Originally Posted by
iain.dalton
I'm hearing a lot of people say "you're too slow to fit in until you get into shape." In my defense, I didn't know what the environment would be like until I got there, and it's hard to develop to the point where one can ride ~15-20 mph for 90 miles if one only rides alone. Companionship and _friendly competition_ helps spur oneself on. As far as finding another group, there's this and a randonneuring group, which I plan to also try. This club covers both road cycling and mountain biking (which I'll check out next week; they alternate).
Since I probably am too slow, I have plans to ride a lot before the club meets again, so I hope to get up to speed.
[edit] scotch, The group did seem to be _unofficially_ broken into groups. Naturally, I lagged a bit behind the slow group.
I definitely just need to HTFU, but I had a similar experience with the local club. Ride was advertised as having route guidance, having several levels of start groups, and no drops/no left alone for newcomers. Well, there were no maps or route sheets, no one or group of ability group leaders, no ability groups, no one looking for newbies, noone doing a sweep, and no identification of club personnel.
Luckily I knew a route to the destination, but it wasn't the expected one. I rode with a person who was new to the area, and she had hoped to use these rides to learn local routes. Well I taught her one, but there was not a good impression left, overall. So yes, I need to get faster, but this ride was not as advertised.