Why Don't I Like It More? (Page 3)

There aren't any groups around here that are appropriate for me - like I said, even the ones that are supposedly "no-drop" are not really "no-drop" because everyone is pretty fast, and even if they say they're not, it's not true - it's all the VAMDBTTC people and they're all way too fast for me. If I was consistently 15mph for my entire ride, it'd be one thing, but I'm not - in my last tri, I spent a lot of time up around 18-20+, but then on every single uphill, I slowed WAY down, and I got off and walked down two hills, so that killed time as well. So my overall average was like 14 or something embarassing. So I wouldn't be right in the "slow" group because on easier stretches, I'd be ahead, but couldn't hang with the faster group cuz I'd get dropped in a minute.

I am on a triathlon team, but I haven't been able ot make any of the group rides yet - I joined in December and it was freezing cold for months and now it's rained almost every single weekend, every single weekday ride since we started doing those again, or the 2 weekends where it's been nice, I've had to do something else that day.

RBC group 5 tues/thurs

My tri club is all levels, and they do kinda specialize in newbies, or at least they are VERY open to newbies, unlike some of the groups in the area. I really like my tri-club. It's not that I worry that I'll be dropped by them - they have a sag truck for the long rides, and there is definitely a no-drop policy on those rides.

Amy - I feel a little uneasy riding alone on roads because if something were to happen, I'd be all alone. So that's why I haven't strayed from the trail on my own - at least the trail is car-free and goes through people's backyards/heavily trafficked with pedestrians and other cyclists, etc. 

I can't get there in time for their rides.

See, I know all of the technique things I'm SUPPOSED to do, but I can't actually get myself to DO them when it comes time to do so. I'm not even going ot bother buying a tri bike unless I become VERY good on the road bike - which could be never! I generally don't ride with people because I don't have anyone who rides at my speed, or is WILLING to ride at my speed. I'm not going to make my friends bag their workout, so they can watch me struggle up a slight incline at 12 mph. I go from 20 mph on a slight downhill to barely 12 on the tiniest incline. So I get dropped.

I'm on a tri team, but so far I haven't been able to make any of the outdoor group rides because it's either been raining, or I've had to be somewhere else, and over the winter it was just too damned cold.

Then, that's why I asked if I should just flat out quit triathlon and stick to running. If that option makes the most sense. I don't know what I can do to get over the fear of the hills, since riding more hills doesn't work. I've had my bike for 2 years - that's pretty pathetic. I SHOULDN'T be afraid of it after this long, which makes me think I may never NOT be afraid of it. So perhaps it's best if I just stick to running, ya know?

I was excited before Rumpass - really excited. I had pysched myself up for a great race, since it was a course I'd done before and I knew I could do it. So I was looking forward to it. But then I got out there, and got freaked out on 2 hills that I KNOW I've ridden before. That's not right. All the mental prep in the world didn't work. And that just really makes me think that maybe I'm not cut out for this after all. I hate quitting things, but maybe it just proves that I'm not as tough I thought I was, or hoped I could be. That biking just isn't, and will never be my thing, ya know? People have natural ability in different things. But maybe it's pointless to try to force myself to be good at something that isn't one of my strengths.

I was excited before Rumpass - really excited. I had pysched myself up for a great race, since it was a course I'd done before and I knew I could do it. So I was looking forward to it. But then I got out there, and got freaked out on 2 hills that I KNOW I've ridden before. That's not right. All the mental prep in the world didn't work. And that just really makes me think that maybe I'm not cut out for this after all. I hate quitting things, but maybe it just proves that I'm not as tough I thought I was, or hoped I could be. That biking just isn't, and will never be my thing, ya know? People have natural ability in different things. But maybe it's pointless to try to force myself to be good at something that isn't one of my strengths.

Chrissy, the bike water isn't the problem, its the phobia.. it manifests on the bike in the lake but the piece that you have to go after is the fear.  That is an internal fight.. nothing anyone will say will make you overcome it.. you honestly have to face the fear and figure out how to tackle it

Can you get together with someone nice that is willing to bike alongside you and coach you for a ride?  I have a friend who is not very good with bikes and it's gotten to the point where she won't hardly do anything I was I was new with my bike.  Won't go over railroad tracks, won't shift from her middle chain ring, etc.  Her instinct isn't good and after a few falls and dropped chains has gotten so frustrated and confused she cannot even remember how or when  to shift to the big ring.  We rode together this weekend and I talked her through the one task for shifting to her big ring. She needed the one-on-one attention to break it down.  If you know what you should do, but cannot execute it, you may need individual attention.

This is JUST how I felt about swimming.  It was so entirely frustrating for a very, very, long time.  Now I kind of like it, but I have had to work on individual mechanics swim after swim to get there.

Oh, and attack those hills!  Only way to get faster is to build the muscles that turn the crank.