Finding others to ride with

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06-30-2011, 03:41 PM
surgtech1956

Finding others to ride with

I need to find others to ride with. I don't really mind riding by myself sometimes, but sometimes it would be nice to ride with others. DGF rides, but working out/exercising isn't a priority. Women my age(55) are old - at least the ones I work with and the younger ones(30-40s) that exercise, I'm not at the same fitness level and I feel they think I am old. The local club rides at faster speeds then I am able to ride at. Any suggestions at finding riding partners? One idea I have is to join a health club and maybe find others who ride. Am I the only one with this issue?
06-30-2011, 04:24 PM
Orange utopia

Have you looked on meetup.com? Or maybe ask the local club if you can advertise on their web site for a lower pace weekend ride to try and draw out other people looking for the same thing.

Our club in Baltimore has a ton of different ride categories and I can always find at least 1 weekend ride that fits my average pace. Oh and most of the people in the group I ride with are 50-60 years old. So far they all ride way more then me :D
06-30-2011, 04:25 PM
Hi Ho Silver

You are most definitely not alone. Having moved to another state last month, I'm in the same boat right now. My biggest gripe is that when a potential riding partner sees my white hair, they assume that I can't hack it. Age discrimination really infuriates me!

My attempt to find someone to ride with: I'm going to hit some of the umpteen bike shops in town and ask if there are some riding groups that have any "mature" riders. (double entendre intended)

Old age is not a disease-it is strength and survivorship, triumph over all kinds of vicissitudes and disappointments, trials and illnesses.
Maggie Kuhn
06-30-2011, 06:19 PM
blue_angel

Quote:

Originally Posted by surgtech1956

I need to find others to ride with. I don't really mind riding by myself sometimes, but sometimes it would be nice to ride with others. DGF rides, but working out/exercising isn't a priority. Women my age(55) are old - at least the ones I work with and the younger ones(30-40s) that exercise, I'm not at the same fitness level and I feel they think I am old. The local club rides at faster speeds then I am able to ride at. Any suggestions at finding riding partners? One idea I have is to join a health club and maybe find others who ride. Am I the only one with this issue?

Where in Michigan are you? I'm in Ann Arbor, and in my 30s, but I don't ride at nearly club speeds. Plus I never mind taking a slower, more leisurely ride.
06-30-2011, 07:40 PM
Bike Writer

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue_angel

Where in Michigan are you? I'm in Ann Arbor, and in my 30s, but I don't ride at nearly club speeds. Plus I never mind taking a slower, more leisurely ride.

Blue Angel,

I am just north of you in Whitmore Lake. I ride a mountain/hybrid and am not a fast rider but I go the distance once I get wound up. I've been exploring the back roads of Washtenaw County and finding it quite interesting. My average rides are about 10 miles but I sometimes do 15-20 mile rides.
07-01-2011, 01:59 AM
susan.wells

I'm in Novi. I just moved here from the South Bend, IN area. It would be nice to meet up with other riders.
07-01-2011, 12:16 PM
surgtech1956

Wish I was closer to you gals. I'm in Bay City.
07-01-2011, 01:26 PM
withm

And when I'm in Michigan I'm about an hour north of you.
07-01-2011, 03:05 PM
loopybunny

You shouldn't worry about your age. A local woman that I frequently ride with is older than I am and she doesn't think she's at the same fitness level I am either. I've had to stop for her a couple of times, but we have so much fun that it's totally worth it. We usually end up in a fit of giggles over some silly thing. Our rides are meant to be fun and casual.

We actually met via Twitter through some mutual tweeps.
07-01-2011, 04:17 PM
Kubla

I guess I'm not the only one.

Don't feel bad. I'm in my late 50s, ride for recreation and fitness- and am alone most of the time.

Last year I inquired at a local bike shop about meeting up with the women's group they have-and got the distinct impression that I didn't fit their stereotype.

She emphasized how fast they ride and added that surely I'd rather ride with a group closer to home. (I was only about 10 miles from home-and I do have a way to transport my bike.) Oh well...
07-01-2011, 04:21 PM
Crankin

Kubla, the SE MA chapter of AMC has lots of rides that average between 10-12 mph. Here is a link:

http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm?grp=10
07-01-2011, 04:24 PM
Kubla

Thanks for the info, Crankin. That's about my average speed at the moment-though I do go faster for short distances. I'd rather enjoy the scenery than try to break speed records.
07-03-2011, 12:58 PM
Juliegoddess

Hey Blue! I've just about given up looking for ladies to ride with! I'm in Monroe, but lived in Ann Arbor for a long time, and I miss it so much. We should get together!! NOBODY in Monroe rides!! I'm so ALONE!!
07-04-2011, 03:17 AM
pinsonp2

Juliegoddess,

Have you looked into the Downriver Cycling Club (http://lmb.org/dcc/newsletters/dcc0711.pdf)? Thye have rides about five times a week. They are a great bunch of folks to ride with. The link is to their latest newsletter and it has the July ride schedule in it.

P2
07-04-2011, 03:50 AM
Juliegoddess

Hey Pinson! Yes, I do indeed know about the DCC...I've been on their mailing list for several years now, and for some reason, just never jumped in with them. Looks like this is a good time to start! I should also look in the toledo area as well...I keep forgetting that Toledo is exactly the same distance from me as the downriver area!
07-04-2011, 03:56 AM
Juliegoddess

Hey Bike Writer...your blog is cool! Really enjoying reading it. I LOVE the Whitmore Lake area, and miss it so much. I used to live in Ann Arbor, then lived in Stockbridge for a short while. I miss Territorial Road, and all those beautiful roads for riding the bike! I'm down in Monroe now...it's just not the same...
07-05-2011, 06:07 AM
blue_angel

Sorry everybody, I've been away from the computer over the holiday weekend. Sounds like there are a good number of us in SE Michigan. Maybe we should organize a group ride? I ride around Whitmore Lake all the time, for example, and I've not been Downriver but am willing to travel a bit. I ride skinny slicks though, so no off-roading for me!
07-08-2011, 06:27 PM
Bike Writer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juliegoddess

Hey Bike Writer...your blog is cool! Really enjoying reading it. I LOVE the Whitmore Lake area, and miss it so much. I used to live in Ann Arbor, then lived in Stockbridge for a short while. I miss Territorial Road, and all those beautiful roads for riding the bike! I'm down in Monroe now...it's just not the same...

Hi Julie, I'm glad you are enjoying and find some value. How cool you used to ride in this area PLUS you mentioned Stockbridge, so funny I used to have a restaurant in the town just east of there in Pinckney and lived in Hamburg for about 12 years.

Maybe Blue Angel is right and we can get a group ride going, we could travel to another local or meet up somewhere in-between.

BA? Susan?