Local biking clubs?

[Jenn]

I found our local biking club and my husband and I are thinking about joining. They have a ride coming up on May 27th, and they are calling it a "slug" ride, meaning nobody will get left behind...haha...meaning us I hope.
Anyway, we haven't been cycling that long just since September and I'm a little leary about joining a club and showing up for a ride and feeling stupid since we will obviously not know anybody and I hate that "what are you doing here look "people have a tendency to give..
What do you all think? How was your first experience showing up for a group ride??? I would appreciate any input!
Thanks
Jenn

[SadieKate]

When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Take the initiative and introduce yourself. Sounds like the perfect kind of ride to do so.

[FreshNewbie]

Good club will never make you feel unwelcomed, although there still might be few people who act like that but that's not a big deal. Generally, people in clubs are nice people and you should just come up and introduce yourself. I first started riding with a club last year and people were very nice. If it turns out that all of the riders are jerks then it's just not a club for you and you move on. You have nothing to lose but might gain a lot of riding buddies. Good luck

[Pedal Wench]

Almost every one of us would be riding alone if we never took the step to show up alone for a group ride. Go for it. If they've posted it someplace, they obviously want people to show up.

Edit: You could also ask someone in the club about the ride. Someone did that for one of my club's group rides. I answered her questions, but more importantly, I told some club members that she was planning on coming to the ride, so make her feel welcome and make sure to introduce her around and look out for her.

[Jenn]

Thank you all for the supportive words. I emailed the organizer and she was really nice, she said they are really hurting to get people to come and ride.
It's only 35 miles and DH and I do that on Saturday's and Sunday's and here on the base it includes alot of hill work, so we are confindent we won't be the slowest slugs.....
It's just hard getting over that intimidation factor when you are starting something new. But like some of you said, we won't know until we try. Being military we are use to having to meet new people so this shouldn't be any different.
Thanks again!!!

[Geonz]

The important thing was contacting the leader.

This whole "slower riders not being dropped" is a *huge* issue in many clubs. It's more complicated than "good club" or "bad club" - for starters, clubs are made of a lot of individuals and exactly which individuals you *happen* to interact with gives you an impression of thw whole club... my advice to new people is simply NOT to do that - to give any club three chances before you decide it's the personality of the club, and even then... (I'm wondering if I've already done this post here...)

In m expereicne, clubs that are "really hurting" often are relatively clueless. They think they aren't dropping people... then they keep doing it anyway... then they wonder why they're "hurting." (They call slow riders slugs... that might be a hint, though it *might* just be a sense of humor.)

When I joined the Richmond Area Bicycling Association, I had no idea how unusual it was. I was going to get around to trying it... then had a motivating incident and said "This is The Week!" ... without thinking about the fact that this was FEBRUARY.
HOwever, there is a core of really friendly, low-key guys & gals in that club and no, I didn't get dropped and I didn't even know they were going slower for me! They never let me be last in the group (there were 6 of us - there were lots of faster groups) and never spread out.
I got somewhat stronger in the three years I was there, and then moved out here. Went out on the *first* ride of the season to the level 2 "longer distance but we don't drop anybody" Saturday ride. Should have been a perfect fit. They didn't drop me, but I was very aware that they would have been going a lot faster had I not been there. I can say with some certainty that they were hoping I figured that out.
The club has a Tuesday ride that's "level 1" - I stuck to that. Heard people talk about all the rides that were too fast. Finally said, "if we all *go* to the Saturday ride, then there will be a group our speed!" So, though I had no ride leading skills, I promised to show up and go slowly.
It took a fair amount of time, but the slow people came out of the woodwork. Now people think the club has a totally different personality.
It doesn't - it just has more personalities to it. Problem was that one person would go on a faster ride, get dropped, and not come back. Next week, a different person would go, and not come back. They'd gripe among themselves in those too-rare occasions they'd get together... but once we figured out there were 8 of us, we knew that if we went to aride there would be at least 2 or 3 others... and of course there are those weird telephone htings and email
HOWEVER.
May 27th is a risky time for a "slug" ride. It's just far enough into the season so that the "slow" people have gotten stronger than they think they are. Our slower group been dropped on rides where the leader swore swore SWORE it wouldn't happen. Three times, just like in the Bible, when I BEGGED to know the route and turnaround spot. The folks who ride at 14 mph LOVED that ride because teh other guys did slow down from their usual 18... so they didn't even notice us... I had *told* the leader "we will only be going 11-12 mph." THe rest of my group got discouraged and went home. I lit my butt on fire and caught up to 'em... I know they didn't get it though, because I went to the fall meeting where that ride leader glibly stated that yes, rides were nice and they didn't drop people. I was successful in reciting my own examples without actually saying "Do you lie to your mother like that?" and over the years people have come up and thanked me.
Odds are you'll be strong enough not to be a true "slug" - if you're feeling kindhearted, keep an eye out for the real ones. Lots of people honestly think "slug" means 14 mph. Even if it means 12... if what you can do is 11.5 you're going to be dropped.
end of ramblin' rant... go on the ride - introduce yourself to the leader again - and you've got a lot of time to get stronger

[Fredwina]

I found our local biking club and my husband and I are thinking about joining. They have a ride coming up on May 27th, and they are calling it a "slug" ride, meaning nobody will get left behind...haha...meaning us I hope.
Anyway, we haven't been cycling that long just since September and I'm a little leary about joining a club and showing up for a ride and feeling stupid since we will obviously not know anybody and I hate that "what are you doing here look "people have a tendency to give..
What do you all think? How was your first experience showing up for a group ride??? I would appreciate any input!
Thanks
Jenn

Well, I've had quite the opposite experience, and my career does involve a lot of moving about. yet to find an unfriendly bunch.
If they are calling it a "slug" ride, they are probably looking for people like.... you! Granted there will be some sorting out, primarly to determine if you are a "slug" or a "super-slug", but I wouldn't expect any racer types to show up.
May 27 is pretty far away. Do they have any other rides that you think that you can do? It may be worth going on one.

[Bikingmomof3]

I think it sounds like a lot of of fun. Go. Enjoy yourself. You may be surprised at just how much fun you will have.