Fabulous ride for seven yesterday! And it's all my fault! (long)

[TrekJeni]

Sorry for the long post but yesterday was AWESOME!

Like most bigger towns/cities, we have a google group for our bicycling club. Checking out the weather earlier this week, my boss noticed it was going to be in the 70's here in Cincinnati for Friday. I said something to the effect of "yeah, (cough cough), I think (cough) I'm going to be (cough) sick. He's a marathon runner and laughed saying, "you going to ride your bike?" Duh! Like heck yeah, a decent day in November to ride.

So, I posted Tuesday on the ride list that my friend and I were having a sick day ride and invited everyone along that was too sick about the weather to be able to work. That night we went to the gym and did some massive burnouts on our legs. (I still hurt today - Saturday)

By Thursday, I had three replies! I'm excited but nervous. First off, my friend and I have only been riding for four months, we've never organized a ride, the only people replying are male (going to do 70 miles on country roads - and my man is afraid we're going to get abducted by crazy cyclists) and our legs are in screaming pain from the intense workout. We don't want to suck!

Fast forward to yesterday morning, there are FIVE other riders there other than myself and Marianne. One on a bent, one fixie, and three road bikes. But all men! I was ride leader which meant I was in front and Marianne took the back. We had some really strong riders and even stronger winds. Winds that physically blew me around sometimes. I got pulled a few times by this really nice guy. Eventually, everyone fell into their own rhythm. I got dropped by the nice guy (excuse- so I went to talk with the other riders) and couldn't catch back up, but we'd get back together at the stop signs. I apologized (being a "girl" wanted everyone to have fun) that we all weren't in the same speed group but everyone said not to worry, it was a Friday ride in the country and we weren't at work!

All the guys were great. No one other than us (30 & 32) was under the age of 45. At least two were in their mid 50's and one in his 70's. The fixie was amazing, his legs were awesome. He climbed hills like no tomorrow and I wasn't the only one amazed. In talking with the bent rider, he said he gave up his regular bike due to unbearable neck and shoulder pain.

Lunch was great too. One tried to buy our lunches for organizing the ride but we had already paid. We ate at the Pita Pit which is like a Subway but all pita's. Everyone got to know each other a little better as they were all strangers. Well, two knew each other from previous rides but that's it.

Marianne (and I) got a little frustrated though. This guy called me Thursday night asking if he could go. I had posted on the list that average speed was going to be 15 mph and distance was 70 miles. Also said it was a fairly technical route with a lot of climbing. On the phone, he asked it was really 15 mph, and I said yes. He joked and said he'd have to slow down for us as his usual was 30. I didn't realize it was a joke and said "that's okay, treat it like a recovery ride". Then he said he was only kidding. Well, on the ride, he kept getting farther and farther behind, which meant Marianne was farther and farther behind too. She's incredibly directionally challenged and even though she's ridden the route as many times as I have, still isn't comfortable without her cue sheet. So she's trying to ride far enough in front of him that she can still see the rest of us (all spread out by now) but still far enough back, she can see him if he ends up in trouble. I did trade spots with her on the longer roads so she could ride with the others and chat. He kept apologizing to us and telling us to go ahead but he didn't know the way plus he wasn't going to have a mechanical on my ride without us knowing about it! He did mention he hadn't been on his bike in TWO months and wanted to get out on a longer ride before winter. Secretly though (I don't even think I'll tell the man this), it was nice having a slower rider so we could do some recovery at times!

Overall, it was a fantastic day and I know all the guys left happy. In fact, one guy, even before I had gotten home (had to go to LBS and brag since they asked us to do lead their women's rides they're trying to start) emailed me to say what a great time he'd had. Asking the guys where their wives were, most said they weren't athletic. One guy's wife had a cycling accident (no injuries - little kid on Big Wheel ran out in the middle of the bike path) and hasn't been on her bike since.

I think women are natural's to lead rides. We just have that "make sure every one is happy" mentality. Do you agree?

Since we're so new to cycling, we've wanted to meet other like mined people. See, when we did the MS150, we'd only been riding less than a month. We saw all those people that were in big groups having fun Saturday night and were jealous of the camaraderie. We asked ourselves, how can we get our own group together? Network, network, network. Well yesterday, one of the guys said we could join the group that he goes with! Success!

Until the next time I'm (cough cough) sick....

Jeni

[Bike Goddess]

Jeni- WAY TO GO GIRL!

No drop rides are the very best! And you have just reinforced that idea once more! I think that women bring the softer side of cycling to the plate as your story illustrates. No cyclist left behind! And you all did it with such grace!

Wish I were out riding today.....clear, cool, slight breeze and wonderful fall air! But... tomorrow is another day...

[CorsairMac]

now That's the type of ride I'm looking for! Sounds like it was a great ride Jeni and I loved the whole "sick day" ride concept!

[bikerchick68]

Jen that sounds amazing! I agree that having a women led ride that is no drop can bring the "fun" part back to cycling for the guys.... often guys fall into their macho images and get competetive... and they ride hard and fast... and forget to ride for the sheer joy of it!

I ride as often as possible with "newbies" and try to make sure that no matter what, they can't WAIT to get back on the bike!!!

Sounds like your day was near perfect... I'll be hoping for more sick days for ya!

[Kathi]

Jeni,

Way to go Jeni. Where were you when I lived in Cincy? I've ridden lots of CCC rides, especially the Tues Pizza East rides, the Wed morning rides, and when in town on weekends the Breakfast ride and the rides in Harrison on Sat morning.

Was the guy on the fixie wearing a yellow shirt and named Jim?

Most of the groups I rode with were led by men so a good woman ride leader is a plus for the club. Keep up the good work!

[Jo-n-NY]

What a fun ride this sounded like and on a sick day taboot.

It is nice to ride alone sometimes, but so much fun with a nice group. My group consists of my husband, my good friend, brother and his girlfriend. We all mesh so nicely together and have a blast. Unfortunately I because of everyones schedule I we don't get to ride together very often.

May your group continue to blossom!

JoAnn

[jpbayarea]

I loved that story and how you wrote it. Since I'm a woman in the older category you said you were riding with it was particularly fun to read. You sure are doing some mileage for being so new at it....must be naturals.
I found it that way, as if my body had been waiting for this 'sport.' Thanks for sharing the day's ride.

jaquelin