Am I ready for a group ride?

[jackster]

You should try the group ride. I started riding about a month ago when DH's race team started a women's group ride. There are some experienced riders in the group but they help me out by giving me tips to improve my riding. DH has ridden the 3 sisters in the Tulsa area when we lived there. He said try it if you have a three ring on your bike. He rode it many times when he was beginning to ride.

[JLMitchell]

You've probably already decided, but I hope you did go and I hope you unclipped however you felt like unclipping.

[bmccasland]

So it's thursday morning....

didyaride, didyaride???? How'd it go?

Sorry I missed this thread yesterday, but having been a sheepish rider myself, I found a different set of friends on group rides than the office group that normally outrides me (I hang with them as long as I can on our after work rides). I do better with my weekend group ride friends, pretty much our small gang sticks together, and if someone is feeling frisky - they say so, sprint ahead to get it out of their system, then ride back for us.

So I'm voting for going on the group ride, and you and your DH meet in the parking lot at the end. Riding within your skill/comfort level, or maybe pushing yourself a bit harder, will keep the peace between you.

[7rider]

So I'm voting for going on the group ride, and you and your DH meet in the parking lot at the end. Riding within your skill/comfort level, or maybe pushing yourself a bit harder, will keep the peace between you.

My DH and I do this all the time. He takes the long route "with the boys" and I take the shorter route (with the ladies and the old men! ). We meet at the end.

I hope you did the ride...or plan to do it next week. You got some good advice from the women here. I won't state it again, but I think group rides are a great way to boost your riding confidence, get stronger, and meet a whole bunch of new folks....while having a darn good time in the process.

[Tuckervill]

3. I ride clipless but my DH says that it is a problem that I unclip with both feet and not just one at each intersection. (fell a few times so now I always completely unclip).

What the heck? Is what he is really saying that he's afraid you won't get going in time to get across the intersection, and be left behind or stuck at the light? In that case, move to the front of the pack at the lights, be johnny-on-the-spot while the light is changing, and hurry it up getting mounted and across. Make sure you're in a good gear for taking off before you get to the light, too.

4. I haven't figured out how to stand and pedal going up hills. DH says that might be a problem when tackling the 3 sisters.

You can always walk 'em. Then you'll be standing. No, but seriously, if they can't wait for you to attempt the hill either spinning up slowly or walking, then it's not a no-drop ride for folks, and you probably shouldn't be doing that one. Find a no-drop ride.

Being able to stand up on the pedals was a matter of upper body strength for me. I couldn't do it last season (felt scared like I was going to pitch over the bars), but 6 months of boot camp changed all that. Now I stand without even thinking about it.

5. My rides usually consist of 20-30 miles at 13.5-14.5 MPH avg.

Sounds like me on a group ride. You're faster by yourself than I am when I ride alone. Groups make me go faster.

Karen

[Pedal Wench]

If your hubby knows the route, maybe you should preride it before the group ride -- that way you'll be familiar with the turns and know ahead of time if the 3 sisters will be a problem, and work on attacking them. Know what gear you need to be in, know if you need to shift someplace on the way up -- I find it much easier to climb something the second time around.

[Geonz]

Okay, I'm going to just toss in that it depends on the group. SOunds like DH's group isn't the right one.

If you're afraid you'll feel alone, connect with somebody or accept that you'll feel alone (it probably isn't fatal for one bike ride). I'd say "if it isn't for you, then don't go back" except that even the same weekly group ride can be very different on different nights, so I would psych myself to try it, say, three times before making a decision.