: > everyone else? If we're so lazy then why are we all here sharing
: > information.

: I used to provide support for the leader on the weekly bicycle racer's
: trainig ride. That is I rode 10 yards off the back and helped anyone back
: up to the pack. If anyone rode off the front, I caught the pack and then
: led the chase.

: Most people who needed help worked to help us back up to the pack. I always
: worked hard for them pulling as hard as they could draft and taking as few
: rests as I could manage.

: But when the young studs fell off the back, they DEMANDED help. I would just
: sit up and relax. When we had dropped back a mile or so, I would drop them
: and catch the group.

: I choose to not help those who make DEMANDS on me.

George from my experience cycling (touring,training,placings in cat3races in the early 80's,running a USCF race,owning a bike shop) is that what you are describing aren't training rides but ego rides for weekend warriors. On most training rides consisting of riders that race the games you describe would leave you riding alone or in weekend club rides.

Let me get this right. You helped those that fell off the back of the peloton get back on the pack, you led chase to those that pulled solo away from the pack. But for those you didn't like that you dropped back to "help" you then dusted them to get back to the "pack". I don't know what kind of "leader" you were helping or how this behaviour helps but I can tell you that maintaing a pace line is one of the most basic skills for a worthwhile training ride. Chasing down inexperienced yet sufficiently strong cyclists that don't know how to ride steadily in a peloton simply breaks the pack up and causes those weaker riders to drop off as they cannot ride close enough to benefit from the draft if the speed of the peloton is constantly changing. Also if you were not in the pace line but at the back "helping" while benefiting from the draft you were rested enough to blast ahead to catch the rabbits. George, you have lived long enough to see that people around you are easily disrupted by your help,reviews or opinions. It's time to start another hobby or learn to ride in the pack.