Quote Originally Posted by Tuckervill View Post
I think I'm just going to expect to be dropped by the larger group, and ride my ride with Max, and hope some other newbies show up. I wish Max would be more assertive at the beginning about protecting the newbies from that "being left in the dust" feeling. Maybe I'll say something after I get to know him better.

Thanks, y'all!

Karen

I understand how discouraging it can feel to be dropped, and I think it would be very nice of Max to give the occassional pep talk, but even non-newbs get left in the dust sometimes because there's always someone faster. I'm not telling you that to further discourage you, but to suggest that the more you resist the urge to compare yourself to other riders, the better off you'll be. I offer the same advice here that I gave on a previous thread about "getting faster." At the end of the day, it's ultimately up to each of us to listen to our inner cheerleader instead of our inner critic. You're out there; you're riding, good for you! Plus, there are lot of skills, beyond speed, that make a cyclist a good cyclist. I would suggest focusing on them--bike handling, safety, technique, and form to name a few--when you start to feel discouraged about not being able to keep up.
K-