I’m Too Slow for You
“I’m too slow for you…”
I hear th
is every once in a while from people I want to ride with, and it drives me nuts. Apparently I’ve become one of the faster ones, instead of always last. It’s a new experience for me, and I think it’s more to do with the fact that I like to race, more than what my speed is. Perceived versus actual. (I’m not actually fast, just faster)
Here’s the thing though, no one is too slow. If given the opportunity to ride with others really slowly, or go out on a solo ride, I’ll ride with others hands-down. Riding with others makes the ride go by, versus a solo ride when I’m constantly fighting the voice in my head to turn around and go home.
I used to be one of the ones who said I was too slow. I would get super-anxious before a group ride if I hadn’t done it before, wondering how embarrassing it would be when I got dropped immediately, and sometimes I would just head home. In the summer I help lead the slower groups of the weekly women’s ride, and I know that others have that same issue.
Here’s the thing, to get faster and ride better, you have to ride with those that are faster and better than you. This is why I ride with the men’s race group every week and why I look forward to joining the A rides when I’m home. Joining a group outside of your ability will push you and make you a better rider. You’ll become fitter, faster and learn bike handling skills that riding solo will never give you.
So, who wants to ride?
Nice post. I hear it, and have said it a few times myself. It is always good to mix up your riding with folks of different abilities. There are always things that you can do, and any pace, to improve your riding.
Thanks for the encouragement, Ashley. I’ve been riding about 1.5 years and am still working on the
“guts” to ride with the local groups. I’m still pretty slow!
I’ll ride with you. i’ll ride with anyone regardless of their ability. I enjoy riding with those faster than me, because, as you’ve said, it makes me better. But, I also remember that people rode with me when I was first starting out and that is something that needs to be paid forward if our sport is to continue. Same with running.I never regret a second of riding with someone that is slower than me, no matter how much slower. A couple of years ago I helped out at a triathlon training clinic. I rode sweep, and was out on the 56mi bike course (that I rode race day in 2hr 40min) for 7 1/2hrs. Got her in though, and we both had a good time.