Printable View
What is it about men?
I cycle with Team Testosterone and all they want to do is sprint. I kept up with them most of the time, but one time it was too much. I was cycling at 26 mph and they just dropped me like a hot potato. They were going 30+ mph and didn't give one hooey about leaving the rest. :mad:
I really wish I could ride with bike chicks.
Does anyone else succumb to the madness?
Whole raft of comments I'm biting my tongue on, here, Sundial. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by sundial
This area is a bone of contention between DH and I as well...
We call those guys "the big dawgs". When you ride with them on a century ride, they wait until you are in the bathroom line at the rest stop and take off so you have NO chance of catching up! :(:(
Even tho we advertise our club rides as "no drop rides", I've seen this happen on those rides as well. They will wait, but when you arrive 5 or so minutes later, they're ready to take off again and, once more, you are left in the dust.:mad::mad:
I often ride solo for this reason. I can pace myself according to my strengths which makes my ride much more enjoyable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kelownagirl
Maybe I should post this in VB's good vibes thread, but I'm so glad Thom and I don't have this issue. He's always climbed faster than me and I've always had more endurance. I've asked him to help me get faster on climbs and he's started pacing me. It's hard, my heart rate is wicked high and sometimes I feel like I'm going to puke. But hopefully it will make a difference with my climbing.
He's riding a little slower than he would normally and I'm definitely riding faster. But the encouragement he shouts at me helps. Well kinda, sometimes I just want to punch him!
In the "macho" guys defense, if they are out there for a training ride, not on a no drop ride, they should be riding their own ride and not caring a hooey about you.
V.
I don't have any problem with people riding faster than me. If I did, I'd never ride.:o I just had to find a few people--mostly women--who ride a pace similar to mine, but who also are up for an occasional challenge. I know not everyone is fortunate enough to find riding buddies like that, but it's worth the search. I've actually gotten stronger now that I don't face the discouragement of getting dropped all the time.
But if a ride is advertised as a no-drop ride, the group should stick by that designation. Is that what your problem is, Sundial?
I don't mind sprinting, but I'd like to do it with women. My problem is there aren't any women who have the same aspirations for cycling so I'm left to my own vices per se. I'm stuck with men who take the fun out of riding. I do ride solo quite a bit, but occasionally it would be nice to ride a group ride where I don't have to worry about changing the paceline every 3rd telephone pole, sprint, go hog wild on hills with traffic and no shoulders, circle back for those who aren't keeping up, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bad JuJu
When looking for a team to ride with, I specifically chose one that was only for girls! Now, I think riding with the boys is a great idea and good for developing speed and skills (you know...avoiding the Cat 5 guys who think that they are Tom Boonen :rolleyes:). However, there's a reason that the Saturday morning ride out near me is referred to, among others things, as the Weekly World Championships!! :D
P.S. Where are you located? Maybe there are options other than the good old boys? Maybe there are other gals in your area thinking the same thing you are...just dying for *someone* to start a team?
Maybe ride once a week with the men (challenging ride), once a week with women who don't really care for speed (recovery & chatting) and the rest on your own, following some kind of program?
Just a hint- having a woman around that is keeping up will only make them go faster... or do that thing where you stop for the bathroom and they "forget" that you're in there & are leaving the parking lot as you're walking out the door.
My advice- find other groups to ride with or hold on as long as you can! Riding with them will make you stronger :D
Well, we do have rides like that in my cycling club. If I know I'll get dropped, I don't go on those rides. Or, if I know I'll get dropped... I make sure I know the route back home so I'm fine on my own.
It sounds like you me that you are FAST! If I were with a group going 26 mph... well, I wouldn't have even been up there with them! :o
Keep at it, and maybe you will keep up with them and not get dropped at some point. Or... maybe you can find a buddy who is your speed and who will do the ride with you?
It's just that testosterone male insecurity thing I guess. Every hill used to be a free for all. Yup last one at the top doesn't get to rest. And I think Andrea is right about that too. Just too proud to have a woman amongst the boys. so they HAVE to drop you.
But its an awfully good way to train. They will always push you beyond your limit. Likewise, stay away from cat 5s. Just bad attitude.
Smilingcat
+1 :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by KSH
Smilingcat I would agree with you. There are some men who can't handle a woman being faster or stronger - it is just too much for their fragile egos to handle. However, I've found a group to ride with, a majority being male, who have welcomed me with open arms and make sure I'm part of their group. I'd much rather ride with these guys for I can ride my ride then to ride with the tender ego guys who can't handle me out climbing them or riding faster. Sundial keep looking for a group I'm sure you will find one and be welcomed into the fold wholeheartedly.
Seems to me that all of you are really fast riders. (is that a 26-30mph AVERAGE?? Is it all down hill where you live? :eek:)
But in any case, they are apparently somewhat faster than you. What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you? If not, then maybe it's just too frustrating for you to try to keep up with them all. Maybe you'll need to find a few riders of similar speed and style to yourself that you can ride with. Ask yourself- what is your goal?
