Am I being overly sensetive.

I agree with the folks who say to lead your own beginner ride...that's what I did. :D

Our club had a beginner-friendly ride on Sundays that I enjoyed, but I couldn't always make it because of church obligations. All their current Saturday rides were too fast, so I just rode solo Saturdays every week. When they asked in one of the meetings for volunteers to lead a Saturday beginner ride and there were no more-experienced takers, I decided to go for it. I had no ride leader experience, and only a few months' group riding experience, but the group leaders from the Sunday ride were really helpful with my route planning and getting the ride started. There was a month or so when I didn't have any riders, but then they started to trickle in after that, especially as the weather got cooler. Another woman in the club tried my ride a few times and decided that it was too fast/long-distance for her, so she now leads an ultra-beginner ride that takes a shorter version of the same route. We all start out together, then the two rides split up at our different paces.

It's been over a year now, and I think it's one of the best things I've ever done. It's really helped me to feel part of the club in a way that I didn't before. I've met a lot of great people, seen a bunch of riders gain confidence and speed to move on to the faster rides. That's always kind of bittersweet...thrilled that they're moving on, but sad that they won't be riding with me every week anymore. :o

Anyway, all that to say that leading a ride is not at all hard...all you have to have is a a willingness to show up and ride every week (or every month, or whenever you schedule it), a little bit of basic riding/safety knowledge, and someone more experienced to help you get started and help advertise the ride. If the club truly is trying to bring in all kinds of riders, I'm sure that the club leader would be more than willing to help.

Sounds like you're the perfect person to lead their beginner's ride. Volunteer!

Karen

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Originally Posted by DDH

Your right, and I totally agree, and that's why I told him over and over that I don't want to hold them back, and I was very slow. I'm not really upset over him telling me he didn't think I would want to ride this one as I am over the fact that they say they want to start a larger club with more deverse riders but then don't have any easier rides for the beginners.
The last 3 weeks have been killer hills along with 30 miles, and 50 miles rides and then this week is 25 which I could totally do, but am not sure about the killer hills with it. LOL
I guess I will just ride with them when they have the little bit shorter distances. I really don't want to slow them down when they want to ride hard so that is why I always email him and ask him whether he thinks it's one I can do or not.
I'd rather ride a ride I know I can do and not make someone have to come pick me up or something, and then be embarassed.

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Responding to the part I bolded.

DON'T ask him if he thinks you can do it. Get the route, look it up yourself and decide for your own fine self whether you want to tackle it or not! You decide! Use your power! You rock!

Karen

Thanks girls for all the advice and comments.
I am not mad or even really hurt, I was just confused as to whether they really want to start a club for everyone or just for thier own elite.
If thats what they want, that is their own priveledge and I have no problem with it really, as long as they make it clear and be up front about it.
They advertise at the LBS and that is where I got the number.
Please believe me when I say, they were great to ride with when I did ride with them. I ride by myself all the time so I don't mind being left behind as long as I have a map of the route and someone knows that I am riding so they know I'm out there.
Trust me I made all of that very clear and yes he was honest and I definitely appreciate that. I would rather someone be up front with me.
I just got a little sensetive I guess about, if they really want to start a club for everyone then they have to include everyone with different rides and such. I really think that they want this but right now, they just don't have anyone but me that is slow and a beginner "so to speak".
Like I said, I don't want to be the one slowing eveyrone down. I did email him yesterday and told him that maybe if they get more beginners I could be their leader to help them with the route and those guys can still get a good workout.

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

Maybe you could offer to help the club out and start leading beginners rides yourself?

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There have been a lot of good comments along these lines. I will throw in my two cents to elaborate.
I am president of a really small but busy bike club. People will come up to us and say, "why aren't you doing such and so" or "you should be doing such and so". Well, you know what? In any organization, there may be a lot of members and attendees to events but usually only a few key people that actually get involved and organize/create activities. It's the same old thing, only 5% or less help out wit the organization. Organizer usually have thier hands full with all the things that are planned already. This is why new blood is so important, and getting involved to get what YOU want out of the club is vital to the growth of the organization.

I agree that this is a great opportunity to maybe add a new beginners element to your organization. Hopefully they will support your efforts to set up a super-beginner ride. Don't be discouraged if only a few people show up, either... be proud you are taking care of yourself and being part of the solution.

Irulan

Well put, I.

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Originally Posted by DDH

They advertise at the LBS and that is where I got the number.

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So you could maybe advertise at the same LBS. Just put up a flyer (on colored paper, to get people's attention) saying you're getting up a little beginners' section for the new club's rides. You might even want to mention your (starting) average speed, no one will be left behind, varied routes, etc.

Also, if there are any recreational trails in the area, you could ride there occasionally to "recruit" beginning riders. That's how I started riding with my club. Lots of cyclists here start out on a local paved trail to warm up before jumping off onto the road. One day, another woman and I seemed to be riding at the same pace and she told me all about this club she rides with and the not-so-fast group, and invited me to come out and join them. Been loving it ever since, and I even found a riding buddy to ride with on other days--she lives so close to me that I can see her house from mine, but didn't even know her before riding with the club.

Sure, some of them are speedsters, but then there's always a little knot of us at the back. Some got involved like I did and some came around because they saw a flyer posted at the LBS--try it!

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

So you could maybe advertise at the same LBS. Just put up a flyer (on colored paper, to get people's attention) saying you're getting up a little beginners' section for the new club's rides. You might even want to mention your (starting) average speed, no one will be left behind, varied routes, etc.

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If she is going to do it as a representative of the organization, it's best to check it out with the board or whomever oversees things before flyers start going up. I know in our club, anyone with initiative to something/anything that falls under the umbrella of our mission statement is welcome to get something going, following the parameters of how we do things. We are pretty loose actually ( i know it doesn't sound like it) but communication within the organization is vital for success.