Getting women to group rides

[Owlie]

No pacelines. I'm not there yet.

No-drop means no-drop, or at least clarity on the speed so that I can gauge whether I'd be the slowpoke or not.

Some kind of social aspect afterward (say, grabbing lunch, coffee or a beer) would be nice. Casual rides out for breakfast/lunch/dinner and then riding back are cool too.

Also, a mostly-low traffic route is a must for me, or at least an early start so that you can avoid most of the traffic. I don't go on the shop rides because the traffic is heavier than I'm comfortable with.

[Citycyclegal]

I was interested in reading this thread, since I have just purchased my first road bike, and would like to do group rides at some point. Although I have ridden a hybrid for many years, I realize that I will need to improve my road bike skills in order to join a group ride, and determine what sort of speed I would be comfortable with. What is the general protocol for joining a group for the first time..when I see a group zooming along, it seems very intimidating...so how does one "learn the ropes" when starting out? I generally ride solo, however I realize from touring, riding with others definitely pushes ones capabilities. I'd be interested in your initial group experience and how you got started. Thanks!

[Penny4]

I was interested in reading this thread, since I have just purchased my first road bike, and would like to do group rides at some point. Although I have ridden a hybrid for many years, I realize that I will need to improve my road bike skills in order to join a group ride, and determine what sort of speed I would be comfortable with. What is the general protocol for joining a group for the first time..when I see a group zooming along, it seems very intimidating...so how does one "learn the ropes" when starting out? I generally ride solo, however I realize from touring, riding with others definitely pushes ones capabilities. I'd be interested in your initial group experience and how you got started. Thanks!

If you can find a beginner or more intermediate ride that would be a good starting point. They may not do pace lines, which is better for your first time in a group. My first group ride was a beginner route, and they taught us how to call out everything ...when you slow down, when you see something in the road, car back (cars behind you), how to follow at a safe distance, how to stay to right of road how to merge with traffic to make left turns, etc. WHen you figure out your average speed then you can figure out which level group you want to ride with

[Dogmama]

Make sure that the routes are good. Know that people will want to ride two abreast, so there should be a good bike lane to accommodate that. I've opted out of many rides here because they go on roads that just aren't safe. For example, they might be narrow, heavily trafficked with high speed limits or rutted with pot holes. I figure that I'll be riding with people who may not understand how to point out obstacles and that could be disastrous.

Oh, and always start on time. It isn't fair to those who made the effort to get up, get their act together & get out.

I do like the idea of a monthly clinic for newbies. They need to know how to ride a paceline, single and double, how to effectively signal for trash, slowing and turning, etc.

[Crankin]

CityCycleGal, are you going to the "instructional" ride on the 27th? You will learn all the "protocol" for riding in a group there. I think there will be parking lot practice and then a 10 mile flat ride. The instructors for this are really good, so take advantage of it. You should be fine to do the "easier pace" group on the New Members Ride on May 11th after you take this class. Lamar (who spoke at the workshop) and my friend Janine, who has bee an AMC leader for 20 years lead this group. We won't look quite like the groups you see whizzing past!

[SheFly]

I was interested in reading this thread, since I have just purchased my first road bike, and would like to do group rides at some point. Although I have ridden a hybrid for many years, I realize that I will need to improve my road bike skills in order to join a group ride, and determine what sort of speed I would be comfortable with. What is the general protocol for joining a group for the first time..when I see a group zooming along, it seems very intimidating...so how does one "learn the ropes" when starting out? I generally ride solo, however I realize from touring, riding with others definitely pushes ones capabilities. I'd be interested in your initial group experience and how you got started. Thanks!

I see that you are in the Boston area. The ride I listed as a women's only in the area is PERFECT for you. Beginner level rides (and you can progress to faster groups through the season), and the focus is on good pace lining skills and riding with a group. It is really ideal for someone starting out - safe environment, passionate/experienced leaders and a group of women who all share their love of the bike. Check it out: http://nebc.us/rides/tuesday-night-womens-ride/ I think the ride starts the second Tuesday of May this year.

SheFly

[velo]

Excellent! Thank you so much for all of the feedback. Most of what has been said, mirrors what I expected. I used to lead rides, but as I've mentioned before, I took some time off of the bike to start a family. Back at it now, I feel, once again, a strong pull toward cycling advocacy for women. We are trying to get a repeating ride set up that has women-specific needs in mind, but that would, of course, welcome anyone. I've taken note of everyone's input:

- assurance that it will not be above riding ability (don't want to be left behind or struggling)
- clear expectations of pace and distance ("rolling" average or are posted speeds cruising/pacelining speeds)
- some social aspect to the ride
- groups of similar skill levels
- offer different distances
(question here - should shorter rides be slower and longer rides be faster or does that matter?)
... again, I have my own opinion of this, but would like to hear from others
- keep at the published pace
- develop skills together, instruction is important for newer riders
- start on time... if you're late, you have to sprint to catch-up... time is precious
- socialization again... gather together post-ride for libations and talking
- welcoming attitude to group
- be consistent - same loop every week, not necessarily marked but have cue sheets available
- have a sweep and use human arrowing for no-drop
- make the ride NO DROP!!
- address frustrations of being "between" groups (frustrated at slower group, faster group hammers too much)
- talk about hills on route and how it affects pace
- road ride = road bikes... no mt. bikes
- marked routes, no drop (mentioned above)
- low traffic and good road surfaces
- instruction on safe and polite group riding etiquette
- instruction about pacelines (this will hopefully, eventually, apply to us)
- make safety rules known and enforce them
- have some workshops with parking lot practice

I appreciate the input. Please add as you think of things. This has been very helpful.

