getting dropped

[kelownagirl]

Maybe I should post this in VB's good vibes thread, but I'm so glad Thom and I don't have this issue. He's always climbed faster than me and I've always had more endurance. I've asked him to help me get faster on climbs and he's started pacing me. It's hard, my heart rate is wicked high and sometimes I feel like I'm going to puke. But hopefully it will make a difference with my climbing.

He's riding a little slower than he would normally and I'm definitely riding faster. But the encouragement he shouts at me helps. Well kinda, sometimes I just want to punch him!

In the "macho" guys defense, if they are out there for a training ride, not on a no drop ride, they should be riding their own ride and not caring a hooey about you.

V.

Ditto on riding with DH making me stronger. That is definitely the case for me. And to be honest, most of the time, he's pretty good about sticking with me. It's the climbs where I get lost behind. For the most part I don't really mind but once in awhile it just irks me. I like to be able to lead once in awhile, especially on the flats when I CAN go fast. I'll mention it and I'll lead for awhile and then he'll pass me when we stop for a light and it just peeves me. Then one day I suggested he go out and do some hill repeats before our ride so he'd be a bit tired and not feel like he needed to hammer, and he still ended up riding ahead of me.

Our latest solution, which works quite well for me, is that he goes really hard ahead of me for about 3-4 minutes, then turns around and rides hard back to meet me. He goes further, and harder and I am seldom on my own for more than 4-5 minutes. I feel safe (I am still a bit freaked about being along if I'm stung by a wasp), and I feel like I can ride my own ride as well. We can't do this everywhere we ride because some roads are too busy but it works in many places.

[mimitabby]

Seems to me that all of you are really fast riders. (is that a 26-30mph AVERAGE?? Is it all down hill where you live? )
But in any case, they are apparently somewhat faster than you. What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you? If not, then maybe it's just too frustrating for you to try to keep up with them all. Maybe you'll need to find a few riders of similar speed and style to yourself that you can ride with. Ask yourself- what is your goal?

maybe they're talking about kilometers? then it makes sense

If there's an agreement to not drop folks, they need to stand by their agreement. If they always drop you, you do need to find someone else to ride with. I realize that in most areas, you don't have that much choice. There are some guys I ride with who wait for the slower riders... but then what are the goals? are you training for racing, or is this their idea of a pleasurable ride?

[kelownagirl]

maybe they're talking about kilometers? then it makes sense

If there's an agreement to not drop folks, they need to stand by their agreement. If they always drop you, you do need to find someone else to ride with. I realize that in most areas, you don't have that much choice. There are some guys I ride with who wait for the slower riders... but then what are the goals? are you training for racing, or is this their idea of a pleasurable ride?

Yeah I was thinking that. 26-30 kph is my avg pace.

[sundial]

What would you like to happen?...that they all slow down for you?

Uh, well, actually I'd like to ride with you gals. It's just kinda lonely being the only girl in the group and I can't really enjoy the ride because of them being....well....men.

I sprinted on the flats at 26 mph. I can average 17.2 mph now for several miles and it's because I have the determination to get stronger and faster.

Cycling just isn't popular here because we don't have good places to ride (aka no shoulders, no bike paths, no parks, etc). Thus we don't have many gals out here cycling.

[mimitabby]

well, i don't know where you live, but the next step is to network and try to find other women who like to ride. go to your bike shop, put notices on TE, craigslist, etc...

There's got to be SOME women besides yourself!

[sundial]

I'll check with my LBS to see if they have any chick rides. It'll be a drive, but if I want a Girls Only Ride, guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go.

[tulip]

I'll check with my LBS to see if they have any chick rides. It'll be a drive, but if I want a Girls Only Ride, guess I'll have to bite the bullet and go.

Or start one!

[Mr. Bloom]

This area is a bone of contention between DH and I as well...

Here too!

Some day, I hope to keep up with Silver

[SlowButSteady]

I am ALWAYS dropped.

Always.

And usually riding in mixed XY and XX groups. Even the short, slow-looking XX's drop me.

I checked my speed the other day sprinting on a flat: 25 miles per hour. I can sustain 20+ for awhile.

Of course I average, uh, 10mph less than that (if not less).

Good thing I'm happy riding alone.

Someone always waits on me or calls to check on me...I'm never really more than a mile or two behind them.

It is quite discouraging to never SEE the people you think you're riding with.

[Mr. Bloom]

I checked my speed the other day sprinting on a flat: 25 miles per hour. I can sustain 20+ for awhile.

Of course I average, uh, 10mph less than that (if not less).

Depending on conditions, that's really pretty good!

Sounds like you're choosing groups that stretch your limits...and that might be a good thing.

[AutumnBreez]

Well, we do have rides like that in my cycling club. If I know I'll get dropped, I don't go on those rides. Or, if I know I'll get dropped... I make sure I know the route back home so I'm fine on my own.

It sounds like you me that you are FAST! If I were with a group going 26 mph... well, I wouldn't have even been up there with them!

Keep at it, and maybe you will keep up with them and not get dropped at some point. Or... maybe you can find a buddy who is your speed and who will do the ride with you?

I say she is FAST too. 26 is not slow mo- Think that they are going faster to build their ego's. If this WOMAN can keep up we need to push to go even faster/harder--mentallity. Don't think they don't do this.

[sundial]

My goal is to zoom to 30 mph and keep up with the big dogs.

Slowbutsteady, I don't know why you'd get dropped--you're pretty zippy.

[Crankin]

This is why I choose the groups I ride with very carefully. I am riding for fitness, but also for FUN. I always seem to be between groups in terms of ability. When I ride by myself or with my husband, my average is between 15.5 and 16.5 if it's not too hilly. However, there are always hills where I ride. I can't get home without riding up 2 pretty big climbs. I can sustain 18-22 for awhile, if it's really flat, but like I said, no place here is really flat.
Riding with my husband forced me to improve for the first few years. Now he is happy to ride at my speed and gets his faster rides when he commutes to work. I am too fast for the "slow" groups and when I have gone on rides that advertise a 15-16 average, it always feels fast to me, even though it doesn't feel fast when I am alone. However, I find that I can out climb a lot of the riders on these rides; I am a downhill weenie and that brings my average down.
I don't do well when I am constantly trying to keep up with others; it doesn't make me stronger, it just makes me angry and feel like I am weak! I can compete with one person, but a whole group, no.
Of course, I have to make myself remember that most "regular" people think that what I do is crazy and that I am fitter at 54 than I was 10 years ago.

[Natasha]

My husband and I have addressed the speed disparity difference (he is much faster) by riding a tandem. We like it so much that we rarely get out on our singles anymore. We can each push as hard as we want to and always have someone to ride with and talk to.

[KSH]

I say she is FAST too. 26 is not slow mo- Think that they are going faster to build their ego's. If this WOMAN can keep up we need to push to go even faster/harder--mentallity. Don't think they don't do this.

OH completely. Men always get very competitive when a woman can keep up with them.

I always say, "If you want to see a man ride faster... let a woman pass him."

It happens all the time on the bike trail I ride. I pass a guy who is only going around 15 mph... and I'm doing 18 mph... to only have him zoom by me a little bit later. Uuummm.. yea... you weren't going that fast before mister.