Saturday morning I slept in (yea!) gobbled a bowl of Cheerios and hopped on Helen for my first group ride. I only live about 3 miles from the bike shop that hosts group rides so I rode up there. I've run this route dozens, if not a hundred, times.
Full of nerves, I actually wrote on my To Do list for the weekend, "Group Ride with RBM. Don't chicken out!" I'm not good at meeting new people in large groups. My charm is best absorbed one on one. Ahem. But I kept telling myself that since I don't actually know any beginner cyclists, this would be a good chance to meet some. Annnd, I did meet sweet Sare Bear all those years ago at my first night with Run On. So, that worked out well now, didn't it? Indeed.
I must say, my experience with cyclists in this town is that they are, um, not super inclusive or friendly. I get it. Everyone hates cyclists. Runners get mad at them for rushing up on them on trails, cars get mad because they are so slow on the road. They can't please anyone. So here I am, on my ongoing quest to improve runner/cyclist relationships. I'm a one woman UN of local athletes.
Who wouldn't talk to this girl with the wonky helmet?
Arriving with plenty of time to get my bearings and act social, I rolled up to the shade of the store and introduced myself to the first person who would make eye contact with me. It took a few minutes. I found the other riders planning to take off on the 13 mile Beginner Ride. And Roland. Ah, Roland, so friendly! Found out Roland is a runner too, guess that explains that. Ha!
Once we started moving I introduced myself to a few others. Look at me being all approachable AND friendly; who is this girl? Ugh, let me just say, getting out of my comfort zone by trying a new sport AND being social...it wore me out. Sadly, cycling did not wear me out. This was a true beginner group, and I am in fact a beginner, but the fastest we ever went as a group, about 15 of us, was 9mph. S-l-o-w. I tried really hard to stay with the group and be all team playery, but it was hard! I wanted to take off and actually ride that sucker. Another day, another day, today was about learning how to ride with a group and I have a lot to learn.
I tried to talk to as many people as I could, which meant finding the girls who I assumed to be about my age-ish. Which was one. Talked to a sweet girl who is in high school. Problem is, most women "my ageish" have husbands, babies and lives. They aren't traipsing around town learning to ride a bike. Having none of those things, I guess I'm kind of in the minority with beginners.
I think I found out how to make friends though, at least with the guys, keep wearing my running tops to bike. So, yeah, I wondered why all the cycling jerseys (see, I'm getting the lingo!) zip up so high. Now I know. Leaning over like that, well, if you are wearing a low cut running top, you're pretty much putting the girls on display the entire ride. Oops! Gotta do some shopping before next week...
I really do have Popeye arms. Perhaps I should get an anchor tattoo. Side note, do you know how difficult it is to get out your phone, snap a photo and not crash? Well, for me, it was a challenge! Perhaps I should have stopped first? Maybe? I have a lot to learn.
Okay, now I have some fashion/gear questions.
Why are the shorts all so stinkin' long? Is there a purpose? It is compression? Because if so, I bought the wrong size. Just a little over an hour out there and I've got some brand new crazy tan lines. Not having a pool at my disposal, I cannot spend every Saturday afternoon evening out the damage done from those long shorts!
Why do the really tan cute guys with shaved legs wear ankle socks? They certainly weren't in my group but believe me, I didn't miss them. You would think "no show" socks would make for less awkward tans lines. Am I the only one obsessed with tan lines? Is there a reason for higher socks?
Why do all the jerseys have some sort of product/restaurant/whatever on them? What's that about? Surely not all of those people are sponsored. Where is the selection of just plain cute pink (high neck!) tops?
HELP! I don't want to be the dorky girl flashing everyone at every ride!
What have you done lately to get out of your comfort zone?
Good for you for going to the group ride! Group rides can be tough to figure out where you fit. I think I am a tweener. Not quite the newbie crowd but not fast enough to keep up with the other more experienced peeps. Maybe Runner Roland's group will be better!
