Paul, this is fantastic advice that I’ve never heard. Ditch? That’s ok? Awesome.
I think the 15-18 mph would be my sweet spot. And probably not more than 20-30 miles. I don’t have that kind of time anyway. I hope you’re right about the fitness of the other riders. I do try to keep in shape; I lift weights and do core most days and I also run. I’m used to hills and high temps, so maybe that will count for something and help me keep up. Who knows, maybe people will be really inclusive! If not, I guess I’ll find my own way. > On Jan 17, 2022, at 4:34 PM, Paul Clifton <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Like most people have said, you may get some looks, but if you ride like you > know what you're doing, everyone will soften up really quickly. > > Groups can all be really different, so if you show up and the vibe's not fun > - then ditch the ride and go lone wolf and try again when you feel like it > with a different group. Don't get discouraged if the first group isn't for > you. I have peeled off after 5 miles so many times it feels like a joke now. > Whether it's a group I just don't want to stay with or maybe I'm just not > feeling like doing a climb, I just say "Hey, I'm ditching. Don't worry. I > know my way home and have tools. Thanks for the ride. I'll see you around." > Everyone has always said "Have fun, see ya later" and been totally cool with > it and not offended or anything. > > You can almost certainly keep up with any "no-drop" ride. They tend to stick > to 15-18 mph or slower, with stops to regroup at major turns, if needed. They > also tend to exist to get newer riders more comfortable with group riding, so > you're bound to find one you like. I think you'd find an average speed of > less than 13mph really slow, but that's just a guesstimate. > > The training rides and drop rides will frequently post an average speed, and > if not, someone familiar with the scene will know, but expect 18-20+ mph > average for roadies on a training ride. > > More than likely though, I suspect you'll be surprised at how fit you are > compared to others on the rides. When you "just ride" most of the time, it > turns out it keeps you fit enough to keep up with most cyclists. It's only > the ones who commit themselves to speed and strength that will actually be > stronger and faster than you, and there really aren't THAT many of those guys > in any given town. > > Everyone else is just riding with more steps (clothes, groups, trackers, > etc.). > > You won't find anything advertised as a "country ride" or whatever though. > You'll just have to look at route maps and pick something that seems > appealing. > > As for large organized rides - they are usually ride-your-own-ride, and > you'll meet and cruise with a ton of people over the course of the day. No > need to worry about the group dynamics as long as you can cover the distance > in the allotted time. > > Paul in AR > > P.S. I just call myself a cyclist. Or a cycling enthusiast. That helps > convince people that I know more about my bikes than they do and that they > should go on a ride with me and see if it's fun. It's usually fun, except > when I take roadies on single track - they hate that. :) > > >> On Monday, January 17, 2022 at 8:31:09 AM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >> wrote: >> We recently moved to SW Michigan. I was a total Lone Wolf (borrowing from >> Eben Weiss, The Bike Snob) in Vegas but I dream of having Real Life Bike >> Friends here. This List has really been a gift to me, but it has also made >> me want more: I want REAL people and REAL experiences with them. I have >> found a shop that hosts rides of various kinds 9 months out of the year. >> There is hope! >> >> The trouble is: I don’t know what I am, and neither does anyone else. >> >> I have never done a group ride. I don’t know how fast or slow I am, and I >> don’t know how far I can go. I don’t know etiquette or what would tick off >> other riders in the group. (My “group rides” were with my 2 sons on the way >> to school. And it’s true that you learn a rhythm that works for your group >> and on the rare occasion my husband got included, he made us all nervous.) I >> would like to have a good first experience and not be a drag for a group. I >> think failure would send me right back into Lone Wolfdom. I suppose I will >> just have to risk it. >> >> When I say I ride, everyone thinks Roadie, and then they think of their >> friend who is also a Roadie and want to plan a meeting for us. Now, I doubt >> I’m going to keep up with a group of road bikes on my Platypus. When I say I >> don’t have a road bike, the person will say, “Oh, you like to mountain >> bike!” When I try to explain, try to say what it is that I ride, I don’t >> have words. If I admit I don’t have a road bike or mountain bike people >> assume hybrid bike from big box store = not a serious rider. I don’t know >> what I am. I don’t know what “we” are. Where do bikes like ours fit? Who do >> we ride with? >> >> In looking at local events online, it seems there are Roadies and there are >> Gravel Kings (my own term). If I roll up on my fendered, raspberry sparkle >> Platypus, both groups will be uncomfortable. >> >> My shop did mention some community rides, and those I will try, though I >> suspect they might be short and slow for my taste. There are some very >> exciting events state-wide here, but they do seem to be geared to road >> bikers. I admit that I know very little about bike culture here, and talking >> to real people might open up a lot of possibilities. Where are these people >> I can talk to?! >> >> The locals tell me spring will be here in March. I’ve got 2 months to figure >> out where I fit, Rivsters. >> >> Who can relate? Who has words of wisdom? Who just wants to commiserate? Are >> we the outcasts of bike culture or are we unicorns? Where are we in the >> Velotaxonomy? How do we make the cool people take us seriously? Should I buy >> Lycra? >> >> What I wouldn’t give for a couple of RivSisters living locally… >> Leah > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google > Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/PPpgoQuIGhk/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/66781318-cfb2-477f-b95c-1f4f35c51d58n%40googlegroups.com. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/546EF545-2666-4F07-9778-70741EB91CBA%40gmail.com.
