My first group ride...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am a bit nervous...I am going on my first group ride tomorrow.

We live in a rural area- little hamlets, houses, farms and rolling hills and fields and woods everywhere...highways and back dirt roads.
Last Thursday DH and I were riding and I started getting an upset stomach. Not nausea, just pain like sharp gas pains under my lower rib area in the stomach. I *think* it was from the badly timed HUGE bowl of granola I ate just before DH asked me to go for a ride. Anyway, we kept stopping to rest and that would help temporarily but it got worse each time I started riding again (anyone get this? I'd love to know if so). Finally it got so bad I felt I had to lie down! There was a sunny field of dry grass right next to the road...nowhere else to sit...so I lay my bike down and just lay on my back on the grass in the sun, and DH sat next to me so hopefully it would look like we were just resting. Happily, my stomach began to feel MUCH better as soon as I stretched out on my back and relaxed.
After a couple of minutes, an RV stopped on the road and a guy hollered out asking if we were ok. We got up and went over to reassure him (I was feeling way better). Turns out he had moved to our county recently from NYC and was a cyclist, a small tour arranger, and a "personal cycling trainer" and he had just started a cycling club for our county. I'm not sure if there were any "official" groups already in our area or not, but we didn't know of any. I'm thinking he does this bike stuff as a side line or else he's retired early or something.
He gave us a card and it just so happened that his first arranged club ride was going to be this Sunday starting out from the town right next to ours. He said he had gotten together a little group of various riders for this. He said many of them were "C+" riders, which kind of put me off in its way of competitively rating people, but I try to not judge people too hastily.

DH and I love our little rides with just us two on back country farm roads, and occasionally with another friend or couple. We like the quietness, and the non-competitiveness of it. It's like eating food slowly and really enjoying it. So DH was not much wanting to go to this club ride tomorrow. But I asked him to go with me just once, and then after that we could both make our own decisions whether to continue or not. He agreed tentatively. So after breakfast in town, we'll ride the 4 or so miles to the next town to arrive at their starting place at 10:30. (They start late to give the temperature a chance of hitting 40 degrees first)

One of my fears is that there will be mostly two kinds of riders there that I won't enjoy riding with- ....people who don't have common sense and might do dangerous things that put me in serious traffic jeopardy....and people who are show-off speed roadies who simply want to go as fast as possible.
I also have a fear that *I* might do something stupid because I've never ridden in a group of more than 6 people before!

I'm hoping to maybe meet one or more like-minded local people that DH and I might really enjoy riding with on our own at another time.
The other good thing is that the 20 mile route is familiar to me and I know it is not beyond my ability. I guess that's a big thing! The guy hinted that there were options afterwards for those who wanted more of a challenge.

Despite my doubts, I still am looking forward to this strange and new experience! I figure at the very least I will learn a thing or two.

[Kimmyt]

Good luck!

I've found that a group ride is only as good as its' leader. So hopefully your leader is good!

Some rides I've been on have suffered from: poor leadership, no one to really step up and lay down the rules, too large of a group b/c too few group leaders so Bs and Cs are riding together which results in a splitting of the group and getting lost, people that don't know the 'rules' of road riding, can't keep an even pace, don't understand the idea of calling out road obstacles and hazards, unwillingness to ride singlefile on a road and thereby pissing off drivers.

I have, on the other hand, been involved in rides where: leaders were clear and rules were stated at the start of the ride, start times were prompt, cue sheets were handed out, speed classes were correctly seperated, people who participated in the ride were aware of the rules and courtesies of the road.

So basically, if this group ride isn't a good experience, dont' write off the idea of a group ride in general. There's good and bad ones.

But have fun! I like riding by myself and with friends, but I also do enjoy the occasional group ride. Plus it allows for riding on roads and areas I'm not as familiar with, which is always fun.

Also, as to the 'classism' thing... it's really not for any type of elitism or anything, it's more to ensure that no one is left behind in a possibly unsafe situation. I wouldn't ride with an A group because I'd be left in the dust. It's a good way of making sure people ride in the correct group, so it's more enjoyable for them and for everyone else!

HAVE FUN MOST IMPORTANTLY!

K.

