hiya! I have met several people by noticing their "livestrong" bands and asking if they ride...

I ride with a local club but they are fast... especially for someone new... I was chatting one day after a ride and mentioned that the next day I would do a slow recovery ride, 25 miles flat at maybe 14mph... just an easy spin... one of the guys asked who I ride that with as his wife is too scared being new to ride with the group but really wants to ride... so she began riding my recovery day with me... since then, I've mentioned it to more people and actually had others from the group call and ask if their newbie friends could join in... so now I've created a "new rider" cycling club. I review safety stuff with anyone who joins, teach people how to draft, how to call out stuff in the road, when to take the lane, about being a respectful cyclist so we make friends of more drivers etc. Biggest rule I have is that we are a NO DROP group! If someone gets too strong for our pace then I encourage them to join another group with an intermediate level!

I guess in a nutshell... start letting every cyclist you meet know you are looking for someone to ride with! You'll be amazed at how many other riders are at the same level... and you'll all build your confidence and speed together! There is definitely something to be said for riding with others... it's very easy when alone to not push yourself the same way you would riding with someone else! Keep us posted ok?