Local biking clubs?

[Jenn]

I found our local biking club and my husband and I are thinking about joining. They have a ride coming up on May 27th, and they are calling it a "slug" ride, meaning nobody will get left behind...haha...meaning us I hope.
Anyway, we haven't been cycling that long just since September and I'm a little leary about joining a club and showing up for a ride and feeling stupid since we will obviously not know anybody and I hate that "what are you doing here look "people have a tendency to give..
What do you all think? How was your first experience showing up for a group ride??? I would appreciate any input!
Thanks
Jenn

[SadieKate]

When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Take the initiative and introduce yourself. Sounds like the perfect kind of ride to do so.

[Fredwina]

I found our local biking club and my husband and I are thinking about joining. They have a ride coming up on May 27th, and they are calling it a "slug" ride, meaning nobody will get left behind...haha...meaning us I hope.
Anyway, we haven't been cycling that long just since September and I'm a little leary about joining a club and showing up for a ride and feeling stupid since we will obviously not know anybody and I hate that "what are you doing here look "people have a tendency to give..
What do you all think? How was your first experience showing up for a group ride??? I would appreciate any input!
Thanks
Jenn

Well, I've had quite the opposite experience, and my career does involve a lot of moving about. yet to find an unfriendly bunch.
If they are calling it a "slug" ride, they are probably looking for people like.... you! Granted there will be some sorting out, primarly to determine if you are a "slug" or a "super-slug", but I wouldn't expect any racer types to show up.
May 27 is pretty far away. Do they have any other rides that you think that you can do? It may be worth going on one.

[Bikingmomof3]

I think it sounds like a lot of of fun. Go. Enjoy yourself. You may be surprised at just how much fun you will have.

[FreshNewbie]

Good club will never make you feel unwelcomed, although there still might be few people who act like that but that's not a big deal. Generally, people in clubs are nice people and you should just come up and introduce yourself. I first started riding with a club last year and people were very nice. If it turns out that all of the riders are jerks then it's just not a club for you and you move on. You have nothing to lose but might gain a lot of riding buddies. Good luck

[Pedal Wench]

Almost every one of us would be riding alone if we never took the step to show up alone for a group ride. Go for it. If they've posted it someplace, they obviously want people to show up.

Edit: You could also ask someone in the club about the ride. Someone did that for one of my club's group rides. I answered her questions, but more importantly, I told some club members that she was planning on coming to the ride, so make her feel welcome and make sure to introduce her around and look out for her.

[Jenn]

Thank you all for the supportive words. I emailed the organizer and she was really nice, she said they are really hurting to get people to come and ride.
It's only 35 miles and DH and I do that on Saturday's and Sunday's and here on the base it includes alot of hill work, so we are confindent we won't be the slowest slugs.....
It's just hard getting over that intimidation factor when you are starting something new. But like some of you said, we won't know until we try. Being military we are use to having to meet new people so this shouldn't be any different.
Thanks again!!!

[Geonz]

The important thing was contacting the leader.

This whole "slower riders not being dropped" is a *huge* issue in many clubs. It's more complicated than "good club" or "bad club" - for starters, clubs are made of a lot of individuals and exactly which individuals you *happen* to interact with gives you an impression of thw whole club... my advice to new people is simply NOT to do that - to give any club three chances before you decide it's the personality of the club, and even then... (I'm wondering if I've already done this post here...)

In m expereicne, clubs that are "really hurting" often are relatively clueless. They think they aren't dropping people... then they keep doing it anyway... then they wonder why they're "hurting." (They call slow riders slugs... that might be a hint, though it *might* just be a sense of humor.)

When I joined the Richmond Area Bicycling Association, I had no idea how unusual it was. I was going to get around to trying it... then had a motivating incident and said "This is The Week!" ... without thinking about the fact that this was FEBRUARY.
HOwever, there is a core of really friendly, low-key guys & gals in that club and no, I didn't get dropped and I didn't even know they were going slower for me! They never let me be last in the group (there were 6 of us - there were lots of faster groups) and never spread out.
I got somewhat stronger in the three years I was there, and then moved out here. Went out on the *first* ride of the season to the level 2 "longer distance but we don't drop anybody" Saturday ride. Should have been a perfect fit. They didn't drop me, but I was very aware that they would have been going a lot faster had I not been there. I can say with some certainty that they were hoping I figured that out.
The club has a Tuesday ride that's "level 1" - I stuck to that. Heard people talk about all the rides that were too fast. Finally said, "if we all *go* to the Saturday ride, then there will be a group our speed!" So, though I had no ride leading skills, I promised to show up and go slowly.
It took a fair amount of time, but the slow people came out of the woodwork. Now people think the club has a totally different personality.
It doesn't - it just has more personalities to it. Problem was that one person would go on a faster ride, get dropped, and not come back. Next week, a different person would go, and not come back. They'd gripe among themselves in those too-rare occasions they'd get together... but once we figured out there were 8 of us, we knew that if we went to aride there would be at least 2 or 3 others... and of course there are those weird telephone htings and email
HOWEVER.
May 27th is a risky time for a "slug" ride. It's just far enough into the season so that the "slow" people have gotten stronger than they think they are. Our slower group been dropped on rides where the leader swore swore SWORE it wouldn't happen. Three times, just like in the Bible, when I BEGGED to know the route and turnaround spot. The folks who ride at 14 mph LOVED that ride because teh other guys did slow down from their usual 18... so they didn't even notice us... I had *told* the leader "we will only be going 11-12 mph." THe rest of my group got discouraged and went home. I lit my butt on fire and caught up to 'em... I know they didn't get it though, because I went to the fall meeting where that ride leader glibly stated that yes, rides were nice and they didn't drop people. I was successful in reciting my own examples without actually saying "Do you lie to your mother like that?" and over the years people have come up and thanked me.
Odds are you'll be strong enough not to be a true "slug" - if you're feeling kindhearted, keep an eye out for the real ones. Lots of people honestly think "slug" means 14 mph. Even if it means 12... if what you can do is 11.5 you're going to be dropped.
end of ramblin' rant... go on the ride - introduce yourself to the leader again - and you've got a lot of time to get stronger

