Club issues

[Jaz]

. I'd be a liar if I said it didn't make me smile once I realized he just has a really bad case of road rash. I know, bad karma is now set up for me. May the bike gods be somewhat kind to me in dishing it out.

We are both needing the bike gods b/c that's how I felt about the guy with the flat, and he didn't even drop me. Sometimes I wish I could control the inner B***h that I've got.

[SadieKate]

I have to agree with Irulan. Lead a slower ride some days and go hammer with the A group other days knowing you may be dropped. Good training means you mix up the pace anyway. I've gone out with my two co-workers a couple of times, took my town bike, rode slow and talked about bike handling, etc. It has really been rewarding for me. I get slow recovery days but more importantly its making me think about what I went through in the early days. I'm finding new inspiration from their joy of discovery. I also do little things on the bike path with them that I don't take time to do when I'm on harder rides - practice riding without hands (can do on my mtbike but just getting up the guts to do it on the road), countersteering even the smallest of corners, turning waaay around to look behind me, slow races, etc. Little things that get passed up when you're always out hammering.

I have to think that if the word goes out that you are leading these B rides that your credibility within your local bike community will go up and you may attract riders in that mid-range speed that you're looking for. Maybe even end up with decent size A, B and C groups.

[bikerHen]

Hey Irulan, Can I come ride with your beginning groups? I can't seem to find any slow-mo road groups to ride with. BikerHen

[Irulan]

Hey Irulan, Can I come ride with your beginning groups? I can't seem to find any slow-mo road groups to ride with. BikerHen

Sure we go out on Monday nights, usually at Riverside but not always. Tonight, I think we are meeting bowl and pitcher at 6 pm. You can get my phone # via my sig, the gal who runs them likes a head count.

For road, check into the WOW women's group, and Spokane Bicycle Club.

[bikerHen]

Darn! Can't go on Monday nights. I have play practice up on GreenBluff. I have been riding my bike up there once a week. It's good uphill practice.

I tried WOW, and was not quite up to their standard. Have thought about Spokane Bike Club and Mountaineers, but I waited to long to join in and all the road rides have gotten to fast for me.

I really do enjoy riding by myself, but would like to be a part of the local cycling groups too. What is a poor hen to do?! BikerHen

[betagirl]

So my griping to the club has caused some good discussions. We're going to have a meeting and review the "rules" of the weekday rides and see what we need to do to keep new rider interest while keeping the veterans happy. I offered to lead the B group on one of the weeknights, and some others have stepped up as well. So I'm going to be a club floozy and ride with both. The one will give me better racing training and more time riding with other women, and I can maintain the friendships I've made with the guys.

Thanks for the advice and letting me vent.

[joyrider]

These kind of discussions make me NEVER want to join a club!
Doesn't anybody ride for fun anymore?

[Geonz]

So my griping to the club has caused some good discussions. We're going to have a meeting and review the "rules" of the weekday rides and see what we need to do to keep new rider interest while keeping the veterans happy. I offered to lead the B group on one of the weeknights, and some others have stepped up as well. So I'm going to be a club floozy and ride with both. The one will give me better racing training and more time riding with other women, and I can maintain the friendships I've made with the guys.

Thanks for the advice and letting me vent.

It's agood plan... but boy, it takes patience and persistence to change their ways even once a week.

You can suggest that people bring their funkiest oldest bike -- it's what I do. It changes both the physiology and the psychology, and I've not known people to be insulted by it; they're more comforted by it.