Story by Molly Lethert of Spokegirl.com.  Reprinted with permission from Molly and the Twin Cities Bike Club.

 
I have belonged to the Twin Cities Bike Club for a couple of years now. You might think I have logged lots of miles as a member, right? Wrong. Let’s see... in 2002, I biked 20 miles doing 1 ride. In 2003, I biked 0 miles doing 0 rides (ankle surgery), and in 2004, I biked 27 miles doing 1 ride. In 2005, I biked 0 miles doing 0 rides. But, in 2006, I biked over 1000 miles riding in 39 club rides. What changed this year? My approach changed. I figured out how to enjoy riding with the club. Below is my experience. I hope some or all of these comments will inspire you to hang in there and keep pedaling.

1 Take your bike to your local bike store. Let them give it the once-over. (If you are looking for a tune-up in the spring, get it in early. It can be a two week wait at some shops.) Have one of the people there make sure your bike is fitted to you properly. Get a helmet, cycling gloves, a couple of water bottles, a small seat bag, some bike shorts, and a couple of spare tubes and a patch kit.

2 As soon as the snow melts and the temperatures are warm enough for you personally, start riding your bike around town. Get a few miles in so you can get over the huffing and puffing up little hills while you are alone. Trust me, it makes a big difference.

3 Start slow. Try a “C” ride first and then work your way up. Some people will find the “C” rides too slow and will jump right up to “B” rides or faster. But, for me, a “C” ride was the perfect place to start. I met some really nice people, of all ages, who inspired me and made me excited to be in the club and on my bike. No one gets dropped. If need be, the ride leaders stop at points to let everyone catch up. (NOTE: this was the mistake I had made in previous years. I overestimated my abilities, and tried a ride that was actually above my pace. The people were nice, but I was on the wrong ride. I kept up for the first 10 miles, but I was wiped by the rest stop. I ended up struggling to finish. I got discouraged and quit riding for the year.)

4 Next up, I set a goal of 500 miles with TCBC. I certainly thought this was attainable. I was already almost halfway there by July.

5 Keep a Ride Log. This will allow you to see what ride leaders you like to ride with, track your mileage, and can also serve as a way to verify your ride mileage with the club at the end of the riding season.

6 I found a cycling buddy. Debi and I hit it off right away when we struggled and ended up encouraging each other up a big hill on a ride one Wednesday night. From that moment on, we rode virtually every TCBC ride together. We shared in the misery on hills, encouraged, and congratulated each other after every ride. Make friends with your fellow riders. It makes the rides a lot more fun.

7 Find a ride leader you like and go on their rides until you are ready to branch out and try other rides. I rode on rides with 15 different leaders over the past biking season. I was fortunate to have met some really great ride leaders this past year. Find someone who rides your speed and shares your thoughts about what biking means to you.

Two ride leaders in particular kept me riding in the club. The first one waited for me when I got dropped on a ride early in the year. She wasn’t even leading the ride, just riding it, but she waited for me when the back ride leader dropped me. If it hadn’t been for her, I might have quit the group at that point.

The second one I met by going on one of his rides in June. He is a conscientious leader and is always looking out for the riders on his rides. He carries virtually every tool and extra tubes with him so he is prepared for any problems that may come along. He stops and offers help to others if they have a problem with their bike. Now, looking at my riding log, I rode 23 rides with him this past biking season.

8 Celebrate your accomplishments. Be proud of yourself for reaching the goal or going beyond it. I hoped for 500 miles and I ended up riding 1000 miles. Friends took me out to dinner to celebrate my 1000th mile.

9 Attend the Annual Membership Meeting. It will inspire you and excite you about being a member of TCBC.  Get involved.

10 And finally, look forward to next season. If you are able, consider winter riding or hitting the gym to keep some of the conditioning you worked so hard to get. What’s up for me this new season? A higher mileage goal, becoming a ride leader, and getting more involved. Happy riding!