Thanks girls for all the advice and comments.
I am not mad or even really hurt, I was just confused as to whether they really want to start a club for everyone or just for thier own elite.
If thats what they want, that is their own priveledge and I have no problem with it really, as long as they make it clear and be up front about it.
They advertise at the LBS and that is where I got the number.
Please believe me when I say, they were great to ride with when I did ride with them. I ride by myself all the time so I don't mind being left behind as long as I have a map of the route and someone knows that I am riding so they know I'm out there.
Trust me I made all of that very clear and yes he was honest and I definitely appreciate that. I would rather someone be up front with me.
I just got a little sensetive I guess about, if they really want to start a club for everyone then they have to include everyone with different rides and such. I really think that they want this but right now, they just don't have anyone but me that is slow and a beginner "so to speak".
Like I said, I don't want to be the one slowing eveyrone down. I did email him yesterday and told him that maybe if they get more beginners I could be their leader to help them with the route and those guys can still get a good workout.
Donna
So you could maybe advertise at the same LBS. Just put up a flyer (on colored paper, to get people's attention) saying you're getting up a little beginners' section for the new club's rides. You might even want to mention your (starting) average speed, no one will be left behind, varied routes, etc.
Also, if there are any recreational trails in the area, you could ride there occasionally to "recruit" beginning riders. That's how I started riding with my club. Lots of cyclists here start out on a local paved trail to warm up before jumping off onto the road. One day, another woman and I seemed to be riding at the same pace and she told me all about this club she rides with and the not-so-fast group, and invited me to come out and join them. Been loving it ever since, and I even found a riding buddy to ride with on other days--she lives so close to me that I can see her house from mine, but didn't even know her before riding with the club.
Sure, some of them are speedsters, but then there's always a little knot of us at the back. Some got involved like I did and some came around because they saw a flyer posted at the LBS--try it!
Bad JuJu: Team TE Bianchista
"The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress." -Roth
Read my blog: Works in Progress
If she is going to do it as a representative of the organization, it's best to check it out with the board or whomever oversees things before flyers start going up. I know in our club, anyone with initiative to something/anything that falls under the umbrella of our mission statement is welcome to get something going, following the parameters of how we do things. We are pretty loose actually ( i know it doesn't sound like it) but communication within the organization is vital for success.