I'm always last! It sucks!

[mimitabby]

I'd rather be last than hurt or underneath someone else that crashed!
(look at the bright side!)

[Puffin]

Mimitabby - words out of my mouth...

[Offthegrid]

I know how you feel.

[rocknrollgirl]

There is not much I can offer in the way of advice that was not already stated. If you want to get better on your bike, you have to bike. It does suck being in the back, especially if people are waiting for you.

As I have stated many times before on this forum, my regular group of riding partners is all men, DH included. I can climb better than some, and they are all faster than I am descending. They are fast. So in my learining curve, I had to make a decision whether or not I was going to ride with them or not. I chose to stick with them. There are days I feel beat up chasing them, but overall, I am a better, faster rider for having hung with them.

So if it is important to you, that perhaps take a clinic, and stick with it. Riding with faster riders will make you faster over time, and then you will not be in the back.

Good Luck,
Ruth

[Puffin]

I made a big effort last year and rode through the winter for the first time. I did suffer from the cold but I admit, I had fun on the night rides and I found that dealing with slippy-slidy helped my technique loads. I also speeded up to be able to keep up with DH's new 9-speed set up. Then I got the REAL flu during which I lost 1 stone - all my muscle. So I started off again with an hour's coaching and a visit to Spain in February with Seasonally UnAdjusted. The stuff was way too technical for me and I ended up bruised and battered from hitting my legs on rocks and also managed to break 3 ribs with an impressive head over bars demo, landing after cheering at my own success at clearing (almost) a ditch.
So I rested up and went on a biking holiday to Exmoor in the June. It was great. Lovely weather and my fitness helped me up the hills and I even dared a rocky descent the DH balked at! Then I hit some fast easy stuff and ended up unconscious on the ground, bike still between my legs. That really shook me up because I remember lying there semi-conscious thinking "This is the end of my life".
I have been wary of anything mildly technical or fast ever since.
Is someone trying to tell me something?

[bcipam]

No you aren't always last... I am!!!

[tattiefritter]

Chuffin' hell! If all that had happened to me I'm not sure I'd continue riding! Actually I probably would, I'm stupid like that.

Definitely keep riding through the winter, stopping for a couple of months when you don't have to is not a good idea. I ride all through the winter, in fact as a riding group we tend to do lots of long rides in Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb as places like the Lakes are much quieter.

I can imagine what your holiday was like, I was out in Spain with Switchbacks in September which judging by the pictures is even more rocky than where you were, however wearing of body armour was compulsory. It saved my knees and elbows a few times and I eventually forgot I was wearing it, if you do another non-UK bike holiday it may be worth investing in some. The only place I can imagine ever wearing it in the UK would be Kirroughtree or possibly the Innerleithen XC route, however I've done both without but the armour would add a bit of bravery. I found Spain very technical but as my local riding is pretty rocky then the rocks didn't bother me (the 100ft sheer drops of the edges of switchbacks however terrified me ).

Getting confidence back can be frustrating, I often get spooked by steep sections with step downs on them because I had an over the bars incident on one where I really hurt myself. Rather than dwell on what I can't do I focus on what I can e.g. get stuck into the climbs. I think you would probably benefit from further coaching, definitely more than an hour.

[mimitabby]

I made a big effort last year and rode through the winter for the first time. I did suffer from the cold but I admit, I had fun on the night rides and I found that dealing with slippy-slidy helped my technique loads. I also speeded up to be able to keep up with DH's new 9-speed set up. Then I got the REAL flu during which I lost 1 stone - all my muscle. So I started off again with an hour's coaching and a visit to Spain in February with Seasonally UnAdjusted. The stuff was way too technical for me and I ended up bruised and battered from hitting my legs on rocks and also managed to break 3 ribs with an impressive head over bars demo, landing after cheering at my own success at clearing (almost) a ditch.
So I rested up and went on a biking holiday to Exmoor in the June. It was great. Lovely weather and my fitness helped me up the hills and I even dared a rocky descent the DH balked at! Then I hit some fast easy stuff and ended up unconscious on the ground, bike still between my legs. That really shook me up because I remember lying there semi-conscious thinking "This is the end of my life".
I have been wary of anything mildly technical or fast ever since.
Is someone trying to tell me something?

gee, eheckscher, I thought roadbiking was supposed to be more dangerous!
be careful, would ya?