Irving (Valley Ranch/Las Colinas) Area
 

I am new to road cycling and looking for someone to learn from. I just completed my second ride. Anyone around?

I'm in that area, what do you want to know?

The Greater Dallas Bicyclists would be a good source. http://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/

Texbiker.net will keep you up to date on the news and events.

I don't live in that area, but I live on the other side of the airport.

It depends on what you want to learn. I'd suggest going to a bike shop and joining one of their beginner friendly no-drop group rides.

There is the Bicycles Plus in Coppell, on MacArthur. If you want to do the whole Roadie thing, then they will probably help you out.
http://www.bicyclesplustx.com/

There is the Sun & Ski in the Grapevine Mills Mall. They ride a little in the area, and have several beginner rides.
http://www.sunandski.com/Grapevine_Mills_s/500478.htm#

There is a Flower Mound/Highland Village group on FB that puts on several rides. I think they are more social than fast, but I'm not 100% sure. I've been invited to ride with them, but never went. Its too far away to be convenient.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/178220158865542/

If you want a really social ride, there is Bike Friendly Mid-Cities (BFMC) in the HEB/NRH area. They are great folks, but they aren't Roadies at all. Their rest stops usually center around food and drinks.
https://www.facebook.com/BikeFriendl...ties?ref=br_tf

Of course, you could always flag down someone on Champion Trail or Riverfront Blvd and ask them about local groups.

I honestly just want to make sure I am starting off the right way. I want to know the basics of technique and what I am doing wrong so I can correct it early before bad habits begin.

That is some really good and helpful information! I am hesitant to do any group riding however. I doubt I could keep up with anyone and am having to stop for breaks fairly often.

Bad habits like what, breaking the rules? ;)

Are you new to biking in general? Riding the local trails and BSing with people was my preferred tactic. You'd be surprised how much people will talk when you ask them about their bikes. I tried going online to find someone to ride with, and it didn't turn out well.

Cowtown Easy Rollers is a perfect group to ride with. They are in Ft. Worth, but TOTALLY worth the drive. The husband and wife who put on the rides welcome everyone of every fitness level. She is a beginner, too. Once you ride with them, you will have a good idea of where your fitness level is and who to ride with next.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cowto...09721279212799

+1 for the "Bike Friendly" groups... they are very casual and slow-pace friendly, lots of low-key meetups where they ride to a coffee stop or restaurant, slowly, using safe / quiet roads.

And, the Campion Trail is a great resource, safe way to get in miles / workout.

I too am in Irving but a tad south of you. I ride the what will be South Campion Trails (Mountain Creek Preserve) but on the weekends I ride the levees or road to Campion Trail in your area depending on what bike I'm on. I ride fixed but if there is anything I can help with let me know. Been riding for a lil over a year and like the previous posters said, Campion Trails is a great spot to get some miles in. I too have been thinking of hitting up some of the local weekly group rides.

I could ride with you some but I am short on time for the next 3-4 weeks and probably won't be riding.

Your best bet is to check into the group rides in the DFW area, find a group that goes slow and pledges to not drop riders and go along with them.

If you can keep the bike upright then what is there to learn?
OK, there are a few things...
You are a vehicle even if you don't burn gasoline so you have to obey the traffic laws. Don't do stupid things in traffic.
Look for roads where you can ride without large amounts of traffic. Contact me direct, tell me where you are and I can maybe suggest some roads.
If you ride in groups then watch what everybody else is doing. Try to ride a steady speed and in a straight line. Weaving around or changing speeds is annoying and dangerous to the people behind you.
Drink plenty of fluids while you are riding, especially as hot as it is right now.
Carry a cellphone and identification. On longer rides you should carry a little money in case you need to stop at a convenience store for food or fluids. Carry some water with you. Carry a pump, spare tube and tools.
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET. Gloves and glasses and helpful too. I recommend glasses with frames all the way around, the glasses with no frames and with sharp edges exposed around the bottom of the lenses can seriously cut your face if you get in a crash. (it happened to me)
Don't try to go out on a 50 mile ride if your maximum ride so far is only 10 miles. Work up your mileage gradually.

Since I was once in your situation, (actually EVERY ONE of us was in your situation at some point) I can tell you, the fear that you have of riding in a group is more in your mind than reality. It is a good idea to start out on more beginner friendly rides just until you get some idea of your level of fitness. Nothing more humiliating than realizing you have bitten off more than you can chew as you huff and puff along while you watch the rest of your group get smaller and smaller as they ride of into the horizon. (Guess how I know?)

Another suggestion that I have personally done is the beginner ride at Richardson Bike Mart. I know it's a bit of a hike from Irving but you can take the Bush to Coit then go south to Campbell. It's ~11 miles total with a stop at a convenience store at the turn-around point. The leader, (when I rode it) was very patient and makes sure nobody is left behind. Even if that means stopping the group to wait on 1 person. I rode this when I started out then came back to it with my wife when she was starting out. Coming back to it was PAINFULLY slow, but it was the pace the group could maintain. She will even call for one of their store support vans to come pick you up if needed. (On one ride, a lady swerved into the curb and came over her handlebars. She wasn't hurt, but she was done for the day. A van was called and she rode back to the store.)

Like others have said, the main thing in a group is holding a steady pace and keeping a straight line. Weaving back and forth is not a good thing!

So, in summation, realize your fears are largely imagining things to be worse than they are; find a good friendly ride; don't wait around--get out there and do this already.

Thanks so much folks! I got my first flat today and didnt have the proper equipment to fix it while riding...then I realized that I didnt know how to do it anywhere. Gotta go to Performance Bike tomorrow to help me out. Oh well.

I work just west of you off of freeport parkway and it's not too bad an area to ride.
There is also Mad Dog bikes in Irving check with them about beginners classes. Richardson Bike Mart has
stores close to White Rock lake which might be closer to you than richardson.
I"d highly recommend taking a class on basic maintenance, like fixing flats so you don't have to a) call someone to
come pick you up when you do flat, and b) go to Performance to have flat fixed (and spend a lot of money).

Here is a ride on the Champion Trail this weekend.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1376196202616795/
No rider left behind.

Thanks for the info! I hate that I missed that ride. I didnt check the post until now. Anybody riding in the area this week?