Hang in there. Some of the guys will accept you and treat you accordingly; others will never accept you and think you have no business riding with the guys! Don't ask me why, but that is the way it is. Remember to use the ride for what you need. Take care of yourself and remember just because some of them are really fast, not all of them are really good bike handlers so be aware of your position in the pack and keep yourself safe.



This is the first year that I haven't ridden with the local fast ride on Saturday and, Boy, I did not miss it either. I have just had my fill of the boys who are still boys and will remain that way until they are 90. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of the guys that go on these rides, but those few hardheads are still hard to take!

But, like I said, use the ride for what you need and just realize not all of them are going to accept you. When you are feeling real good one day try this. This never fails to give me a laugh. Tactics on a rid e are usually as follows: If someone you know who is really not all that fast blasts off the front of the pack and is just going to blow up and get pulled back into the pack, most packs will just let them go and not worry cause they know the pack will just pick them back up. However, try it as a girl - Yeah, blast off the front real hard and then go into time trial mode. Those boys just can't resist even if they know you can't pull away from them in the long run. The whole pack will follow you in a sprint off the front! Maybe you had to be there. Oh well, I get a kick out of it!