Yes, new riders can be ‘annoying’ to experienced cyclists. They don’t seem to know anything and can be a bit dangerous on bunch outings. But whether you started riding three years ago or thirty, every single one of us was a beginner once.

The point of having experience is to share it, so help the new riders along, explain the finer points of group riding, or your patented trick to remove an inner tube in 10 seconds. The more you help them, the faster they’ll make the transition from naïve newbie to solid veteran.

And no matter what, don’t be a dick. If your words or actions make a new rider less motivated to get out and ride, then you’ve failed. It might seem funny to ride away from the new rider struggling at the back of the group, but it’s not very nice. Just remember that there’s always someone out there that can drop you, too.