Ditto on riding with DH making me stronger. That is definitely the case for me. And to be honest, most of the time, he's pretty good about sticking with me. It's the climbs where I get lost behind. For the most part I don't really mind but once in awhile it just irks me. I like to be able to lead once in awhile, especially on the flats when I CAN go fast. I'll mention it and I'll lead for awhile and then he'll pass me when we stop for a light and it just peeves me. :o Then one day I suggested he go out and do some hill repeats before our ride so he'd be a bit tired and not feel like he needed to hammer, and he still ended up riding ahead of me. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Our latest solution, which works quite well for me, is that he goes really hard ahead of me for about 3-4 minutes, then turns around and rides hard back to meet me. He goes further, and harder and I am seldom on my own for more than 4-5 minutes. I feel safe (I am still a bit freaked about being along if I'm stung by a wasp), and I feel like I can ride my own ride as well. We can't do this everywhere we ride because some roads are too busy but it works in many places.
maybe they're talking about kilometers? then it makes sense :DQuote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
If there's an agreement to not drop folks, they need to stand by their agreement. If they always drop you, you do need to find someone else to ride with. I realize that in most areas, you don't have that much choice. There are some guys I ride with who wait for the slower riders... but then what are the goals? are you training for racing, or is this their idea of a pleasurable ride?
Yeah I was thinking that. 26-30 kph is my avg pace.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
Uh, well, actually I'd like to ride with you gals. :p It's just kinda lonely being the only girl in the group and I can't really enjoy the ride because of them being....well....men. :rolleyes: ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
I sprinted on the flats at 26 mph. I can average 17.2 mph now for several miles and it's because I have the determination to get stronger and faster.
Cycling just isn't popular here because we don't have good places to ride (aka no shoulders, no bike paths, no parks, etc). Thus we don't have many gals out here cycling. :(
well, i don't know where you live, but the next step is to network and try to find other women who like to ride. go to your bike shop, put notices on TE, craigslist, etc...
There's got to be SOME women besides yourself!
I'll check with my LBS to see if they have any chick rides. It'll be a drive, but if I want a Girls Only Ride, guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go. ;) :p :rolleyes:
Or start one!Quote:
Originally Posted by sundial
Here too!Quote:
Originally Posted by kelownagirl
Some day, I hope to keep up with Silver:D
I am ALWAYS dropped.
Always.
And usually riding in mixed XY and XX groups. Even the short, slow-looking XX's drop me.
I checked my speed the other day sprinting on a flat: 25 miles per hour. I can sustain 20+ for awhile.
Of course I average, uh, 10mph less than that (if not less).
Good thing I'm happy riding alone.
Someone always waits on me or calls to check on me...I'm never really more than a mile or two behind them.
It is quite discouraging to never SEE the people you think you're riding with.
Depending on conditions, that's really pretty good!Quote:
Originally Posted by SlowButSteady
Sounds like you're choosing groups that stretch your limits...and that might be a good thing.
I say she is FAST too. 26 is not slow mo- Think that they are going faster to build their ego's. If this WOMAN can keep up we need to push to go even faster/harder--mentallity. Don't think they don't do this.Quote:
Originally Posted by KSH
My goal is to zoom to 30 mph and keep up with the big dogs. ;)
Slowbutsteady, I don't know why you'd get dropped--you're pretty zippy. :)
This is why I choose the groups I ride with very carefully. I am riding for fitness, but also for FUN. I always seem to be between groups in terms of ability. When I ride by myself or with my husband, my average is between 15.5 and 16.5 if it's not too hilly. However, there are always hills where I ride. I can't get home without riding up 2 pretty big climbs. I can sustain 18-22 for awhile, if it's really flat, but like I said, no place here is really flat.
Riding with my husband forced me to improve for the first few years. Now he is happy to ride at my speed and gets his faster rides when he commutes to work. I am too fast for the "slow" groups and when I have gone on rides that advertise a 15-16 average, it always feels fast to me, even though it doesn't feel fast when I am alone. However, I find that I can out climb a lot of the riders on these rides; I am a downhill weenie and that brings my average down.
I don't do well when I am constantly trying to keep up with others; it doesn't make me stronger, it just makes me angry and feel like I am weak! I can compete with one person, but a whole group, no.
Of course, I have to make myself remember that most "regular" people think that what I do is crazy and that I am fitter at 54 than I was 10 years ago.
My husband and I have addressed the speed disparity difference (he is much faster) by riding a tandem. We like it so much that we rarely get out on our singles anymore. We can each push as hard as we want to and always have someone to ride with and talk to.
OH completely. Men always get very competitive when a woman can keep up with them.Quote:
Originally Posted by AutumnBreez
I always say, "If you want to see a man ride faster... let a woman pass him."
It happens all the time on the bike trail I ride. I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.