[mimitabby]

C+ ? how do you know what your grade is?
I agree about a good leader. All he has to do is go over some basic rules in the beginning and most folks will do their best to follow them.

I look forward to your ride report.

[DarcyInOregon]

Lisa, I want to read your ride report too.

I don't participate in group rides, other than event rides, for the same reasons you stated. I am so happy biking out on the rural farm roads, going wherever I want, and at my own pace, stopping when I want, that I fail to see how a club ride can improve my situation and add to my contentment and satisfaction level. Actually the only club there is in my area is a group of males who ride out of the LBS in the small town outside of which I live. The LBS asked me to join their rides and I said no thanks. The LBS has already acknowledged that I have put more than triple the miles on my bike this year than anyone that participates in their group rides, so I just can't see why I would want to waste riding time going along with any of them.

I will interested in reading your review.

I think you and your husband should try the event rides like I do. They are fun.

Darcy

[teigyr]

Lisa S.H., it sounds beautiful where you are!!! I don't know if I'd give up all that tranquility for a group ride but I applaud your bravery.

I'd say what everyone else is saying. There will be wonderful people and there is a chance you'll ride with people you can't wait to get away from. I think it's a chance to meet people (always a good thing!), learn things and move outside your comfort level a bit. I ride by myself a LOT and consequently I got locked into my own way of thinking. Same goes for pace...I ride where I'm comfortable and that isn't always good. Oh and routes, I don't learn new ones and there are times people have discovered really great places to ride that I never thought of. There are times for solitude but riding can also be so social!!

I've been in group situations (even in spinning class!) where someone just grates on me. Hang with the people you like, ignore those who bother you, and you might make some great friends. If worse comes to worse, it's temporary!!!

Good luck --- and I'm jealous! I long for rural roads and rolling hills.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Good luck --- and I'm jealous! I long for rural roads and rolling hills.

Thanks all you gals, it's encouraging to read your comments.
Will report back afterwards. Going to bed now....
and teigyr- I just wish I could roll UP our rolling hills as smoothly as I roll DOWN them!

[mimitabby]

what I like about group rides is that they can take me places I've never been
and as long as it is a good group (ie good leader again) they don't lose you.

If I tried to do THESE kinds of rides, I would get lost, or end up at the bottom of a huge hill on either side clueless as to which hill i need to grind up... Those kinds of perils don't happen when someone who is leading knows the way.

[KnottedYet]

C+ ? how do you know what your grade is?

I'm an "F", for "fabulous".

[li10up]

Lisa, glad you had a safe and enjoyable ride. Another comment about the "car back" thing...let's say I'm riding up front and all of a sudden see a pothole I'm about to ride into. I will likely instinctively swerve to miss it, if it won't jeopardize other riders. If, however, someone had just called "car back" I would just hold my line and take the pothole. So that's another reason to call it out. If it's a long string of traffic then everyone should know that cars are back. If it's been awhile since a car came up then I'd be sure to call it out.

He said many of them were "C+" riders, which kind of put me off in its way of competitively rating people, but I try to not judge people too hastily.

One of my fears is that there will be mostly two kinds of riders there that I won't enjoy riding with- ....people who don't have common sense and might do dangerous things that put me in serious traffic jeopardy....and people who are show-off speed roadies who simply want to go as fast as possible.

By giving a c+ rating he was trying to avoid what you didn't want...people who go too fast. So I don't see why you should be upset with that.

Now I'm not fast, but I did take exception to your comment about people who want to show off and go as fast as possible. What's wrong with that? Why do you think they are "showing off?" I want to go as fast as possible, but I'm not "showing off." For one thing, my fast as possible isn't very fast. I'm trying to build my speed and endurance - what's wrong with that? And I would suggest that I am enjoying my ride just as much as you are enjoying yours. Sure there are times that people in the group get competitive and the speed jumps up...but I don't think they are "showing off." Seems more to me like they are playing and enjoying their ride.

