Riding fast with the guys - really nervous...

[westtexas]

Afternoon everyone!

Finally made it to my new town for my new job and got everything unpacked and settled. I went for a quick ride this morning (first in 2.5 weeks) and it was great. Flat roads and beautiful, dry weather. Afterward, I hit up the local bike shop to get a cycling computer and see what all they had, as I am looking to buy a new road bike.

Well, I think I made a mistake. One of the guys there invited me to ride with him, another shop guy, and a third friend this evening at 6. I told them in very clear words that I am slow (15 mph average) and I'm just getting back on the bike after a few weeks off. He said it wasn't a problem and I'd make it to 20 mph tonight. I agreed (trying to make friends since I don't know a soul here and he was pretty cute, LOL) and now I'm getting nervous.

I've never ridden with anyone else (other than my brother) and I've never ridden so fast (I think the fastest for me was about 18 mph under my own power). I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up, or at least, not for long.

Any tips? Words of wisdom? Seriously doubting how well this is going to turn out...

Thanks in advance!!

[grey]

If they are at all decent guys, they shouldn't leave you behind. I frequently ride with the fast guys in our group (about half the time the girls & 1 slowpoke all ride together instead, we're all of 6 people so it's the luck of the draw for who can make it). They do ride fast - I usually prefer around 15mph, I'm in no hurry and no need to race so I've no interest in 20. The guys tho - they often do at least 18, and it's tough!

One thing I've managed is to ask 2 favors:

1)we don't start out with a hill - because it takes me forever to recover if I'm not warmed up before that first hill and then we go sprinting along at 18. I'm better-than-average (for my group) at hills otherwise, but that's a bad start.

2) We start out around 15mph for the first 10 mins, then speed up. Again - let me warm up. After that, I'm cool and the pace isn't a problem - but I also may not make it as far as I usually would at 15, so I shave 5 miles or so off my current best ride distance.

Thankfully, they're ok with all that. I also know they will never let me fall too far behind, so there's some peace of mind there.

Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes.

[redrhodie]

Oh, cool. I suppose it's already happened. How did it go?

[Catrin]

Yes, how did it go? It sounds like we ride at about the same speed so am very curious to hear how it went. I hope that they let you warm up first!

[sundial]

2) We start out around 15mph for the first 10 mins, then speed up.

The last time I rode with a guy that did that, he ended up in a hospital with multiple PE's.

[westtexas]

So it went really well!! The two LBS guys were super nice and they definitely made me feel very comfortable about my level of riding. At first I had a hard time keeping up and I thought I was going to stroke out, but we all seemed to even out after the first couple of miles. They taught me how to ride in the draft depending on the wind direction and that helped a lot. We were shooting for a 30 mile ride but we only did about 15 because I had to turn around. During the long stretch of the ride we were going straight into 30 mph winds and although I could maintain a 10 mph speed I was having a hard time. And I was running out of water and so incredibly dehydrated. Luckily, they switched turns putting a hand on my back and giving me a break. After that, they invited me to dinner and we all went out in all our spandex glory.

I definitely recommend it to anyone who might be like me and a little shy to ride with more advanced riders. It's certainly great motivation to get stronger and faster. Next time I hope to get to the second turn around point instead of the first, and then after that the third and so on until I can make it the whole distance. I thought I would be dying this morning with muscle aches and dehydration, but I went for another 15 mile ride and was perfectly fine and faster than ever.

Sooo glad to have made some friends in this faraway place where I don't know a single soul!!

[redrhodie]

Yay, glad it was fun! I think you're going to like it there!

[grey]

Yay! I'm glad it worked out! :-)

[grey]

The last time I rode with a guy that did that, he ended up in a hospital with multiple PE's.

By starting out slower?

[Geonz]

So it went really well!! The two LBS guys were super nice and they definitely made me feel very comfortable about my level of riding. At first I had a hard time keeping up and I thought I was going to stroke out, but we all seemed to even out after the first couple of miles. They taught me how to ride in the draft depending on the wind direction and that helped a lot. We were shooting for a 30 mile ride but we only did about 15 because I had to turn around. During the long stretch of the ride we were going straight into 30 mph winds and although I could maintain a 10 mph speed I was having a hard time. And I was running out of water and so incredibly dehydrated. Luckily, they switched turns putting a hand on my back and giving me a break. After that, they invited me to dinner and we all went out in all our spandex glory.

I definitely recommend it to anyone who might be like me and a little shy to ride with more advanced riders. It's certainly great motivation to get stronger and faster. Next time I hope to get to the second turn around point instead of the first, and then after that the third and so on until I can make it the whole distance. I thought I would be dying this morning with muscle aches and dehydration, but I went for another 15 mile ride and was perfectly fine and faster than ever.

Sooo glad to have made some friends in this faraway place where I don't know a single soul!!

What I love about cycling is that recovery is fast! What I really love is that these guys were supportive all the way. Too many times they *intend* to be supportive, but think they're not "really going that fast" -- or, they *say* they won't leave you but really they're of the "hey, that's how you learn, dudes, you get dropped" school (which I don't mind *if* you are honest about it!).
Keep getting stronger!

[sundial]

By starting out slower?

No, by gunning it out of the parking lot after we ate breakfast at our stop. There was no warm-up--just sprinting right out of the parking lot.

West Texas, I'm glad you had a great ride and that they were very supportive.

[westtexas]

Well here's an update - went out on the same route again last night and was able to make it the entire 37 mile round trip. It was SO incredibly empowering. I felt like I could conquer the world at the end. And then this morning I rode 17 more miles. Ahhh I am going crazy with all this riding, it's so awesome! Rode with some different folks last night and they were super encouraging and really made me believe I could do and I did. We did have to take a few breaks along the way last night but they only had to push me along one time and it was short.

AND they want to go AGAIN tonight!! I'm burning so many calories I have no idea if I can keep up with this!

[bmccasland]

Yay for finding some good riding buddies! It's great that they want you to improve, are encouraging, and supportive!

[Bike Writer]

Well here's an update - went out on the same route again last night and was able to make it the entire 37 mile round trip. It was SO incredibly empowering. I felt like I could conquer the world at the end. And then this morning I rode 17 more miles. Ahhh I am going crazy with all this riding, it's so awesome! Rode with some different folks last night and they were super encouraging and really made me believe I could do and I did. We did have to take a few breaks along the way last night but they only had to push me along one time and it was short.

AND they want to go AGAIN tonight!! I'm burning so many calories I have no idea if I can keep up with this!

Sounds like you're having a blast! And what a great way to get acclimated to a new neighborhood - way to go making lots of new friends.

[feltgirl]

Where in West Texas are you?