starting a bike club???

The town I live in has a bike club that is pretty small and very proficient in biking. They have training rides of 20 to 35 miles at an average speed of 18mph and that is the slow group. I have only been riding a road bike for about a month. I do believe that riding with better riders makes you better but I also know that riding with someone way over your level can also be discouraging and intimidating. I mean I only see 18mph in my car. I am thinking of trying to get together a club that would make people who are just starting out feel more comfortable and not as intimidated. I read as much as I can but heck there are so many terms etc that I actually go to a site that has a biking dictionary. I am not into racing bikes but like to do rides and one day hope to increase my distances that I go and I am sure that there are some people in my area that probably feel the same way. So, has anybody started a club or has any ideas on how to start one? I would really like to make it women friendly but I know if I say women only then I am leaving out a good resource.... men.

Around here a number of bike shops sponsor rides for people of all abilities. We also have trailnet.org which has organized group rides and one of the race teams has a ride as well in which no one gets left behind.

I'm a stay at home mom so I got on the local mom-board and made a date, time and place and emphasized that no one would be left behind regardless of skill. It meant I had to ride slower than I might have liked though.

A group of women have organized a ride on the local biking board and men have expressed interest in joining-they aren't all fast fast fast.

I've also organized rides through acquaintances. I'd be riding along and meet people around my level. We'd end up meeting up again and riding together, sometimes they'd bring friends, sometimes I would.

Don't know if any of this is a help but it's all I've got. I guess we're pretty lucky to have so many group rides available for so many different abilities. :)

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Originally Posted by trayc

The town I live in has a bike club that is pretty small and very proficient in biking. They have training rides of 20 to 35 miles at an average speed of 18mph and that is the slow group. I have only been riding a road bike for about a month. I do believe that riding with better riders makes you better but I also know that riding with someone way over your level can also be discouraging and intimidating. I mean I only see 18mph in my car. I am thinking of trying to get together a club that would make people who are just starting out feel more comfortable and not as intimidated. I read as much as I can but heck there are so many terms etc that I actually go to a site that has a biking dictionary. I am not into racing bikes but like to do rides and one day hope to increase my distances that I go and I am sure that there are some people in my area that probably feel the same way. So, has anybody started a club or has any ideas on how to start one? I would really like to make it women friendly but I know if I say women only then I am leaving out a good resource.... men.

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another thought would be to ask the guys if you could post a "slower" ride or a "welcome" ride tagged on to theirs?...let them know You would take care of the slower riders or whatever but that way more ppl might feel comfortable to ride, maybe even some of their SOs or DSs?? Maybe work out a "meeting" spot at the end of the ride or make your route a tad shorter than theirs??...or hecky dern, they're racer boys - make them go further! :D

having just started a mountain biking club, I think Corsair's idea is a good one... test the waters with the existing club to see if they are open to new blood, new ideas, or if they are entrenched in what they've been doing. The answers you get when you ask will tell you a whole lot.

For example, I was in a club that was both mountain bikers and roadies. When I asked about trail advocacy, I was told " we arent' going to do that". Not, "we'll support what ever you want to get going". Big difference, IMO.

Irulan

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

another thought would be to ask the guys if you could post a "slower" ride or a "welcome" ride tagged on to theirs?...let them know You would take care of the slower riders or whatever but that way more ppl might feel comfortable to ride, maybe even some of their SOs or DSs?? Maybe work out a "meeting" spot at the end of the ride or make your route a tad shorter than theirs??...or hecky dern, they're racer boys - make them go further! :D

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Good idea. I am going to email the bike club right now and make those suggestions. Thanks

Tracey

I would love to be able to ride faster just know that I am not at that point yet and that maybe there are others who feel as I do.

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

another thought would be to ask the guys if you could post a "slower" ride or a "welcome" ride tagged on to theirs?...let them know You would take care of the slower riders or whatever but that way more ppl might feel comfortable to ride, maybe even some of their SOs or DSs?? Maybe work out a "meeting" spot at the end of the ride or make your route a tad shorter than theirs??...or hecky dern, they're racer boys - make them go further! :D

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Thanks so much for the wise advice. I did just what you said and they do have a slower ride and the head of the club said that that if I wanted to ride on their regular rides he would see to it that there would be someone to ride with me. Anyway, thanks again for your two cents worth because they were actually worth a lot more to me!!

Tracey