Introductions - "Howdy" from Texas (DFW)

Hey y'all, I've been looking at this forum for awhile. Lots of good, no, great info here.

Okay - a quick story about my first group ride experience: I went down to the LBS the other evening for the semi weekly 30 mile ride. They had about 20 people for the "A" ride (faster) and me and a good lookin' lady for the "B" ride (slower). She was a "regular" and the guys knew her. We took off, all together, as I was told the B group would fall off at some point. Well, about 5 miles and a few hills later, I was struggling to keep up. Got stuck at a red light by myself, and they were off into the sunset. I guess that good lookin' gal was an "A" rider afterall. I knew at some point I'd fall off the pace, I've only been riding 6 weeks, and tend to avg. about 15 - 16 mph no matter what the distance is. I did a 100 mile ride last Saturday (HH100). I know I have a ways to go to build up strength and endurance, and I am having a great time. Next time I go to the LBS for a ride, I'll either be a stronger rider or I'm going to identify and depart with the "B" group, or just ride on my own.

Welcome!

Check out the Plano Bicycling Association for organized rides. There are way more than just an A and B group.
You'll find a group that is probably the speed you want, or maybe just a hair faster so you have a goal to work
toward.

http://www.planobicycle.org

Hola!

Where north of DFW are you? There are lots of great rides out of bike shops and groups for almost all levels. I'm on the Denton side have ridden with the Texas Fliers a bit from the looks of it the rides I have been going on are too slow for you already :thumb:

Howdy and welcome to the forums.

Howdy back and welcome to the forums.

Evblazer - I'm actually in Flower Mound. I rode through Double oak last night.

Cool. So since you said semi-weekly LBS and weeknight were you on the bicycleplus ride?
I've never ridden with them since I'm mostly a commuter but I sometimes see them heading out while I'm on my way home and we end up going the same way for a few miles.

Here is a list of some local rides in case you haven't seen it.
Texas Flyers Ride List (http://www.texasflyers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=45&Itemid=35)

Warning: Keep your eyes out at the stop signs in Double Oak. Somehow the cross timbers classic got rerouted so it didn't go through Double Oak this year? and I'm not sure if the Tour de Argyle is going to avoid it too. The police will go on little stints of pulling over cyclists and did so to me this past winter somewhere around 4am. Of course now that school is open they will actually just watch kids blow through them on their way to school cutting off cars and it is ok.. Teach em young so you can ticket em later ;)

Yes, that's the LBS I was refering to. I've only been inside once, about 2 weeks ago.

Are you saying the DOPD/City of DO don't like cyclists? I'll never run a stop sign in front of a cop because I know you can get a ticket. One of my brothers got one for that when were younger. I'm surprised that they'd let anyone slide on the old "rolling stop" with the signs they had on the stop signs. I guess they need to do something to raise revenue.

Hello Lollygag, so what are you riding?

Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions :) !

East Hill
Forum Moderator

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/dminorwa/pinkstar.jpg

Well, I have quite a few bikes - the one I'm in love with right now is a Specialized Tricross. She's a beaut. What do you ride?

Bicycle plus is a nice place and has some good mechanics. Bluebonnet is another good local shop with good service though they are small and right now seem to be very very low on bikes to sell as all the racks are nearly empty.

I think more often then not you would get a warning in Double Oak if you even got pulled over. Those signs are mostly for show and succeeded in stopping the people who complained about folks ignoring stop signs from complaining about it. Look a sign we are safe :roflmao2:

If you see a yellow recumbent or an xtracycle around it is probably me. Hope to see you out on some of the rides.

I live in Flower Mound and highly recommend either the Saturday social ride that starts at 9:00 AM at Downing MS in Bridlewood or the Sunday Classic BlueBonnet ride that starts in Lewisville at 8:00 but many riders pick up at either Marcus HS at just after 8:00 or at Downing MS at about 8:15. Attached is a link to the Texas Flyers bike club that meets in Highland Village once a month at the Village Grill. http://www.texasflyers.org/

The social ride is just as the name implys and is a no drop ride that goes for about 25 miles. Some riders sprint out ahead but then regroup and nobody is left behind. The Sunday ride starts out with 20 or more riders but then breaks into 2 sometimes 3 groups based on ability. I rode with the B group last weekend and they go at a 16 mph average pace covering 40+ miles. The do take in one big hill (hilltop) at about the 30 mile mark which if you have never done it before will test you. The A group will be around 18 mph average. The C group will be 14-15 mph and skips hilltop.