girl cycling across the country with guys, questions about potential problems.

[Cataboo]

Period... if you don't want one, you can use nuvaring or something like that and just not menstruate.

[tangentgirl]

I have ridden long rides with guys that are really fast. They are usually good about riding with me for part of the time and riding faster for part of the time. (Ha - they probably liked the break they got.) If you can, it might be good to visit them or have them visit you a few times in the preceding year to build some camaraderie. Try to get one or two rides in together beforehand, even if they are short.

In the meantime, build that strength! Ride lots of hills! Some women are able to build strength and speed and keep up with men pretty well. (Not me, but some!) You could be one of them.

[Zen]

Holler "PEE BREAK!"

[nscrbug]

Personally, I don't see a problem with the period and peeing issues. If you have to use a restroom, then you just tell them that you have to stop...period (no pun intended). Certainly, if one of the guys had to pee or poop, they wouldn't hesitate to stop...so I don't see why they wouldn't afford you the same option. I've ridden many a ride while on my period...it's not a big deal. If it's a heavy day, I wear a super plus tampon, bring an extra or two with me and don't worry about it. When I feel like I need to change it (which is usually the same time I need to pee anyway), I just holler out to my two male riding companions, that I need to stop at the next gas station.

As for keeping up with the guys...that's a tricky one. I ride with 2 guys - one is my husband who is a fast rider, the other is a friend who is only slightly slower than my husband...so needless to say, I'm either behind them both always trying to "catch up"...OR...they adjust their riding speed to accommodate MY pace (which is generally the case). Every now and then during a longer ride, they'll both take off like lunatics for a mile or so...which I don't mind. Boys need to stroke their egos every so often in a ride...so I let them play their little "racing games"...eventually they'll slow up so I can catch them.

[ny biker]

You're not riding with 3 guys, you're riding with 3 other people. We're all human and we all have bodily functions.

You need to find out their average riding speed, and if yours is different then you need to discuss in advance how the group will handle it. For example, faster riders stop every X miles or at certain pre-determined landmarks to make sure the slower riders are okay, or the faster riders take turns hanging back with the slower rider. If the only plan they will consider is "we'll meet you at the finish every day" then you need to decide if that's okay with you.