I'm starting my own cycling team!!

[joenali]

I rude wiith some very fast cyclists, so needless to say I'm always last on our team ride. So as I was playing sweeper yesterday I have decided to start my own team. The qualifications are simple 1. You must be slower than me. 2. If you start to become faster than me you are officially fired from the team! Wanna join? It's just to make me feel better.

[taratru]

I'll be on your team! Not only am I probably slow (I have no idea what fast is), I don't even LIKE riding.

[joenali]

You are in!! And I nominate you co-captain!

[cinco]

Can I ride a surrey? Then you can beat my whole family.

[joenali]

May 20, 2012 12:31:20 GMT -5 cinco said:

Can I ride a surrey? Then you can beat my whole family.

Does it have a basket?

[taratru]

Will the surrey have fringe on top? ;D

[reginaphalange72]

Ooo I want to join! Everyone will beat me!

[joenali]

May 20, 2012 13:36:25 GMT -5 reginaphalange72 said:

Ooo I want to join! Everyone will beat me!

You will not be dropped... Well unless you start beating me and then you are done! <3

[danielle]

I want to join! If I get too fast you can add bricks to my burley (though I don't think that will be an issue!)

[emilyj]

Since my husband told me today when we got back from our ride that I really suck at hills, I will be happy to join your team!

(He said it in a nice way, not mean...and he's right. I do suck at hills).

[Deleted]

Can I join? I've not ridden a bike in probably 18 years.... I don't even own one, and Craigslist is sparse right now.

[joenali]

May 20, 2012 15:06:49 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

Can I join? I've not ridden a bike in probably 18 years.... I don't even own one, and Craigslist is sparse right now.

That's ok! Just hop on the back of Cinco's Surrey and that will be sure to slow her down, keeping me in the front of the pack!

[Deleted]

May 20, 2012 15:14:29 GMT -5 joenali said:

May 20, 2012 15:06:49 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

Can I join? I've not ridden a bike in probably 18 years.... I don't even own one, and Craigslist is sparse right now.

That's ok! Just hop on the back of Cinco's Surrey and that will be sure to slow her down, keeping me in the front of the pack!

Done!

[sadlebred]

I'll drive the surrey since I'm good with horses but really show on a bike!

[kams]

I'm in. I'll get plenty of sleep the night before, eat a good breakfast, get dressed, pump up my tires and do a few last minute checks, and drive out to meet you all. When I fall and bleed through my clothes in the first five seconds, I'll just sit & cry and wait for you all to return. That seems to be my MO lately. I'll be a stellar teammate.

[gumi]

do you guys draft in your current group?

[joenali]

May 20, 2012 16:56:10 GMT -5 gumi said:

do you guys draft in your current group?

Sometimes I'm so far behind I can't draft! What happens is I get behind, catch up, get behind, catch up, rinse and reapeat! Really, though I am getting better, I'm just in good company! I can't wait to buy a new bike (one day) I think that will really help. But in the meantime I work hard with what I have!

[gumi]

May 20, 2012 16:58:40 GMT -5 joenali said:

May 20, 2012 16:56:10 GMT -5 gumi said:

do you guys draft in your current group?

Sometimes I'm so far behind I can't draft! What happens is I get behind, catch up, get behind, catch up, rinse and reapeat! Really, though I am getting better, I'm just in good company! I can't wait to buy a new bike (one day) I think that will really help. But in the meantime I work hard with what I have!

Yeah, that is the thing with group riding - if they are drafting, you need to be in the draft. Once you lose it, they are gone! It's not so much that they are faster than you as independent cyclists, but groups of cyclist move fast because of the draft.

Dont let it make you feel bad - you just need to get the wheel right behind someone else's tire and hang in there. When I was learning to cycle, I would go out with just my mom's husband and practice drafting. It's actually really hard if its not something that you've worked on. It's very uncomfortable if you dont feel confident in yourself - hence the practicing.

If you dont want to draft on your current bike, are there other cyclists you can ride with? My friends train with coached groups too but they still ride other rides (like with me). It sounds like you beat yourself up a lot - maybe it would be good to have alternative groups.

[taratru]

Really? no takers with the fringe?

[reginaphalange72]

May 20, 2012 17:04:28 GMT -5 gumi said:

May 20, 2012 16:58:40 GMT -5 joenali said:

Sometimes I'm so far behind I can't draft! What happens is I get behind, catch up, get behind, catch up, rinse and reapeat! Really, though I am getting better, I'm just in good company! I can't wait to buy a new bike (one day) I think that will really help. But in the meantime I work hard with what I have!

Yeah, that is the thing with group riding - if they are drafting, you need to be in the draft. Once you lose it, they are gone! It's not so much that they are faster than you as independent cyclists, but groups of cyclist move fast because of the draft.

Dont let it make you feel bad - you just need to get the wheel right behind someone else's tire and hang in there. When I was learning to cycle, I would go out with just my mom's husband and practice drafting. It's actually really hard if its not something that you've worked on. It's very uncomfortable if you dont feel confident in yourself - hence the practicing.

If you dont want to draft on your current bike, are there other cyclists you can ride with? My friends train with coached groups too but they still ride other rides (like with me). It sounds like you beat yourself up a lot - maybe it would be good to have alternative groups.

Drafting terrifies me. This is helpful - thanks!

[bumppkathleen]

You *definitely* want me for your team. I learned to mount and dismount a bike this weekend. I will make anyone else feel like a rock star. Next week, I'm learning "peddling quickly without falling over." Drafting is about, oh, a year in the future for me.