Let's ride our own ride. Fast or slow doesn't matter. One isn't better than the other. Let's not assume the reasons behind other people's actions.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lit10up,
I do see your good points. You may be interpreting some of what i wrote in a different way than how I intended it:

Lisa, glad you had a safe and enjoyable ride. Another comment about the "car back" thing...let's say I'm riding up front and all of a sudden see a pothole I'm about to ride into. I will likely instinctively swerve to miss it, if it won't jeopardize other riders. If, however, someone had just called "car back" I would just hold my line and take the pothole. So that's another reason to call it out. If it's a long string of traffic then everyone should know that cars are back. If it's been awhile since a car came up then I'd be sure to call it out.

Yes, DH and I certainly do call out "car!" on roads where cars are often irregular. I mentioned that this group was on a pretty busy highway and were calling out car back every 30 seconds- I thought that was a bit excessive for the situation. But yes I see your point.

I do see how it is different when riding in a group line. Up to now, I have been used to riding alone or with DH and/or a couple friends- I have a helmet mirror that I sweep my eyes past automatically every 15 seconds or so while riding, without even thinking, the same way I automatically glance at my rear view mirror while driving. Usually on my bike I always know if there are any cars approaching at any given time. But like you say riding in a long line does partially block your vision and I can see how it necessitates more communication. I also understand that they need to be more wary of road irregularities.

As I said, I had hoped to learn new things about group riding and I hoped to not make any mistakes due to my ignorance of group riding. I was glad to learn what the routine is. I was glad to learn new things and new riding etiquette! This was a casual ride with good natured patient people and that made it a good learning ride for me to ride as a group for the first time. I was lucky!

By giving a c+ rating he was trying to avoid what you didn't want...people who go too fast. So I don't see why you should be upset with that.

Again, I had never encountered this way of rating people or cyclists (only movies, etc), and to me it was odd and different. I purposely reserved judgement about it despite it being vaguely disturbing to me on a gut level, until I learned more about it. Now I realize there is a good reason for it.

Now I'm not fast, but I did take exception to your comment about people who want to show off and go as fast as possible. What's wrong with that? Why do you think they are "showing off?" I want to go as fast as possible, but I'm not "showing off." For one thing, my fast as possible isn't very fast. I'm trying to build my speed and endurance - what's wrong with that? And I would suggest that I am enjoying my ride just as much as you are enjoying yours. Sure there are times that people in the group get competitive and the speed jumps up...but I don't think they are "showing off." Seems more to me like they are playing and enjoying their ride.

What I said was:
"One of my fears is that there will be mostly two kinds of riders there that I won't enjoy riding with- ....people who don't have common sense and might do dangerous things that put me in serious traffic jeopardy....and people who are show-off speed roadies who simply want to go as fast as possible."

What makes you think that "showing off" necessarily means something bad?
If I lose weight and am proudly "showing off" my new body in smaller clothes I don't think that a bad thing. If I "show off" a pair of socks I knit carefully. If a little kid on a mtn bike rides wheelies around me and then zooms past me while I'm sweating up a hill I see it as "showing off" but it's mostly funny too.
I was describing my FEARS that I would be in a situation where I didn't fit in with the skill level or couldn't keep up at all. If those other guys had simply wanted to show off their abilities they could have easily left me in the dust (and they did, on the hills!) and I would never have seen them again. But they chose to wait for me to catch up several times, they chose to keep their average speed donw for that ride to help encoourage me, and for that I was very grateful. I also asked the leader at the end whether he felt I was holding everyone back too much- I don't WANT to keep others from riding at their fastest level. I was riding as hard as I could, and I wouldn't want to prevent others from doing the same.
I have NO doubts that people who ride fast and hard are totally enjoying themselves and their ride- not sure why you think I think otherwise? I was revealing my own fears for my own as yet unknown experience.

Let's ride our own ride. Fast or slow doesn't matter. One isn't better than the other. Let's not assume the reasons behind other people's actions.

Absolutely right, fast is not better than slow, and vice versa. But if skill and speed levels are too extremly diverse in a particular group of people, then perhaps it's better indeed to "ride our own ride" and not try to ride in a group.

I was VERY pleased with having had such a considerate small group of people show me the ropes of group riding, so I won't be as clueless or afraid next time!

[li10up]

You are absolutely right...I assumed you meant "showing off" in a negative connotation. Reading it in context that's how it appeared to me but, as we all know, things online don't always come out as intended or aren't interpreted by others as intended.

