Looking for a group ride

[feistyep]

Hey!
I live in Aliso Viejo and am fairly new to cycling. My husband races and I've started commuting to work and riding on my own on the weekends. On the weekends I ride for about 25-30 miles, but it's starting to get a bit lonely.
Are there any group rides for beginners, or women rides in the area?

I know bike club of Irvine exists, but I think it might be a bit of an older crowd. I'm in my mid 30's and get the sense that group is more middle-aged.

thanks for the help!

Suzy

[DDH]

You might check with your LBS to see if they know of any group rides, or clubs that you could get involved in that do group rides.
I always look up organized charity rides for my state to find some rides to go on also.

I don't' think there would be anything wrong with riding with the middle aged group, depending on what you consider middle aged, they might surprise you at how good they are. I'm not sure I understand why you wouldn't' want to ride with them unless you feel the age difference would be awkward. I mean you already have a common ground with them so it couldn't hurt to try right.

[feistyep]

donna,
thanks for the info. I have nothing against the older crowd, I was just for people in my age group... they'll probably kick my butt anyway. I ride with my husband on occasion, but I think it's too slow of a pace. I'd also like to meet new people and do it on my own.

[DDH]

I know how you feel. I was just asking to clarify. LOL

I ride a lot on my own unless I go to organized rides because I am so slow that I don't want to hold everyone up on a club group ride. My husband use to ride with me, but he has quit riding much. In fact I cannot remember the last time he rode with me. I even went to the last organized ride by myself because he didn't want to go. That was my first time by myself, on an organized ride. I did fine though. I just get use to him being around for the mechanics and like that security.

Good luck finding something. If I was there I would ride with you. Let us know if you find something.

Hey, by the way, welcome to TE.

[feistyep]

Donna,
Thanks for the encouragement. I've bought a lot of gear from TE, and I thought I'd give the chat room a try.
I'm gonna try out the group ride tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.

I went to one of my husband's races today and tried to ask some of the women there about rides. Unfortunately they were all pro or Cat 1 and 2 so they couldn't help me too much.

Suzy

[Jiffer]

Have you done a Google search for cycling clubs in your area? If that doesn't help, I agree that you should call your LBS.

As far as organized rides, you can go to active.com to find a plethora of those. I highly recommend that you click on the link that says "classic search" (it's in the upper right area ... you sort of have to search for it a bit). It's a much easier way to search.

I live in Rancho Cucamonga and have been on a few organized rides. One of my favorites is the Inland Express in Riverside. A little bit of a drive for you but worth it, I think. Nice scenery, which is a must for me. It's in October, so you have some time. I think it's about 50 miles, but there may be other distance options.

In September, there's the Amtrak Century, if you want to go for a full 100 miles. It's booked up for this year, but you might want to put it on your calendar for next year. You ride from the train station at San Juan Capistrano, ride around your area a bit and then down the coast to San Diego, then take the train back. They call it the "party train" that all the cyclists ride together. Its a great first century and you can't beat the scenery ... along the coast and all. Here's the website. http://www.ocw.org/Amtrak/Default.asp They open registration at 7:00 a.m. on a specific date in June and it fills up in a few hours. However, you don't have to take "their" train back, so to register for the ride without the train ride back doesn't fill up nearly so fast. You can get your own train ticket and put your bike on the train, as long as it's not a tandem. (I know this from frustrating personal experience!)

My friend and I are doing Cool Breeze on August 16th. There is a 60 something distance, a 102 and I think a 200. We're doing the century, my first on my single. It's in the Ventura area and also has great scenery.

As far as a cycling club in your area, again, I recommend talking to your LBS (assuming you've already searched the internet).

Welcome to the board! :D Now, go ride your bike!

[Jiffer]

I asked my cycling husband if he knows of any cycling clubs in your area and he says, "Oh yeah. OC Wheelman". Here's a link. http://www.ocw.org/default.asp

Looks like their training rides leave from Tustin, Irvine and Orange.

They're the ones who put on a lot of organized rides, like Amtrak.

[feistyep]

I went on the ride with BCI today and it was a blast!!! Everyone was very nice. The ride was about 34 miles and I stayed toward the front so I was pretty stoked!
My husband actually came along, but went on the longer ride so that I could go on my own.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice!!!

Suzy

PS: Jiffer, thanks for all the great advice!! Hopefully I'll see you on a century sometime soon! I'm a little intimidated by the distance, but hopefully in a few months I will get there....