Everyone enjoys the opportunity to ride with a professional bike racer!  What an experience to ride next to one of these guys (or gals) and ask questions and get advice.  The problem is most riders are absolutely scared to death when the opportunity arises.  Here are some tips I have gathered over the years to make the experience easier and allow you to complete the ride in one piece and tell about it:

• Your out in a group, riding side by side and it’s your turn next to the pro and it’s time to hit the front.  Here is the perfect opportunity to ask them questions that require long, drawn out, answers.  The trick is to make them talk and talk and talk, which in turn will result in a speed decrease of about 2 mph.  For example, “tell me about the races you have won this (or last) year and how the tactics played out in most of them”.  This one will last a long time!  If they play the domestique roll, focus on how they helped their team mate win!
• While they are detailing out the victories, nod your head in agreement, with an occasional “WOW!” and always be thinking of the next topic you will ask them.  You never know when something will interrupt the conversation and you will need to fire up another topic.  Remember; never ask “yes or no” questions and it’s best to ask these questions strategically as you approach the bigger climbs of the day.
• When you stop for drinks, be nice and buy them a super duper x-large soda without caffeine (or something similar like Gatorade).  That way, when they start riding again, it will be slushing around in their stomachs like a washer machine.  The result, a lot slower pace, at least for the first 20 minutes or so.
• Ask them to demonstrate how they do things like climbing, descending and cornering.  That way they go into “teacher/coach” mode.
• Always keep the group tight and keep the pace moving.  You don’t always have to pull as hard as they do, just don’t let the pace drop or increase dramatically.  This is actually a serious one!
• When you first see them, tell them they look thin – “Hey, you look very lean and fit, your season must be going well”.  Nothing more a pro likes to hear more than they look skinny.
• Try to never train with a pro alone.  It is much better to have other riders, so you can sit on most of the time and be able to recover.
• And finally, there are always the basics – “How is the family; how are the kids?” This one is always good as a backup plan!

The bottom line is that most of the pros you ride with are awesome individuals who really don’t want to beat up on you, but just enjoy the ride for what it’s worth.  Cycling is a great sport in that riding offers plenty of time to talk to other cyclists while at the same time taking part in the sport itself!  Enjoy that ride!