Quote Originally Posted by jlnc View Post
Congratulations on your ride Jessie! Sounds like fun, and I bet you are so glad you did it. I read your blog, which was a nice write up.
Just 2 quick questions for you ....you mention being embarrassed that you dropped your chain. Why? (I've never done this before, and just wondering how it happens?) Also, the girl that didn't finish...was it her choice to not finish with the group? Or was she really "dropped" because she was too slow? Do you know if she just turned around and went back?
---->"A ride leader told us someone behind us was on her first ride on a road bike (this is the woman who didn't have toe clips), and after a few miles they decided we wouldn't be waiting on her. "

Oh, my understanding is that you drop your chain when you try to shift while pedaling too hard. It happens to the best of cyclists though (wasn't there a Tour de France that was lost on a dropped chain?), so it isn't in itself embarrassing, but it was just sort of capping off how exhausted/falling apart I was at that point.

And the girl who didn't finish had a more experienced friend who stuck with her -- I think her and her friend told the ride leader not to worry about them. They must have done a shortened circuit because they were at the bike shop when we finished up. I only mentioned her because it was a relief to hear that I wasn't the most overmatched rider, although since she dropped out the comfort didn't last long. She was brave to attempt a group ride on her first time on a roadie!