[Jenn]

Well, I guess we won't be able to gauge how slow we are until we ride with a group.
We wen't out riding with another couple last weekend, and they kept telling us to slow down and they've been riding awhile. I think that the fact that I spin everyday has helped me alot with my endurance, but hills are still my weak point. We shall see, it should be interesting!

[smilingcat]

Hi,

I have to agree about the clubs mentality when they call it a slug ride.

I know first hand from Team in Training (leukemia groups), they just called it a beginners ride or something to that effect. Their first ride was only about 5 really easy miles. We watched each new rider on their comfort level in terms of riding with others close by, gear shifting, breaking cornering, getting off/on the bike... A sense of familarity with the bike and riding the bike. Few were so new that members of the club were willing to work one on one with them. I was just tagging along my friend who was a regular at the time.

Call the local club and see how far they plan to go and ask if they are checking you out on your bike and your handling ability. I think the answer will give you a good idea.

The "not dropping people" many clubs will say this but reality is pretty different. If on the first ride they drop people then chances are really really good that they do this on a regular basis.

shawn

[Jenn]

You know, I had to laugh last night after I thought about it. What better way to motivate someone then to refer to them as a "slug"...haha

[ace]

Hi Jenn,

Just another word(s) of encouragement...

I was a brand new rider last season, have a hybrid, not a road bike, am very overweight, hadn't been riding on the road except very occasionally, and it took me a long time to work up my courage to go ride with my local club. But...it was one of the best things I've done for myself in a very long time. They have a "lite" group, no drop, always has two leaders, and they watched us as we rode and gave us little lectures about how to ride safely, how to take hills, how to take care of our bikes. It was really, really fun to have the companionship of a like group of people to ride with, to get to go on routes I wouldn't have known about, and my skills improved greatly by the end of the season. The proof of that was when I was doing the Cindy training rides this year, one of my group leaders was very surprised I'd only been riding for 6 months, because my group riding skills/technique were pretty developed (even though I'm still sluggish ). And everyone was very, very nice! I liked doing something so healthy and fun with a diverse group of people from my community (and you don't get much more diverse than Oakland).

So go have a great time. I am really looking forward to the start of our season on 4/14- we have a picnic and all levels ride the same route together (an easy 20 mile loop). Oakland Yellowjackets rock!

[roguedog]

Ace.. cool review of the Oakland Yellowjackets.

I know when I was researching clubs.. I was hoping to find one like the Yellowjackets. This I just found from their website.. their sense of humor and openness just comes thru.

I'm pretty happy with ACTC though. I like how they mark the rides so you pretty much know what you're getting into. I like how they have all kinds of rides throughout out the week and not just the once a month "slow" ride. I like the peeps.

I was also a bit trepidatious going on my first ride with actc but it was so much fun and there was a enough camaraderie to make it very comfy and social. Makes the miles just go by.

I've even brought.. dragged... a friend of mine out on a couple of their rides. I remember howt amazed she was that enjoying herself so much. She rides but only cuz the fiance rides. Now I think she's enjoying herself more. I've recommended the Yellowjackets to her but she lives in the San Ramon area so it might be a bit of a trek.

Anyway, .. sorry for the long windedness but, Jenn, even if this club doesn't work out there are clubs out there that can fit whatever you're looking for. You just have to keep looking. Don't get discouraged just cuz of one club or as Geonz says, one group of people within that club.

[bcipam]

Does the bike club have a website? If so, I would send a message to their membership or info director and ask what skill level you should have to start the ride. My club (bike Club of Irvine) has a "newbie" ride the first Sat. of each month. The rde is for very new beginning cyclist and there is generally a 1 hour orientation regarding road safety etc. We also have "pink" rides each Saturday but it is assumed that riders who join these rides are fairly experienced and familiar with road rules. Generally a no-drop rides is for new riders.

I have had all sort sof newbies show up. One exmple, a woman who could only ride straight. To turn a corner she had to stop and physically turnt he bike. She also did not like to ride across intersections and would walk. I suggested she practice alittle more on bike paths etc and then come back out and ride with the Club.

Club riding is great but the first experience can be nerve wracking. Another suggestion - youa nd your husband ride over to the ride stage and just watch everyone take off. Will give you an idea of the type of riders etc.

Edited to add: I note you already contacted the leader so good job. I note the ride is 35 miles so in my nbook not a newbie ride. Our rides are between 14 - 17 miles, with a coffee stop in the middle so truly a newbie ride.