group rides seem intimidating (Washington DC/Silver Spring, MD)

[tulip]

Hi Rain,
Please sign up for a basic maintenance class. REI and many local bike shops have such classes.

Please also look into cycling classes offered by the League of American Bicyclists.

When I lived in DC, I rode with Potomac Pedalers and with Oxen Hill. Both were great. Start out with slower rides and work your way up. There's so much more to see than Beach Drive!

[ny biker]

Please also look into cycling classes offered by the League of American Bicyclists.

Yes, I thought of that last night. They have Confident City Cycling classes. I've met the guy who teaches them here in NoVa. I think they would help a lot.

[TxDoc]

So many good rides!
I wish I had seen this two days ago - I was up in Bethesda this past weekend and that gorgeous weather was inspiring to ride
Next time I come up I will join you ladies!

[pfunk12]

So many good rides!
I wish I had seen this two days ago - I was up in Bethesda this past weekend and that gorgeous weather was inspiring to ride
Next time I come up I will join you ladies!

You should have let us know you were going to be here!! So yes, next time get in touch.

[Loraura]

Here's what I did:

I looked for a women's only cycling group. Found one and started showing up for rides. At first it was all I could do to hang on, and got dropped often.

After doing this for a year, I can do all but one of the regular routes without getting dropped. I go anyway, knowing I will probably get dropped, but just try to make it a little further than the last time. Sometimes I do, sometimes not. Depends on how I'm feeling and if I've recovered from a previous long/hard ride or not.

I just printed out maps and kept them with me so I was sure I knew the way back to the car. I take my phone with GPS tracking on it (Sprint Family Locator) so my husband can log in from any PC and see where I am. He knows if I'm not moving for long periods, I'm in trouble. I've only called him once to rescue me from a group ride I got dropped from.

I'm a much better cyclist for it. I'm 3-4 MPH avg faster than this same time last year.

I've learned to draft, pull, participate in a paceline, bridge a gap, climb more efficiently and bomb down descents. I've learned some great routes I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

I'm down right grumpy if I have to miss a group ride now.

I even did my first race last week (and didn't come in last!).

Riding with people better and faster than me has made me better and faster. No doubt about it.