Why Don't I Like It More? (Page 2)

I'm going to second the mountain biking suggestion. As long as you don't try anything too technical, the overall speeds will be slower, you'll get stronger, and you'll get better at bike handling (once you've mastered power sliding through a sandy corner, road biking is a piece of cake). And when you crash, you have much softer stuff to land on.

And if none of that works, move to Florida. We don't have to worry about hills here.

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.  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.

I do this too and I think that's the best way for folks to get better.  Feeling like you need to chase me up a hill will likely cause you to work harder.  Chasing my husband who has very long, strong, biking legs has made me a much better biker.   Just like running - one way to improve speed is to go with people who are faster.

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.

dang double posting!!

I know you said you don't like fast cars. Have you ever been on a motorcycle? Kinda have way between the bike and car. But you would have to trust the driver. Someone that understands not to freak you out on purpose.

What about riding a tandom bike? Again it would have to be with a rider that is really good and that you trust. I probably wouldn't force yourself down big scary hills. That will only re-enforce your fears. I like the idea of finding a route with a sort of scary hill and keep repaeting that loop. Then slowly progress to different routes as you build confidence.

why do you have to ride with people? honestly Chrissy, the best rides I have are by myself. I go out of my way, driving an hour to get to a place thats safe where I dont' have to worry about cars, and just ride. I dont' care about the speed, I just enjoy myself. I stop to pet horses, I stop to take phone calls, whatever I feel like!  Last year I had the best time just getting out and doing 2-5 hour rides, just going along at 15 mph, since its just doing what makes  you happy.

Nothing is more stressful than riding with people that are faster than you, its hard to keep up, and its frustrating for you and them, so a lot of times, I don't do it!

Drive to Leesburg.  I'm in the same boat as you in terms of traffic, and I've found that it is a lovely area to ride.  I'll get you the route Ernie and I do...also Poolesville on the other side of the Potomac is great, and if you come down, I'll show you my bike route in Rock Creek that is closed to traffic on the weekends.

I'm still willing to help.   I was a true bookender at the beginning.  Hell, my only bike training at first was biking to and from the barn to get in some miles. I loved swimming and running! but now, I love just touring on my bike.

Oh, one more thing, organized charity rides are seriously the BEST. I LOVE them.  Esp. the popular ones, like Civil War Century. They have all sorts of distances, the food is ridiculous, and the support is phenomenal.  You're always around people, but can go your pace.

When I'm back and biking, I'll be starting from the beginning, and we'll do Rock Creek. No worries.

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. Tuesday rides are hilly and I think mostly faster folks show up to that one, so if our coach isn't there, there wouldn't be anyone to hang with anyone who was slower. Thursdays, we just do loops around a flat 3 mile course in DC, which I've ridden on my own before - I just haven't been able to get out there yet! But a lot of the long rides are in super-hilly areas.

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 do like Rock Creek Park and Beach Drive, and I've ridden that before. We can ride together when you're better I like to pet horses too (and donkeys and llamas, etc)

Then we'll do that. My leesburg loop has lots of llamas, horses, cows, and even bison!

my precautions? I take the cell phone, charged of course, my credit card, my license, insurance card, and at least $10 in cash..plus I have my road ID, two CO cartridges, and 2 tubes.  Generally, the world is full of good martyrs.  On my century last week, two people stopped to give people around me rides back to civilization.  I'll never forget my two friends getting stuck on the eman course then got a lift back to their cars in the back of a hay truck.