Total Newbie

[mydisneydollars]

I just started biking a couple weeks ago after my hubby started and I must say I love it. I am currently riding an 80's style touring bike and hoping to buy the trek 1.2 Womens bike this fall. I am doing mu first community charity bike ride on June 28th its a 25mile route and I am alittle nervous. Any pointers out there that I should keep in mind.

Thanks,

Theresa

[BarbaraAlys]

Congrats on getting into riding and tackling a charity ride right off the bat!

Those rides can be a lot of fun. If you have not done a group ride yet it might be a good idea to go find a local bike club and go ride with them one day. There are 'rules of the road' that you can learn, as well as get the feel of having more bikes around you than just you and your husband. The most challenging part of a large organized ride is often the start. You all bunch up, waiting for someone to say 'go' then you all try to get going. Sounds easy, but each person is 'going' in a slightly different manner and pace, invariabley there are spills. when in that big group just keep an eye out for the people in front of you suddenly slowing (or falling), and try to keep distance between you and them. I always end up in the back anyway (slow rider) so I don't try to be in the front at the start.

Drink plenty of water, stop at the rest stop even if you think you don't need to, and have fun with it.

Barbara

[mydisneydollars]

Congrats on getting into riding and tackling a charity ride right off the bat!

Those rides can be a lot of fun. If you have not done a group ride yet it might be a good idea to go find a local bike club and go ride with them one day. There are 'rules of the road' that you can learn, as well as get the feel of having more bikes around you than just you and your husband. The most challenging part of a large organized ride is often the start. You all bunch up, waiting for someone to say 'go' then you all try to get going. Sounds easy, but each person is 'going' in a slightly different manner and pace, invariabley there are spills. when in that big group just keep an eye out for the people in front of you suddenly slowing (or falling), and try to keep distance between you and them. I always end up in the back anyway (slow rider) so I don't try to be in the front at the start.

Drink plenty of water, stop at the rest stop even if you think you don't need to, and have fun with it.

Barbara

Thanks I am a slow rider too. I am so excited and really nervous too.

[Tabby]

Hi Theresa and Barbara,

I started riding in April, but so far it has just been with 1 or 2 other riders. Tonight is my first group ride/cookout ... I'm taking the baked beans!! I've done a few trail days w/this group and worked the fast laps race they did in May, but my rides have been just me and a mentor or two.

I'm very excited but a slow rider, so I will just start at the back of the pack to begin with. My second group ride is Friday, which is suppose to be a night ride, but I'll go early to finish in daylight w/a couple others. I don't think I'm ready to tackle nights! The park naturalist is gonna do a 'lecture' on "flyers at night" (the birds and bats) and I'm sure other critters. So after a daylight ride, I'll listen and learn about the critters.

I'm in Columbus, Ohio, but will be riding over by Springfield an hours drive.
PJ

[Tuckervill]

Don't start at the back! You'll likely be staged behind the riders doing a longer distance anyway. If you start at the back you'll have the demoralizing feeling of seeing everyone pull away from you.

If you start in the front of the 25 milers, then you will be with a group longer. You might get swept along quite a ways and it will be much more fun. You will be passed a lot--don't let it bother you. You'll probably find out you're not as slow as you thought you were!

Have fun and good luck!

Karen

[littlegrasshopp]

Tuckervill - Great advice. I never thought of it that way!

[mydisneydollars]

That is really awesome advice. I would love to do a night ride. Maybe when I get better and I am seasoned more. I just love this forum you all are really nice and full of info.

[BarbaraAlys]

See, I found it much more demoralizing to have every one passing me! the important thing is to not get hung up in the crowd with everyone, for me. I'm not adept enough to get around a fallen rider quickly.

That night ride sounds like fun.

[mydisneydollars]

Ok being the newbie that I am I have a question. I am having alot of pain in my right thigh just above the knee and only about mid way up the thigh. Now my other leg is fine and the right isn't getting any better the more I ride. I just thought it was beginners riding pain and now I am beginning to wonder. Any thoughts?

[furryduck]

I agree with Tucervill, i am only still new to cycling but completed my first 71 mile charity ride this weekend, i started as near to the front as i could, loads passed me but not all so i knew there were others behind me. I think it would have been harder for me if i started at the back and and was left there when everyone took off, but i have found cyclist good people and are always ready to help.
good luck and enjoy

[delfin azul]

See, I found it much more demoralizing to have every one passing me! the important thing is to not get hung up in the crowd with everyone, for me. I'm not adept enough to get around a fallen rider quickly.

I had a similar experience on my first organized ride (35 miles). I'd never riden with anyone else than my BF, so I was very nervous when I was surrounded by all the bikes and had a hard time clipping in at the start (started in the middle of the crowd - wrong!!). I'm super slow so everyone kept on passing me - I was very demoralized - I finished the ride but stopped riding after that.

Earlier this year I decided it was time to get back on the bike. Now this time I did it differently, I joined Team in Training and signed up for my first Charity ride. This gave me lots of motivation and the team training I needed. What a difference, I had no idea there were so many rules of the rode, skills, etc. I had some good & bad days but every one of them taught me something. And after 4 months of training I finished my century ride two weeks ago

The things that were most important for me:
1) BELIEVE in yourself (your stronger than you think)
2) Enjoy it and have FUN (you'll be less tense and not so sore)
3) Drink LOTS of water before, during and after the ride
4) Eat a good breakfast (food is your fuel)
5) LISTEN to your body (take care of those aches / pains)
6) You're not alone - listen to the advice from the more experienced riders/teammates. I learned a lot from TE....lifted me up on those low days - thank you !

Now I'm trying to decide what my next ride will be

[Tabby]

Hey, my first group ride ... at the back of the pack ... turned out to be lots of fun and very encouraging.

The group ride starts in spurts of 4-6 riders to space on the trails, so I rode cleanup in the group led by my 'mentor' and 3 newer-than-me newbies... we were the last group out. One of the girls was having a terrible time, so it was very slow going and she was getting very frustrated. At one point she had a bit of a temper tantrum, so I checked her bike, she was in a total granny gear and had no control (we weren't climbing) So I get her in the right gear and we caught up to the others. This girl still frustrated, my mentor (DD) told me to lead the others while she stayed back and helped this girl along. I didn't do too bad leading ... was able to call out upcoming obstacles for the first timers and only a couple that took me by surprise. The 3 of us kept a pretty good pace and made it back to the cookout just fine. When we got there, the DD and the young girl were there and the girl was in great spirits. She just needed a little extra hand-holding from a more experienced rider in a one-on-one manner and it put her in a great positive frame of mind. And, I felt good with the confidence booster of leading a couple newbies ... it was a great night.

Now tonight, if the rains hold off, it will be my first ride at MoMBA where they said I should be able to ride the easier trail by end of summer ... not quite end of summer yet, but I will be in a very small group again just in case I need the hand holding this time. lol

PJ

[Tuckervill]

Well, Tabby, that sounds like a great day! Way to go!

Karen

[mydisneydollars]

Way to go Tabby. Thanks for posting how your ride went that is inspiring and I am thrilled that my ride is just 2 weeks away

[Geonz]

I bet the girl was happier without a "crowd"... sounds like a good ride!!

I'm another "start further up and let 'em catch you" person but that's my style, period.