Advice Needed...I'm a 'Fraidy Cat! Help!

[KTeach]

Riding in a group is scary especially when you don't know their "background". Most clubs that cater to many levels of riders (i.e. have A,B, C, rides) offer a class or a series of training rides that focus on bike handling skills. Some of the more "serious" clubs assume the riders know how to stay in line, draft, point/call out obstacles, etc. (they don't necessarily!). The best thing I ever did was take those training rides with the NYC Cycle Club - you had to learn how to ride in NYC traffic and on winding roads with suburban drivers, and bike handling, and safe riding skills were taught. If your local club doesn't offer a class or training rides I'd seek out one of the bigger organizations that offer weekends for beginners/intermediates that teach the basics of safe riding - they are good even for non newbies. Riding with people who are knowledgeable and safety conscious is SO much better!

[AussieEm]

Yes, it does get better, especially if you ride with the same people a lot. If you let the people you are training with know that you are less experienced, and nervous about certain types of group riding, they will more than likely offer you lots of different kinds of advice which will help you develop your skills more quickly (and they should respect you and thank you for not endangering them by pretending you have nothing to learn).

[Geonz]

The way I got used to it was to really ease into it. I started with doing it with just one or two other riders; we'd just take turns taking the wind for a while, and then ever once in a while, "okay, want to switch?" - then along came a more brutal day when we *did* pretty much take half a mile at a time (and that's when I learned to SMILE when pushing hard, instead of my former default grimace, 'cause flying into the wind I totally sunburned and windburned the inside of my lower lip and it took a long time for those blisters to heal...).
Then it so happened that there were seven of us picking up a pretty good pace... and one of the ladies was new and thought we were racing, not pacing, so the ride leader gave a spontaneous lesson in "this is how we do a pace line" and was calling out instructions to us. (It was especially fun because she was on a big honking mountain bike, I was on a 40 pound 1960 single-speed ... but we averaged 17.2 mph - but going slower and working that hard was ideal for learning.)

I happen to *know* my reflexes are only so good... it's not just being chicken. Being on a hybrid w/ toe clips means that unless people know me, they assume I'm inexperienced, and communicate more... I don't mind at all (and love surprising them :-))

[yogabear]

Hi and thanks so much for the feedback, advice, and support.

I'm lucky because I have several beginner road group rides I can take advantage of in my area. I've been a member of a bike club and had never really taken advantage of the group rides.

My new bike coach suggested that I do group rides and I am so glad he did. My husband used to coach me--wonderful guy, but he really wanted to "protect" me so he didn't want me to do group rides, but I was the one who chose to not do them--I could have rebelled...Geesh, I am surprised I didn't LOL.

I did another group ride last night and it was actually fun. I stayed on a wheel the whole time and rode well. Plus, "the view" was nice Hee hee!

I am gaining more and more confidence the more I do group riding, but I think I'll always have a healthy alertness if you will. But, I always approach my life with the idea that I can learn something new every day in every situation...beginners' mind type of thing

I think my issue is getting more experience. I also realized it's quite simple...I have to keep doing group rides...I just love it when things are simple that way.

Thanks so much for the kind words and sharing your wisdom here...It really helps me a lot

Thank you

[RoadRaven]

Well, everyone has given good advice...

I just will add my experience... I was afraid to draft too, but I practiced with my partner and sons, and although I don't follow as close as some, I can draft effectively now.

I think the key element for me is trust. I either have to know the riders, or know the level experience of the riders.