getting dropped

[Mr. Bloom]

Men always get very competitive when a woman can keep up with them.

I always say, "If you want to see a man ride faster... let a woman pass him."

I hear ya'...but I also think men get competitive when anyone passes them...

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

[Starfish]

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).

[Geonz]

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.)

[shootingstar]

\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.

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.

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.. ) 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.

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..

[Crankin]

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.

[Tuckervill]

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

[Pax]

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.

[sundial]

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.

Yeah, it's the same with driving too.

Yes, some guys are shallow...but others will be very impressed by an athletic woman...others are attracted to intellect...etc

Um, *intelligence* didn't come to mind here--more like a woman's landscape

...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 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.

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.

[Tuckervill]

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

[sundial]

When I asked about club cut jerseys, it went over like a lead balloon.

LOL!

[Geonz]

I"ll write more later, but a beginner's ride is a bit of a challenge primarily because you always have to assertively address the genuine culture clash between the different needs of different kinds of riders. YOu've got rank beginners, and hten folks who *think* they're rank beginners but have forgotten what it was like to honestly, really average 10 mph, and then folks who like to go 40 miles at 13 mph, and sometimes somebody who's intimidated by the fast group but 'way too fast for us... but usually that's a problem that fades.
And some days are much better than others ;D
Most important message I preach is to "keep coming back" because if you're the onlly beginner this week... but next week it's a differnet only beginner... you'll never know that there really were 12 of you out there. Fortunately for me, when I joined about 9 other 'saunter types' joined so we had our own kind of critical mass, but when it was only one or two of us and most people were faster, I kept saying "but we have to keep coming back, so we can grow!" and it worked.

[indysteel]

SOmebody had to defend the dudes

I may get totally shot down for this, but I've really had more issues with competitive women than with men. The men I ride with are generally very supportive. In contrast, I've had a number of incidents with the stronger women that I ride with who act like they have something to prove, not just to the men in the group, but to the women as well. And I stopped riding with a friend who never failed to remind me that she was faster than me. I got sick of hearing it.

That said, I actually don't think it's a male or female thing. The truth is that some people make better riding buddies than others. For me, gender isn't necessarily the issue. I don't mind riding with a strong group if I know they will have my back if I start to peter out, and I avoid riding with people who'd rather outdo me than stay together.

At training rides, I have no expectation that anybody will stay with me because it's not a "no-drop" ride. If I get dropped, I get dropped. I don't always like it, but I also see it as a challenge to be proud of myself even when I don't perform as well as I'd like. When I first started doing the trainer, I got really frustrated because I couldn't always keep up, but I then tried to change my attitude about what success and failure means with respect to my biking and overall fitness. Any day I take care of myself--even if taking care of myself means riding easy or resting--is a success. Even if I can't keep up, I'm still working harder than the millions of people sitting on their couch!

That said, there are days where I'm not in the mood to go out hard, so I skip the trainer and ride with a kinder, gentler group.

[Tuckervill]

I just volunteered to be the Women's Riding Development coordinator for the new club that's starting.

I hope to get my man Max, who has so eloquently taught me the basics of group riding, to get involved with the newbie riders I hope to attract.

I also hope to sponge off all you ladies who have done this before. I'm a pretty good leader in general--good at herding people, hearing people, and keeping the momentum going forward. Hopefully those skills will transfer to this new endeavor.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Oh, and I am SO going to steal that name--Saturday Saunter! It just says it all. We live far enough apart as to avoid stepping on toes, don't we?

Karen

[Pax]

Way to go Tuck!!

I hope your friend will help out, my memory of the slooow ride was Geonz going back and forth the length of the group encouraging/chatting/answering questions, while a very experienced rider in the club set a 12mph pace. It was an excellent way to learn pacing (I tend to go 18mph...then10...then20...then 10, it was great having someone hold the pace at a perfect speed), he was like a metronome!