A Beginner in the Group
By: Megan
The first time I went out with a group cycle ride, I panicked. Not for any reason other than an absolute crippling fear of making a fool of myself and hurting my (definitely not young anymore) body. I think many beginning cyclists can potentially relate to these deep-seated fears.
I spent a full day preparing myself mentally for the steps and procedures of getting on and off a bike. Even though I was not using clippy shoes on that first ride, I still had to consider the full mechanics of putting my feet on the pedals, tilting the bike at an appropriate angle to dismount safely, … trying not to strangle-hold the handlebars. (Side note: I did indeed stangle the handlebars and ended up doing nerve damage to my right thumb. I would not recommend this technique. Relax those hands!)
On the morning of the ride, I gave myself a little pep talk of affirmations and motivational quotes, laced with a healthy dose of “just grow up” added in. When I arrived to the starting point, nerves fully kicked in and I worried about everything. My clothes. My safety. Slowing down the others. Not meeting expectations of a group ride.
But in reality, none of that mattered. Was I wearing the wrong gear? Absolutely. Was I the slowest in the bunch? Definitely. What was more important on that first group ride was that I had pushed back against fear and self-doubt. Sure, I wasn’t great or even good on the bike, but I survived.
No matter how many scenarios your mind creates to make excuses of why you “can’t,” you will push through. That day, I learned that I’m capable and I learned some basic skills of riding alongside others: keeping pace with the person next to me and keeping each other safe in traffic. Group rides can help you build skills that you wouldn’t otherwise develop riding on your own. So go for it - like me, make a bit of a fool of yourself in all the wrong clothes, try not to do yourself an injury by squeezing the handlebars like you’re hanging from a cliff, just … go. It can only get better from here!