Best way to find beginner riding club?

[gabriellesca]

Hey guys ...... I did a century in 2008 but haven't been back on my bike since. I'd like to get back into riding this summer but would prefer to do it with a club. All the clubs in my area, Boston, are pretty hard-core - I can't find a club or designated beginner rides.

Anyone have any suggestions for where I might find one?

I'd really like to do a few 50-mile rides this summer but want a club to train with.

[kermit]

Check with some of your local LBS'. There are several here that have organized "no-drop" rides for all levels.

[TsPoet]

Maybe REI as well, my REI has at least a monthly get together with novice biking info and/or a ride.
The other thing is to go to one of the hardcore clubs and ask them - my two local clubs (1 hardcore, 1 "social") happily interact that way and support each other, which I think is terrific.

[Crankin]

I am a bike leader for AMC. We have beginner level rides on Tuesday evenings, starting in May. You should come to the New Members ride on May 15... there will be 3 levels.

[jobob]

Might not be your cup of tea, but just thought I'd mention Team in Training, there might be a training group in your area starting up.

With TNT, you will need to raise a certain dollar amount for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by the event date. The fundraising minimum varies by event. A month or two prior to the event, you will need to "recommit", meaning that you guarantee that the LLS will receive the donation minimum; if you don't raise that minimum by fundraising, the difference comes out of your pocket.

In return, you'll get coaching and mentoring, more-or-less biweekly coached training rides in which people are grouped according to their abilities, less formal "buddy rides" organized by coaches & mentors on the off-weeks, and other fun group activities leading up to the event (and often, beyond). The event weekend itself is a celebration of your physical accomplishment and your support of a very worthwhile cause.

I've met lots of wonderful people through TNT and made lots of new bike buddies.

I just checked the MA chapter of TNT. Looks like they have a team forming now for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride (AMBBR) which will be held early June around Lake Tahoe (CA/NV).

http://www.teamintraining.org/ma/firsttimehere/sportprograms/centuryridescycle

If AMBBR doesn't appeal, I wouldn't be surprised if a team forms later in the spring to train for a ride in the Greater Boston area. Keep an eye on the website or check out their information links.

Hope this helps, - Jo.

[Crankin]

Well, what I've heard about the local TNT training groups is that they are extremely intense and sort of not for people who aren't "fast." I know it's a good organization, but that's the rep this group has around here. I know at least 4 people who dropped out of the training because of this.

[SheFly]

NEBC also hosts a weekly women's ride for ALL ABILITY LEVELS and PACES. These are no drop rides that focus on group riding skills. All rides start in Lexington Center in early May, and run weekly through the beginning of September on Tuesday nights at 6:00.

This would be a great way for you to meet some other local women, not all of whom belong to NEBC (you don't have to be a club member to participate in the ride). This is a very successful ride series.

For more information, see http://nebc.us/rides/tuesday-night-womens-ride/.

SheFly

[jobob]

Well, what I've heard about the local TNT training groups is that they are extremely intense and sort of not for people who aren't "fast." I know it's a good organization, but that's the rep this group has around here. I know at least 4 people who dropped out of the training because of this.

I'm sorry to hear that. I think it varies a lot, both by the event that is being trained for, and by the philosophy/mindset of the coaches of those individual teams.

For instance, the TNT team I was on this past fall, training for the Solvang century, had riders with a very wide range of abilities, from semi-studly types to almost total beginners, and they were all being accommodated and cared for. (I dropped out of that team because I thought I would be away the week of that event. Turns out I'm not, but that's neither here nor there.)

Now, on the flip side, there's the TNT team training for the Markleeville Death Ride, which is chock-full of studly types. :eek: I've joined that team again this year, in large part because I'm stubborn -- it's unfinished business, after all! -- and just a little masochistic. :rolleyes: And, no surprise, I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel speed- and strength-wise on the team this year, even more so than last year. But as far as I can tell, I'm still within the 'acceptable' range (by my own standards, not theirs!! - I'm much harder on myself than they are) so they're stuck with me. :D

...err, sorry for the thread drift gabriellesca ... :o

[Crankin]

I know exactly what you mean, Jobob. I didn't want to say anything because I know a lot of people here train with TNT.

[gabriellesca]

I'm so sorry I'm burning up the boards lately - but I was just reading through my posts and saw the responses to this. I don't know where I went after I posted this.

Thanks guys.

