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Bicycling 101 - Top Ten Tips for New Members
by Liz Sands
We often hear from new members after their first ride: “I showed up and everybody knew each other and I felt like an outsider” or “I got dropped and rode by myself the whole way – why bother going to a club ride?” These tips will help you to get to know people faster and make those first few rides with the club be more enjoyable.
#10 Be prepared. If your bike has been hanging in the garage all winter, take time to put lube on the chain and to inspect the tires for cuts or wear. Take your bike for a “shakedown” ride on your own before going to a club ride, so you can be sure that it’s shifting and braking properly and there aren’t any mysterious squeaks or creaks.
#9 When you’re signing in at the ride, let the ride leader know that you’re a new member. Many ride leaders try to take time to introduce new members to the group during their ride briefing.
#8 Try one of the many rides where the group goes out to dinner after the ride. It’s a lot easier to get acquainted around a dinner table, than out on the road with the wind blowing in your ears.
#7 Practice your riding skills. Learn how to ride a steady line without wavering. Visit the club web site to read tips on group riding etiquette. If other riders sense that you are unsafe or unpredictable, they will probably give you a wide berth.
#6 Volunteer for a club event – it’s a great way to get to know other members. There’s lots of volunteer opportunities including the Watermelon Ride, Weekend on Wheels, and other events. Volunteer opportunities will be in the newsletter and are often sent out to the club e-group.
#5 Be observant on rides and try to figure out which other riders are of similar pace to you. Position yourself close to those people at the ride start so that you don’t start out with a group who is too fast or too slow for you. During the initial miles of a ride, there can be a lot of ‘sorting’ of abilities and it will be easier for you if you don’t have to try to jockey for position.
#4 Try not to get caught up in chasing the “fast group” if you can’t hang with them for the long haul. You might have the perception that you can keep up, only to realize that you can’t maintain that pace for a two-hour ride. In the meantime, the fast group has pulled you way ahead of the people who are closer to your pace. If you do get dropped, remember that you’ll have to slow down a lot if you want other people who you can ride with, to catch up with you.
#3 If you find that you’re always ending up on rides where everyone’s a lot stronger, try a ride one level down. If you’ve been going to A/B rides, try a B ride or a B/C ride.
#2 Pay attention as the group is moving away from corners or stop signs. Experienced riders will often accelerate out of a corner in order to quickly get back up to cruising speed. If you’re not prepared for that, you might get left behind.
#1 If you do end up riding on your own, keep a good attitude. Remember that you’re getting a good workout, and learning some new roads that you haven’t been on before. Smell the lilacs, listen to the birds, and appreciate the fact that you’re fit and healthy enough to do a long bike ride.
HAVE FUN, and a big welcome to all of our new members!
Copyright © 2006 Liz Sands. All rights reserved.
(Originally published in the TCBC Activity News: May 2006)