I lead a beginners group ride and so I do know where you are coming from. Just last year I felt the same way. I was afraid I was holding everyone back, etc. It's nice to find those who kind of take you under their wing and look out for you and make you feel that all is well and welcomed in the group. That's what I try to do when I'm leading a ride. I'm always hoping that I can influence one more person to take up cycling.

I guess the reason I thought you were saying that those going fast weren't enjoying their ride was because you talked about how at your pace with DH how much you enjoyed the ride. I inferred, incorrectly, that you were insinuating that those who rode fast didn't have time to enjoy their rides.

So, I thank you for considering my views and I apologize for my misconceptions. Now let's raise a frosty one and then go for a ride!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So, I thank you for considering my views and I apologize for my misconceptions. Now let's raise a frosty one and then go for a ride!!!!

I can see how my words could easily have been read with several different shadings.
Thank you for being so gracious!
I would LOVE to go for a ride!

I keep having women in town come up to me when I'm on my bike and say stuff to me like "Oh I wish I could get my old bike out of the garage and get riding again, but I'd never be good at it or fast enough." I always tell them to just haul it out, take it to the local sport store for a tune-up, and then call me. I tell them I'd be thrilled to ride around the school parking lots for a while with them until they feel safe and then we could go on some short really easy rides. They then always object that they'd be "too slow" for me, and I have to reiterate again how I would absolutely LOVE to ride some beginner rides with them, that I am not so fast as they might think, and how I was in exactly the same place last summer as they are now, and what are they waiting for? So far no takers, but I WON'T give up. Someday I hope to be able to spread around some of the joy that biking has given to me.

[Aint Doody]

Lisa, in response to your last post about the ladies--why not join the bike club and volunteer to lead some "D" rides? In our club we call these "social rides." They are short and slow. If it's really slow, the leaders will ride out ahead and then circle back. Also, it's a great confidence builder to the beginners to learn about "car back" and pointing out potholes, etc. It also is a wonderful opportunity to instill in them the importance of wearing a helmet and using hand signals. They will soon find that they can ride with the "big girls and boys."

[GLC1968]

I keep having women in town come up to me when I'm on my bike and say stuff to me like "Oh I wish I could get my old bike out of the garage and get riding again, but I'd never be good at it or fast enough." I always tell them to just haul it out, take it to the local sport store for a tune-up, and then call me. I tell them I'd be thrilled to ride around the school parking lots for a while with them until they feel safe and then we could go on some short really easy rides. They then always object that they'd be "too slow" for me, and I have to reiterate again how I would absolutely LOVE to ride some beginner rides with them, that I am not so fast as they might think, and how I was in exactly the same place last summer as they are now, and what are they waiting for? So far no takers, but I WON'T give up. Someday I hope to be able to spread around some of the joy that biking has given to me.

Lisa - I'm so glad that you enjoyed your first group ride! I ride alone or just with DH a lot, so I actually still get nervous about every group ride where I don't know who's going to show up! Even now...3 summers after I started!

Anyway, I also wanted to comment on what you said above. I get a similar reaction from women at work. I'd love to get more women involved with athletics (biking in particular). I joined up with our company's MS150 team as the only woman 2 years ago in the hopes that it would inspire other women to come out. It seems to have had the opposite affect! They all think I'm some kind of super athlete (grouping me in the same circles as the marathoners at our office) and I keep trying to convince them that I'm nothing special and that anyone can ride. If you find a good way of encouraging those women, please share! I'd love to know what else I can do. Self-deprecation doesn't seem to work!

[HappyAnika]

I want to go as fast as possible, but I'm not "showing off." For one thing, my fast as possible isn't very fast. I'm trying to build my speed and endurance . .

I agree with this, I like to ride fast, especially down hills. Although I just wanted to say thanks Lisa, for describing your ride, and your rides in general. They sound peaceful, relaxing and lovely, and I could really go for a ride like that right now. Yesterday's ride was a sufferfest and I'm going to need some motivation to get back out there. I'll keep you in mind on my next ride and just try to enjoy being out there in the beautiful place I live. Unfortunately I forget to do that sometimes.
(But I'm waiting for a wind-less day to go back out!!)