SheFly - I think this is the group I was thinking of last year. This is great to see this link - I was searching for that ride. THANK YOU!

As for TNT - I trained with the MA TNT Cycle Team in the summer of 2008 for the Mad River Valley Century. It was SUPER intense as a newbie to the sport. The first day I showed up I couldn't ride 12 miles - and I was on a hybrid and crying the entire time. But my coach and mentors and the entire team was so incredibly supportive. It was a very hard summer for me. I'm pretty overweight and had never cycled before - let alone been a part of any team - and I have no confidence at all. I really did struggle with the long Saturday rides and emotionally it was a very tough time for me. But in the end it gave me such a great introduction to the sport in a really safe and supported environment. The experience was one of the best of my life and I credit my coach and members of that team. I LOVED it.

TNT is doing the Seagull MD ride in the Fall and sent me an alum email. I would love to do it again but I just don't know if I have it in me. I think I would like something more laid back - finding a group that is more at my level (if they exist) - and then I would like to do a few 50-mile rides this summer.

If, of course, I can get past my clipless fears!

[Crankin]

Gabriellesca,

The AMC Boston chapter New Member ride is Saturday. If you can get to Concord center by 9:40,the ride starts at 10:00. You will be fine. We have 3 groups going out; you can choose which one to go with... group one will be averaging around 14, group 2 around 11-12, and group 3 around 9-10. There will be people on road bikes and hybrids and not all have clipless.

PM me if you want more information.
You should also check out the Boston chapter's ride schedule, as well as the Southeast MA chapter's schedule.

www.outdoors.org, then click on the chapter tab on the side

[gabriellesca]

THANKS - now 9-10 - I love that group! :)

I really might think about joining this ride Crankin' if I feel comfortable enough on my pedals. I'm going to practice on some long rides Wed, Thurs, and Fri - so this might be right up my ally. Do they ride on roads/trails, etc? I'm going to go and check the site. THANK YOU!

I found a group doing a ride up in NH on Sunday - 26 miles and they average 12-14 - I REALLY want to join this group but I would also like to get myself confidence with my pedals before I ride with a new group. This is great - I'm going to check it out. THank you so much! You guys have given me great links. :)

[gabriellesca]

Crankin' - just sent you a PM - I'm pumped - this looks like a good place for me. I'll be riding solo - so if I can make the new member ride it might be a good way to meet people.

Also looking at the Spring Bike Rally on the 12th of June - I would LOVE to do the 50 miles. This may be a silly question - but are rides like this supported with a sag wagon? I'm learning that most rides are not - and that I was REALLY spoiled with TNT.

[ny biker]

I'm not familiar with this ride, but most organized rides (the ones with registration fees and rest stops that are staffed by volunteers and have tables with snacks plus water and gatorade) will have SAG support. They won't actually be sweeping the ride, but from time to time you will see vehicles driving along the route that have bike racks on them and some kind of "SAG" sign on them. The cue sheet usually has a phone number on it that you can call if you need them to help you with a mechanical problem or if you need a ride back to the start.

The ride website should say if there is SAG support, and if there's any doubt, there should be an email address or phone number so you can contact them to find out.

If this is the ride you're talking about, it's not clear from the website, so I would contact the club and ask them.

http://www.amcboston.org/bicycle/bikerally.htm

[SheFly]

Gabriellesca - I would still also highly recommend the NEBC Women's ride, which started last night. I heard that the beginners went out and averaged 12 mph with lots of coaching on pace lining and skills. If you can make a ride on Tues evenings, this is a good one!

SheFly

[Crankin]

Gabriellesca, the rally ride does not have a sag. There is a sweep. Frankly, I would not recommend doing the 50... last year they set a pretty brisk pace from the beginning... it's hilly, very hilly. I ride this route a few times during the summer, so I don't feel the need to go on the ride anymore. I would recommend the 27 mile route. There is a very challenging climb right when you start (maybe a mile from the start), but the rest is rolling, with a few small climbs.
Hope to see you Saturday. You don't need to be using your clipless pedals. In fact, the leader of the slowest group does not use clipless and she has been riding for 20 years and has done numerous bike tours this way. From what you said in your PM, you probably would be fine with the group DH and I are leading. We tend to average about 14.5 on this ride; as the sweep, I often end up with an average in the high 13's. As you can see, there's a wide range of variation. If you are not comfortable with this, you can always stop and wait for the next group to come by. This is what I tell people every year. Unlike other rides, this one has the exact same route for each group.