do some training rides on out-and-back courses. We have some experienced riders that know the course and I let them go up the road with the faster riders. I stay back with the beginners. The faster riders often catch us on the way back.
ReplyDeleteI once had a rider who had only ridden 13 miles in her whole life. I had a great time riding with her at about 8 mph on her first ride, got to know her and encourage her. She ended up doing 54 miles in hilly Asheville later that season. That was my star rider that year, very satisfying for both of us, so it's definitely worth the effort. These often turn into real assets for the JDRF program. I see she's signed up again this year.
David, that story is really encouraging...thanks for sharing. I think we'll try a whole slew of these suggestions (look at us using this blog EXACTLY what it's to be used for!) and see how it goes. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is someone you need to work with on an individual basis. Obviously she knows she is not keeping up with the group. Maybe you could have a frank discussion with her and plan a training ride suited to her goals, invite others along who you know are willing to play the waiting game. Use other non-riding team events to help her feel she is part of the group whether she rides with them or not.
ReplyDeleteI feel your frustration with this challenge.
I also know there will always be faster riders that I can't even keep up with, acknowledge this with her.