The Inclusivity of Empathy in Group Activities

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I love to hike fast. I also love to walk fast. When I am hiking I love to hike my own hike, and then wait for people at regular intervals, so that they may catch up, rest a little, and then continue.

When cycling with some groups I will be left alone during the climb, and I will arrive at the top last. I have no concerns about making it up. I am just slow at climbing compared to people ten to twenty years younger than me, with bikes 2-4 kg lighter than mine, and with several extra thousand kilometres in their legs per year.

When hiking I don’t mind hiking slowly. A few weeks ago I was hiking with someone and her dog Gizmo. Neither was experienced in hiking but I was happy to slow down and keep that person company. It’s not because I hike and walk fast that I can’t slow down for others. In this instance people became impatient, at having to wait. One was still a child. The other was an adult.

I understand that impatience, to some degree. I have felt it too. I have abandoned a group while on one hike because of differences of pace. It wasn’t the pace that got to me. It was the absurd stops at regular intervals, in ugly places.

During another hike, in snowy conditions we walked up a dangerous section so I stood at the back. I chose to be the voiture balais, during a hike. I have two goals. The first is for support. If you’re not last, you’re not scared of being abandoned. The second is that I have grown up in this landscape so I have some habits that have kept me alive so far. I am not an alpinist, but I do have climbing experience.

In some situations empathy takes the form of walking at another person’s comfortable pace, rather than your own. In other cases empathy is allowing someone, with the right energy levels, to draft behind you, to rejoin a cycling group. I have both provided people with a draft, and benefited from it.

In other situations people are going for the second longest ride of their life and it’s knackering them. That’s when it is good to slow down, and be there for them, to help them navigate, but also to diminish some of the pressure to rejoin the group.

On Saturday we did lose contact with the group. I had to navigate us back to the group. It worked well.

For some an easy ride would be 20-40km, and then turn for home. If you’re doing a group ride that is 70 kilometres long, and you’re not used to it, then that’s a pinnacle ride. That’s when having someone who can adapt to you, to show empathy, is worthwhile.

London Critical Mass

Years ago I had the pleasure of joining at least one Critical Mass event and I really enjoyed it, in London. A critical mass event is a group ride for people who are commuters and social riders rather than competitive road cyclists. With these groups you move as a large blob, along roads, in the evening. Some are on BMX bikes, others are on road bikes. Others are on Borix bikes. The atmosphere is relaxed and convivial.

With Slow Ups people are with friends, families and barbecues. A road circuit is closed so that cyclists, runners, roller bladers and others can enjoy a wide open road, rather than a narrow corniche for a change. It’s a pleasant relaxed atmosphere

The Barrier to Entry of Group Rides

I believe that the barrier to entry for group rides is too high for casual cyclists. If you’re a casual cyclist riding 70 kilometres in canicule weather, on repeat hills, then you will be knackered. That’s why so many people would enjoy going for a group ride, but they can’t join. I know, because I faced this.

The Skoda Group

When I was new to group rides I went for several rides with the Skoda group and I enjoyed the experience but on at least one or two rides I felt completely knackered by the end of the ride. They were coasting along and I was really fighting to keep up. I had cycled less than 700 kilometres and they had cycled over 7000 that year, hence the difference in perceived effort. I could see that I needed to work on my cycling fitness to keep up with them.

Getting Fitter and Mild Bullying

On Saturday I experienced what experience signals was mild bullying. I think it was just someone’s character, rather than proper bullying. I was "too fast" and I "should be in another group". I agree with the statements. I should have ridden with a harder, more challenging group. At the same time I had to have an issue with my bike checked at the bike shop, and I really didn’t feel like having another hard ride like I did on Thursday night. I wanted to rest, and to ride for pleasure, rather than exhaustion. I took quite a few photos during the ride.

Relaxing Group Rides and Pleasant Conversations

If I ride with the relaxed group, it’s for two things. It’s to have a relaxed ride, and to meet new people. I cycle up to five or six times a week. If I cycle five or six times a week at maximum effort then I will stagnate. If I have active rest days, by riding with a relaxed group then I can be empathetic to riders that are struggling on hills, or tired after a distance they are not used to.

By having a sweeper/voiture balais it also allows the group to enjoy their ride, and when they need a break to stop and wait. In so doing they get a rest, and those that are working to catch up stand a chance. Everyone benefits.

And Finally

While it’s important to have someone at the front, leading the group and setting the pace, it’s also important to have someone at the back to help with guidance and encouragement, as well to show that those in the back have not been forgotten.

On climbs and when people get tired it makes sense for someone to slow down and match the pace. People express gratitude for this support. That’s why I will keep this habit.