Quote Originally Posted by RoadRaven
Hey there KSH,

Maybe it would help to write down the rides you want to do over each 1-2 week periods... include a ride with the group that drop you occasionally, but make it a minimum of a fortnightly ride. Commit to it knowing you will push yourself very hard, knowing there is a possibility you will get dropped but also knowing that riding with others that are as good or better than you is a great way to improve for racing.

Definitely ride with the other group that you fit well with, there you continue to improve or maintain your group skills as well as having a a group to talk with and have fun with.

Also into your list of rides incorporate sole rides, because solo makes you stronger because you cannot draft, and have to toughen yourself mentally - bot, I assume, good attributes for a tri?

I have just joined our local cycling club, but I am not going to every Saturday race, i am going to choose the courses/races that will suit me or challenge, and leave out the courses that will ensure i am dropped and arrive last - i am not going to put myself through that - because as you have found, it is too demoralising...

I like the idea of doing a challenging ride. I can do that on Wednesday nights, because if I get dropped, there will be a no drop group behind me that can pick me up. And, I know the route, so I could get dropped and be able to find my way home.

As far as riding solo... there really isn't anywhere where I feel safe to do that. We have a bike path, but it's crowded and skinny. I have to go slow in certain areas and I get bored on it.

But, I do try to not draft when I do ride with groups. I ride in the back and not that close... (maybe this is why I get dropped???)... so I can take the brunt of the wind, etc.

Hopefully your local cycling club will work well for you. Hopefully you be challenged...when you want to be!

Yea, I like to be challenged, but I hate to feel bad about how slow I am... on a regular basis! HA!