ReplyDeleteBiking jerseys can be crazy expensive... I found one I like on the lower end of the price scale. high neck, pink, pockets in the back. They seem to run a bit large but that just means I don't have to hold my stomach in ;) http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCA_2359.html
I am proud you got out of your comfort zone- I couldn't help but laugh about you flashing your girls while cycling though. :) I, too, would be entirely too social to not bike and try to talk and make friends.. sometimes I wish there was a Skype or FaceTime option for runners or cyclist bloggers.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, you rocked that wonky hat. Totally kool!
ReplyDeleteI had a good laugh about you flashing your girls and tan lines. I am just slightly obsessed with tan lines. I don't mind the "usual spots" tan lines. But ankle socks, long shorts tan lines aren't "usual" in my book.
Good job on getting outside your comfort zone. Since my return from my vacation, I have been trying to be friendly and trying to be agreeable and easy with every change that is happening to my life right now. I don't open up to people easily. I'm very selective about who I talk/hang out with/be friends with. So, to be all happy and sociable and inclusive and agreeable to everyone in my life right now is quite a task itself.
I do have a strange feeling that if all these people were runners, we would be having a fabulous time though.
Look at you and your cuteness going out of your comfort zone! Wonky hat, crazy tan lines, girls hanging out and all! And to answer your question, I've done absolutely nothing to come out of my comfort zone..... I'm quite comfy here!
ReplyDeleteI just recently joined a cycling group that trains for an up coming ride in Oct. While I'm looking forward to the chance to mingle with like minded cyclist, I was a little apprehensive to the idea, so I share your feeling on the matter. But I know the more I get acquainted with the group, the more friends, and knowledge about the sport I love will be my gain.
ReplyDeleteYea for you! I tried cycling about 10 years ago & it just didn't interest me- it's so hard here in Houston :( Glad you had a good ride & I need a followup on the answers to those questions cause they track me up.
ReplyDeleteCute story, I can relate! I'm very, very shy! It's haaarrrrrd to meet new people! So good for you to go out and give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteAnd.. I never realized that about wearing run tops while biking.. haha, because I don't own jerseys, hahaa, oh well!
You have the most sparkling personality, I do declare!
ReplyDeleteWhenever I encounter cyclists while running/walking, I always to my best to smile...most of the time my smile is met with an avoidance of eye contact. I never give up, though.
If I lived closer, we could be beginners together! You should read my post today - I totally wore my running shorts with compression shorts underneath on yesterday's ride! I need a Camelbak and some biking shorts and tops! Pronto! BTW, if I would've tried to snap a picture, I would've crashed. And I'm with you - 9mph is too slow!
ReplyDeleteGood job chica. I'll def be back to read the rest of the comments you get since I'm trying to figure all of this stuff out too! LOL! Too funny on the running tops baring all, I'm totally just rocking my running tops too.
ReplyDeletethe shorts are longer so your bike seat doesn't chafe you. but sugoi makes slightly shorter shorts than everyone else. :) congrats on your first group ride!
ReplyDeleteHooray for bicycling! Indeed, there's just something different about cyclists and runners; maybe that's why triathletes are the perfect blend. Won't be long, TPG...
ReplyDeleteCycling events seem a lot sparser than running events, which all have shirts anymore, so cyclists buy their own jerseys. They're expensive, so you pick favorites, kind of like showing up at the marathon expo with the shirt of your best previous marathon (ahem, Boston-jacket-people) like favorite beer, favorite charity team (I almost always ride in my Team In Training jersey) or favorite bike ride in a fancy exotic place. In the realm of "normal" clothes, though, I think girls who wear solid-pink sleeveless tops looks plenty bona fide on the bike.
If you want to move "up" your tan lines, and drive the fellowes absolutely mad, perhaps also try on some tri shorts - they're just like bike shorts but with a more light-duty pad (so they're good for swimming too, and running.) Some of the ladies' versions are pretty darn short. Many also have useful pockets and whatnot. If you're willing to give up some padding, that is...
Great job on getting outside your comfort zone! I have been riding consistently for over a year (but with other runners and triathletes - not bike people), and I still feel a little out of sorts around the serious cycling crowd. I do like the jerseys (you can find them without all the logos), because they have cool pockets for Gu and stuff. I have no clue on the socks - I'm with you on the "no show" socks. I see cyclists wearing ankle socks with cutesy patterns on them, but I keep thinking about the lovely tan lines.
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