First Organized Ride

[RolliePollie]

I'm trying to decide whether or not I'm ready for my first organized ride. I've been riding exactly one month! There's a ride coming up in 4 weeks that I'd really like to do, but I'm pretty nervous about the idea. There is a 40 mile course that is supposed to be pretty flat.

I need advice...I am not using my clipless pedals yet (but I'm planning to try them out tomorrow on the grass) and I'm still pretty wobbly on starts. I'm also not very good at gracefully stopping and getting off the bike. But, I rode 31 miles last weekend and averaged 14.5 mph, and today I did 25 miles and averaged 15.5 mph. I feel really good once I'm on the bike and going. Also, I haven't done any riding on actual roads with cars yet. I've just done bike paths. And I get freaked out if other people are riding too close to me because I'm afraid I'll swerve and crash! I think I am over-analyzing this but I don't want to get out there and be the biggest idiot on the course! However, considering the progress I've made in one month, perhaps in another month I'll be more confident. Anyone have any thoughts for me?

[SouthernBelle]

Hi Sara,

I did my first ride of that type after riding less time than you & not even on a real road bike. Ask on the board if anybody is familiar with that ride and if it's good for a beginner. Otherwise, I say go for it.

Just ride as much as possible between now and then.

Good luck.

[momof4greatkids]

My first ride w/my new bike was an organized ride, I was still on platform pedals and didn't even know enough to be scared! It turned out all OK.

My advice would be to maybe stick w/platform pedals until you are more comfortable overall w/your bike, shifting, stopping, getting on and off, all that. Maybe just use the cycling shoes w/the platform pedals to give you more power and more comfort in your feet.

Stick to the back of the pack, ride w/a pal.

That's a challenging distance for only riding a short time, but I'm sure you can do it w/style and aplomb!

Most important, have fun, lots of fun.

Colleen

[carolp]

I'm not sure where in NoCal you live, but if you want to do an organized ride with some of the friendliest, most supportive people you could ever run into, you should check out the AIDS lifecycle rides. You don't have to be signed up for the ride to go on their training rides. The website is: aidslifecycle.org and go to the calendar of events section. There are a wide variety of rides throughout the bay area, and while the season is getting on and the rides are getting longer, there are a lot of beginners on these rides, and the leaders are wonderful.

Carol
rider #6009

[RolliePollie]

Carolp - thanks, I'm actually up in the foothills between Sacramento and Tahoe (Placerville area), so a bit far away from the Bay Area. It would be fun to find a local group to ride with but I think I'd have to go down to Sac, which is an hour's drive. My LBS has weekly rides which happen to go right by my house, but my house is on a locally (and maybe even regionally) famous killer hill, so I know I couldn't keep up with them! The ride I'm looking at is Bike Around The Buttes, which is up by Marysville/Yuba City. It sounds like it might be a perfect first event to try out because it's a relatively flat course. None of my cyclist friends are doing it because they say it's "too boring" - but of course these same people have done rides like the Death Ride out of Markleeville and a ride that goes across the entire state of Iowa, so they have a bit more experience than I do!

[sgtiger]

If you're already doing 25 to 30+ mile rides now, then the 40 miles shouldn't be a problem IMO. You have four weeks to try out the clipless pedals. If you still don't feel confident riding with them by the time the ride comes around, you can always change them back out for the ride.

My first experience with an organized ride was great. I think most of the experienced riders could pick me out. They gave me space when passing and many even shouted out encouraging words, which was most appreciated on the hills. Cyclist in general are a cool lot. Most of them are out to have a good time and it's fun to see so many people out on bikes. I think that most of them will understand (with the exception of a few jerks, but don't mind them), they were all noobies at some point. Definitely take the advice of others and try to find some organized training rides (sometimes put out by the group organizing the ride) in you area or some riding buddies. It'll help build up your confidence around other cyclist and you might be able to find people to do the ride with which would make your experience even better.

Good luck and have fun on your ride!

Soo

[yellow]

Whoa! A Placervillian??!! Sara, I just sent you a PM.

You Davis and Sacramento gals may now have a foothills representative replacement for me (finally)!

Once-a-Placervillian-now-a-Salt-Lakean

**end hijack**