[nuliajuk]

I tried riding with one local club and didn't completely agree with some of the things they do, such as always riding two abreast. I'm not really sure why they do that. It's not that I'm afraid of traffic - I commuted through downtown rush hour in a large city for years - but I just don't see the point in doing it where there isn't a wide shoulder.
The only other choice from a speed point of view would seem to be a touring club, but my husband rode with them just once and got left behind when he had to wait for some farm machinery to cross an intersection. They didn't stop, didn't even look back, and didn't tell him where they'd be when they reached the provincial park that was the destination. So he reached the park gate, turned around, and just went back again. They arrived as he was leaving and said they "just assumed" he'd turned around at the intersection where the harvester was crossing. So, not really a well organized club.
The other clubs are all racing clubs and full of much younger and faster people. Occasionally the two of us will reel in someone out on the highway and invite him or her to join us. We met a woman last summer like this. She'd never ridden in a paceline or group before, so it was a new experience for her, but she picked it up pretty quickly.
I don't know what the answer is. I don't mind riding with men as long as it isn't a huge struggle to keep up. Maybe the answer is to join the touring club and try to get them better organized so that people can come out to the rides and not worry about being left all by themselves out on the highway. Years ago I belonged to a large club in Calgary and we would never have "just assumed" that someone had turned around early. Anyone who wanted to leave early had to inform the ride leader so as not to keep the other waiting at the next stopping point.

[tealtreak]

The 2 abreast is actually illegal in some states if there are cars wanting to pass.......

[shootingstar]

It's been awhile since I've done a group ride....and makes me realize how independent I always have been as a cyclist.

I still don't know how to ride a paceline...after last 22 years of regular riding and having a cycling lifestyle. Weird, eh? Logging in several thousand km. each yr. At this stage so far, it would be nice to ride with others regularily but there is a part of me just wants to continue riding at my own pace, for however long I want to. To keep on being motivated to cycle and not constantly compare myself with others...which I tend to do that if I ride in a group.

I enjoy cycling with 1-2 other people.

I'm sure I sound like a real slacker, bike surfer.

[Crankin]

I'd like to reply to your "should short rides be slower and faster rides longer?" This is the only part of the group I ride with that I don't like. I almost always want to do the longer distances, but it's always the faster group that does them. I routinely ride those distances (40-60 miles), but I can't maintain the pace they do for that distance.
It's frustrating and why I mostly ride with DH or 1-2 friends.

[indysteel]

Velo, most of the evening training rides that I've done are 20-25 miles, with only one route offered (although there is often an unofficial shortcut). One of the nearby shop rides offer two ride lengths, but I think the slowest group does the shorter of the two routes early in the season and then progresses to the longer route--although I could be wrong about that.

Frankly, if I was in your position and trying to put a new ride together, I'd keep the logistics relatively simple and would likely just offer one route with 2-3 sub-groups to cater to different paces and abilities. I'd make it a length that was doable after work such that people could still get home at a reasonable hour, and I'd only offer a post-ride social option, say, once a month--again in an effort to keep logistics simple.

I'll share one other "like" of the rides I've done in the past. It's really helpful to have a bathroom or porta-potty that riders can use before/after the ride. One of the training rides I did met at school that had porta-potties near the school's ballfield. Another of the rides I did, did not offer similar facilities. Guess which one I preferred?

[Becky]

I'd like to reply to your "should short rides be slower and faster rides longer?" This is the only part of the group I ride with that I don't like. I almost always want to do the longer distances, but it's always the faster group that does them. I routinely ride those distances (40-60 miles), but I can't maintain the pace they do for that distance.
It's frustrating and why I mostly ride with DH or 1-2 friends.

What Crankin said. For me, the shorter the ride, the faster I can go. I'd love to have some slower options when I want to crank out big distances, and some short fast rides when time is limited.

[Catrin]

What Crankin said. For me, the shorter the ride, the faster I can go. I'd love to have some slower options when I want to crank out big distances, and some short fast rides when time is limited.

I concur, for longer rides I've got to go slower - but then again my average speed really has never broken 13 consistently. I am just slow I agree with IndySteel that having access to some kind of bathroom facility would certainly be an attraction... Not too many groups, and know that some will stay with the slower/easier group for the season while others will want to rapidly progress to faster/longer groups. I've seen that dynamic in the last two years at the shop rides I attend occasionally. Sadly I get off work too late these days to make them