I hear ya'...but I also think men get competitive when anyone passes them...Quote:
Originally Posted by KSH
Depending on the guy, they may be racing to catch up as a form of "playing the field" because they found a woman with impressive abilities.
Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc
Mr., you know I love you and I'm happy you're here. :) But give me a break...we know this (well, I guess I shouldn't speak for everyone here...I know this).Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Silver
SOmebody had to defend the dudes ;)
There is a different chemistry.
Have you considered growing yhour own? There's a reasonably good chance that there honestly are women who *would* ride if there were a supportive community. I am *always* running into the "I wish I did it more" crowd, and while a mess of 'em are just whining and don't really have any intention of changing, others... welp, others have come out on that Saturday Saunter ride that I lead... on the Gazelle or the Xtra cycle, going ouit for half an hour or 45 minutes of "peppier" riding before the ride... then the odd intervals and pushing the heavy bike along mean I'm getting further training on the Saunter.
We also have a really neat women's ride that's fast... but simply not testosterone-driven. It ain't that that's a bad thing - it's just different. (and this town's got about 100,000 people and about 200 of 'em are in the bike club... but there's been years of effort to make the club welcome at the entry level.)
I don't enjoy the sensation..of trying to keep up with many others.if it was a regular group ride..it feels to me, like being forced to conform/to keep pace with Joneses.... Like you Robyn ,it creates unnecessary self-disgust/anger inside myself which lowers cycling love. I am certain I wouldn't have stayed on the bike for so long, the past 17 yrs., if I spent the majority of cycling time in group riding.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robyn Maislin
Usually my partner is riding ahead...it can get complicated because he doesn't like to cool down when waiting for me at a turn or top of a hill somewhere... but he's able to do lots of riding in past few years on his own while I'm at work (early retired, but now he's starting up a biz ....cycling consulting...this is another story..:rolleyes: ) and when we're together on bike (though not side by side), he might cycle round a loop a few times to "meet" up with me. If it's a route we're familiar he'll kinda ignore me and pump it out. If I didn't do enough solo cycle, I suppose I would be bothered. But I'm not. Hey, we don't have a car...so in the end, we will meet at the finish line..at a store, park, etc. :D
On loaded bike trips, I tell him how much of a beetle he looks like way out on the horizon.. As along as I can see where he's going in strange/new, unknown areas...even if he's 1-3 kms. ahead of me.
There is no way we would cooperate on a tandem. We rented a tandem once..I sat behind and hated it. I am 5'1", he is 5'10".
He is the sort of person who isn't bothered if a woman passes him.
I have led group rides which have taught me: a)I'm a somewhat impatient person b) not as sensitive of other cyclists as I thought I would be since I'm not a fast-pacing cyclist. This alone, I think I still have enough to learn..:confused:
You sound like me, Shooting Star! There have been several times when I've been leading or sweeping a group ride, that I am annoyed... of course I keep a smile on my face and no one would know.
I have found 2 groups that I like to ride with and I think it's because I am one of the better riders in the group. One group can get pretty quick at times, but they always stop and regroup. Plus, I have found that living on a hill has advantages because I am usually one of the first to reach the top of a climb. But, I still enjoy riding with just 3 or 4 other people most of the time.
I'd like to hear more about your Saturday Saunter ride, Geonz....I'd like to get more people involved in cycling (especially women) and group rides,and that sounds like just the thing.
Karen
I've been one of those sloooow folks who show up for Geonz's ride, she does a fantastic job of keeping it at the advertised pace and making everyone feel welcome. That ride is one of the primary reasons I got back into riding, it was safe and well lead so I felt like I could just focus on riding the bike, not having to pay attention to the route or where to stop is wonderful when you're starting out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuckervill
Yeah, it's the same with driving too. :rolleyes:Quote:
I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.
Um, *intelligence* didn't come to mind here--more like a woman's landscape ;) :pQuote:
Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc
I live in a town of 3200 people. I have yet to see one woman on a bike here. 2 of my friends are *kinda* interested in riding but they don't even own a bike. :( I've got a spare bike and that I plan to set up for whoever wants to ride with me. :)Quote:
...and this town's got about 100,000 people and about 200 of 'em are in the bike club... but there's been years of effort to make the club welcome at the entry level.
Tuckervill I'll bet you have access to some clubs over there in your progressive neck of the woods. The closest we have is Jonesboro--an hour away. Wish you lived closer so we could ride together.
Lewis & Clark is setting up a cycling team/club. Brand new. There's a L&C store in Little Rock, now, but probably not one in your neck o' the woods.
I've been doing the Saturday newbies group ride at the Rogers store, and hanging out on their forums a little. The team/club is seeming to focus on racing and mountain biking, so I'm hoping to be a voice for the normal people. ;-) When I asked about club cut jerseys, it went over like a lead balloon.
You should google the Arkansas Bicycle Coalition. I'll bet you'll find some folks.
Karen
LOL! http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/s...scared0012.gifQuote:
When I asked about club cut jerseys, it went over like a lead balloon.