What to do if you get dropped? Put on your Nike’s and JUST DO IT!

Getting dropped from a group happens to all of us. Even the best riders in the world get dropped. Pick yourself up and fight to get back on.

You can fall off the group for all sorts of reasons from reaching down to grab your water bottle for a drink, taking off a layer, getting gapped by another rider, being in the wrong position in the group, etc. For whatever reason below are some key tips to bridging back to the group.

• First NEVER give up! You never know what will happen up the road. The strong rider(s) in the group could flat making the lead group disorganized causing them to slow down. Or riders in the lead group could begin to suffer leaving the pulling to only a few riders causing the lead group to slow down. You just never know what is going on up the road so don’t give up.

• Regroup and get help. Looking around either up the road our behind you to regroup forming a paceline and work together. Many times one of the strong riders in a group will be in the wrong position getting gapped and dropped. Working together with other riders you can have enough engine power to bridge back up to the group. It is a sign of inexperienced rides who have been drooped who don’t work together but ride solo trying to bridge the gap. Don’t make this mistake. If there are other wheels around you there is a way back to the lead pack!

• Respond quickly and close the gap fast! If you do get gapped or dropped close it fast and get back on. Others are suffering just like you. Many times if you can just hold on for a split second longer or get back on the group, the group slows down allowing you to recover. Pushing air by yourself is much harder than suffering for a few seconds to get back on. It is much easier to recover riding in the pack than on your own. Put your Nike’s on and JUST DO IT; close the gap while it is small.

•  Put your blinders on and go into time trial mode. If the gap is large don’t panic. Relax, breath, and don’t try to bridge the gap in one sprint up to the group. You will blow up. Ease into a steady time trial pace collecting your energy to bridge the gap over time. A group bike ride is like a book of matches. You start will a full book of matches and each time you sprint, take a pull, bridge a gap you burn a match. Eventually you run out of matches and your done. Get into a steady mode where your conserving your matches and keep the pace over a period of time with the chance of getting back on. 

• Don’t sit on the back move to the front. Lastly, when you bridge the gap use your speed and the draft of the other cyclist to move to the front. Getting to the front will give you more protection to recover so you don’t get dropped again. It is tempting to sit on the back of the pack but your are risking getting dropped again. It actually takes more energy and is harder sometimes on the back of the pack. Move towards the front and sit in; ideal right behind the rotating paceline.

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Most Difficult Cycling Hill Climbs In The U.S.

So if you are a cyclist seeking to climb some of the craziest passes in the United States you need to get Best Cycling Climbs In The US. Consider this the BIBLE, because it has all the major road bike climbs in the US. All the details are there: total elevation, average gradient, length and category. There are also a few scenic shots of the climbs.

I enjoyed your book and will use it during my USA travels – Chris Carmichael, personal coach of 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong

Author John Summerson has written a must read book for climbing aficionados, race directors and those that aspire to test themselves on the biggest climbs in the U.S. – DailyPeleton.com

Below is a list of some of the top cycling climb bike rides that are listed in the book Best Cycling Climbs In The US. The book lists the 100 toughest USA road bike climbs from 1 to 100.

1. Mt Washington, NH
2. Haleakala, HI
3. Onion Valley, CA
4. Horseshoe Meadows, CA
5. Mt. Equinox, VT
6. White MTN, CA
7. Mt. Baldy, CA
8. Mt Graham, AZ
9. Mt. Lemmon, AZ
10. Palomar Mountain, CA

What is your favorite climb? Map it on www.roadbikerides.com and then comment on this post.

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Ride The Rockies 2010

For the past 24 years, Colorado’s premier cycling tour has been making its way through the Rocky Mountains, visiting popular mountain destinations such as Durango, Telluride, Crested Butte, and Aspen, in addition to quaint, unique locations like Hotchkiss, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Granby. The Denver Post Ride The Rockies has taken cyclists to more than forty communities and across almost 10,000 miles of scenic Colorado terrain.

In its 25th year, Ride The Rockies cyclists will travel the farthest distance in the tour’s history. Participants will ride 532 miles during the seven-day tour, beginning in Grand Junction, where the ride started 25 years ago, in its inaugural year. The first day features a 46-mile loop over the Colorado National Monument, ending back in Grand Junction. Day one is just a warm up for day two, a 90-mile trek over the Grand Mesa, into Delta. On the third day, riders will travel 67 miles, to find a completely new RTR experience, an overnight stay in Ouray. This will be the first time the tour has stopped in Ouray, and this year’s riders have the privilege of experiencing “the Switzerland of America.” On June 16, day four, the tour will ride 70 miles from Ouray to Durango over two mountain passes and one divide. Day five is another long one, with 85 miles of riding on into Pagosa Springs, followed by another 90-mile day to Alamosa, over Wolf Creek pass. Into the finish! The final day is an 84-mile ride to Salida, over Poncha Pass. Once in Salida, cyclists have an opportunity to experience the town’s signature event, FIBark, the nation’s oldest whitewater rafting event.

There’s no doubt that the 2010 tour is going to be a challenging, yet epic event. The 25th anniversary tour is not one to miss. Tour dates are Sunday, June 13 through Saturday, June 19. Make sure to register RideTheRockies while you still have a chance. Tour registration closes on Friday, February 26.

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CycleSound Winner – Will Somervell of San Diego, CA

The winner of the brand new CyceSound is Will Somervell of San Diego, Ca. Will please contact us and provide your mailing address so we can mail out your CycleSound.

Thanks Del Rusher for making the drawing possible on Ride-Strong.com

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