Should I take a hint?

[Cassandra_Cain]

Hi Blue...

Yours is not an entirely unfamiliar, or for that matter uncommon, dilemna.

I think if you want to race then riding with a group, at least sometimes, is really necessary. You can be incredibly fit, but you still need good bike handling skills that can only be honed in a group. Not only that but a big issue IMO, is riding in these groups prepares you for the accelerations you'll deal with in the peloton while racing. That's very difficult to train solo, doing the spontaneous anerobic work you get from having to try to keep up with the group.

The personality thing with guys and what not, I totally understand and I don't care for it. There's nothing that says you have to ride with guys, if there is a group of strong women riding in your area. Whatever works for you though!

Best of luck

[bluerider]

Hi Blue...

Yours is not an entirely unfamiliar, or for that matter uncommon, dilemna.

I think if you want to race then riding with a group, at least sometimes, is really necessary. You can be incredibly fit, but you still need good bike handling skills that can only be honed in a group. Not only that but a big issue IMO, is riding in these groups prepares you for the accelerations you'll deal with in the peloton while racing. That's very difficult to train solo, doing the spontaneous anerobic work you get from having to try to keep up with the group.

The personality thing with guys and what not, I totally understand and I don't care for it. There's nothing that says you have to ride with guys, if there is a group of strong women riding in your area. Whatever works for you though!

Best of luck

Thanks Cassandra. I agree whole-heartedly that in order to get faster, I need to ride with faster people. The problem is there are absolutely no women in the area who ride as fast as this crew. They ride more for leisure and it's great to do recovery rides with them. I think I need to suck it up or find another group.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Thanks Cassandra. I agree whole-heartedly that in order to get faster, I need to ride with faster people. The problem is there are absolutely no women in the area who ride as fast as this crew. They ride more for leisure and it's great to do recovery rides with them. I think I need to suck it up or find another group.

Blue - I'm glad you got some ideas from all the comments and insight that was posted on the thread.

You know, it sounds far-fetched perhaps, but there's no reason you can't put out some flyers inquiring about fast women wanting to ride/train together. Stranger things have happened!

And if none of that works out, well if ever in NM, drop me a line, we'll go riding and drop a bunch of those guys!

[bluerider]

Blue - I'm glad you got some ideas from all the comments and insight that was posted on the thread.

You know, it sounds far-fetched perhaps, but there's no reason you can't put out some flyers inquiring about fast women wanting to ride/train together. Stranger things have happened!

And if none of that works out, well if ever in NM, drop me a line, we'll go riding and drop a bunch of those guys!

Thanks Cassandra. I have been thinking about organizing a women's only ride. Not to get more fast women out necessarily but just to get more women to enjoy the sport.

[Mimosa]

Hi blue

It's a guy thing, just let it glide of your shoulders and ignore them.

I can see why you want to train with them once a week, it's good to train for speed and acceleration. But like stated by one of the girls, don't over do it, once a week is enough.

I am planning on training at the local club on their closed circuit. Once a week they have their clubrace, the group consists maybe out of 40 guys and 2 women (at the most). I don't expect any 'easy stuff' from their side and I don't want it either. I am there to exercise and I want them to make it hard on me, that way I can get better.

The 'guy thing' is already noticable when a faster groups of males pass during a training. I allways grab the last wheel, get into the speed of the group and join in. Often guys respond with that look which sort of says 'what are you doing?'.

[Geonz]

I agree with pedalwench - if there's folks who will bridge you, then they're welcoming you. Could be that the negative vibes are part of the competitive intensity that is going to radiate in that atmosphere, not a personal thing... or could be some folks don't mind, and other folks do.
ONce a week they should be willing to "endure" a wheelsucker, especially if you're getting better.