I saw {this post} today on the Daily Mile blog and it made me laugh, but sent a chill up my spine at the same time. I was “that girl” last weekend. I went on my first small group ride last weekend. Boy have I got some things to learn about cycling, rules of the road, riding etiquette, and hand signals. I wish I had some pictures to share, but I’m still not sure if cycling culture is like running culture where us runners take pictures at any given opportunity….I’m thinking the answer to this question is NO.
It was a smallish group, probably 15 of us. The most I have ever ridden with is 2 other people. It was about 50-50 girls and guys. There were some obviously seasoned veterans who have probably been riding more years than I have been alive and a few newbies. Riding in a group is not a “no brainer” like group running is. I learned that lesson very quickly. As we pull out of the parking lot I took my spot behind three other guys leading the group. As we cruise through the small downtown streets and go through the first busy intersection, I must have made a biking faux pas. Within a 1/2 a mile later my friend Kim pulled up to me and said “hang back, somebody wants to talk to you.” I knew right away I did something wrong. Forgive me nice older gentleman, but I cannot recall your name….but I think he is the “Papa Bear” of the group, making sure that everyone is safe and no one is left behind. Papa Bear pulls up beside me and says “If you’re try to keep up with these guys, you need to stay sharp, don’t trust their judgment, ride deliberately. That rabbit up front…he’s good, but he can be reckless, stay near your brakes if you’re behind him. BE SAFE!” He never did say what offense I committed though.
The group quickly split into a lead pack and a slower pack. I was with the lead pack and we tried to keep stopping for them, but soon Papa Bear suggested we just go on and get in the workout we wanted and they would just have a leisurely ride. Kim and I stuck with the lead pack, we’re just gluttons for punishment I suppose! I hammered down for the next 27 miles chasing after the guys up front. I pretty sure this was a leisurely ride for them, but for me it was pretty tough. It was pretty windy that day blowing me all over the road and there were some moderate hills. It felt like our average speed would have been a lot better than a measly 15.1mph, but there was a lot of stopping and starting that might have drug our average down (although my watch is set to “auto-stop”).
As we pulled back into town, I began to have a false sense of pride about my longest ride to date and also being able to keep up with these more experienced riders. Just as my confidence peaked, we came to a stop light at a busy intersection. I unclipped, and felt the all too familiar sensation of loosing my balance followed by the inevitable FALL. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I fell…..yet again…..IN FRONT of these other riders and half a dozen motorist. How embarrassing!!! But I quickly got out from under my bike and back in the saddle. And good think I did this quickly, the others were going with or without me. I felt like road kill LOL!!! They reassured me that it happens all the time, but why have I not witnessed it “happening all the time”??!! Seems like I’m the only one falling ALL. THE. TIME! But I do have another badge of honor to add to my “wall of falling fame”.
Well, that blog post on daily mile is, well, not an accurate protrayal of bikers. I think that writer just road with the wrong group of bikers or the post was a complete joke. My team has that type of riders, also we have the "nice riders" (yep, you right, I am in the nice group) where we take anyone along that wants to come, teach them about biking and safety.
I dont think you did anything wrong, I think Papa Bear was just telling you that the lead pack could jump at any second and you have a choice, hang on and pray you dont get dropped or hang back and ride with the more leisure group. Just a warning that the group is about to split.
Sitting 4 (even 3rd) in a larger pace line is called "the sweet spot" it provides the best protection from the elements, the hardest spot to be, which is surprising is the last person in the pace line, they have to deal with what is called "yoyo'ing' and its freaking tough to stay on. So avoid being last as much as you can
Ok, I shoulda just emailed you instead of making a book on your comments.
Nice job on the group ride, they are alot of fun
PS, I have fell over standing still, its happens to everyone.
The falling is what I am most afraid of, but I love your post today. I am going to start with a solo ride just so I can learn how to use my bike.
Have yet to ride with a group, but most don't get started early enough for me.
You need to learn how to fall so that you can learn how not to fall. We all do it at some point.
Great stuff sticking with the lead pack.
On Stanford's campus, EVERYONE had a bike so in between classes we would wait for the causalities–it was inevitable.
Warrior scar!
thanks for the repost from the dailymile blog and for sharing your story too. the post on the dailymile blog was written tongue in cheek. it exaggerated a lot of stuff. i've met a lot of great people and had fun conversations on group rides too. big daddy diesel is a nice cyclist…and there are others…listen to what he says.
Welcome to the ass-over-tea-kettle-zero-mph-slow-motion-bike-crash-club. It has a huge worldwide, ever-increasing membership! My cycling group is pretty different from the DM blog depiction today as well; they even teach you proper first aid for road rash. Ha! Great job on your ride. Keep coming back!
oh, i forgot to mention this earlier…good call on the picture taking. if you're going fast, you shouldn't have your hands off the bars in the pack. i've taken pictures a few times, but i ride off the front and shoot them back toward the paceline or drop behind and shoot. don't do it in the pack.
Chicks dig scars!!!! I get the same false sense with my spring group ride, I ride with cyclocross racers and thinking i'm doign so great keeping up with them but realize they are slowing down for me.
Were you riding with a local shop?
Ow, ow, OW! Poor thing! I would probably be falling all the time!
Good for you for doing the group ride! I haven't yet mustered the guts. Sorry about the fall, I'm sure the group has forgotten all about it. I fell in my driveway and i don't even have clips!
Ouch…..glad you didn't hurt yourself too bad. I feel once in front of a whole group and I wasn't riding just straddling my bike….now that was a classic! It does happen to all of us at some time.
I fall like that sometimes on my own two feet … I would kill myself on a bike! Glad you're okay!
Well, that fall sounds a little embarassing, but the rest of the ride sounds great! You'll only learn the group dynamic and signals through practice, and it looks like they're a really great group of people!
My parents wouldn't let me get a bike when I was a kid – I was THAT un-coordinated. As such, the only bikes I ever ride are stationary, spin bikes.
That said, I'm sorry for the fall. I have been that person (on a run – with a group, tripped over a rise in the sidewalk!) and I have a scar on my knee that looked JUST like that scrape you have now — so be careful with the healing.
ASIDE! THANK YOU for your post on the mysteriously dead Garmin. Never had it happen to me before, but it did today, and I was able to bring it back to life because of you. Grateful.