Tough time cycling ATM

[Doobiesis]

I've recently joined a cycling club as I was getting bored cycling on my own and couldn't seem to get any progress.

But I'm really struggling, the first two times I was ok, right at the back but stayed close. But the few times recently I've struggled to keep up and have had to have someone come back and stay with me cos I couldn't keep up. And we lost the groups in the end. It was embarrassing!

I have been out on my own couple of times this week and both times I had terrible rides, my gears were playing up so I took into bike shop and they fixed it. But now my saddle doesn't seem right and had a bad ride trying to get it right.

I really don't feel like getting up at 6am to go out on a ride I'm going to struggle with, but part of me is thinking to just go and hope it can't be as bad as last week. Maybe I've just joined the wrong club. Any advise would be helpful.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

If you are in a club that drop back and get you home then you are in the right club. Everyone has been there.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

The more you ride, the better you'll get. Keep plugging away.

 

[S-Express]

I really don't feel like getting up at 6am to go out on a ride I'm going to struggle with

You're in the wrong club then. Find another that rides at a more suitable time, at a more suitable pace.

 

[Slick]

Just for my out of interest, what kinda speed and what kind of terrain?

 

[HarryTheDog]

If you are emberassed in the way that you feel you are holding everyone up maybe a different club might be the answer, most clubs I have ever known dont insist you join straight away and allow you to go out on a few try out rides. I am in 2 clubs, one if you cant average 18mph over 60 miles you are sunk, the other club has a range of rides and styles. I sometimes turn up to a family style ride they run where it is all stop start for eveyone to get back together but the banter is good.
I know it can be hard for ladies, my wife works part time so she found a good group of mainly retired men and women to cycle with mid week which suited her fitness level.

 

[13 rider]

Don't be embarrassed by your pace . Does the club have a slower group to tag along with or is just one group . If they ride local roads and you can find your way home I would turn up and be honest and say I will ride with you for a bit and my not finish the ride with you . As long as you tell them you peeling off they should be fine . This way you get out for a ride push yourself a bit then relax when you want to. Remember you should enjoy your cycling .
Have you tried looking for Sky breeze rides in your area these are women only social type rides which may suit your needs

 

[Doobiesis]

Just for my out of interest, what kinda speed and what kind of terrain?

It's road cycling and my avg is about 14 and I think they do about 16. On the straight I'm ok but put a hill in the mix, then well, I'm buggered!! Just feeling very low about it really, as I do want to progress more with my avg speed.

 

[Slick]

It's road cycling and my avg is about 14 and I think they do about 16. On the straight I'm ok but put a hill in the mix, then well, I'm buggered!! Just feeling very low about it really, as I do want to progress more with my avg speed.

I'm probably in the same boat. I can do better than keep up on the straight or even lumpy stuff, but like you, add a real hill and I'm struggling. To be honest, I just fall back and the rest wait or not. Obviously, more miles and training is the answer.

 

[13 rider]

It's road cycling and my avg is about 14 and I think they do about 16. On the straight I'm ok but put a hill in the mix, then well, I'm buggered!! Just feeling very low about it really, as I do want to progress more with my avg speed.

14 mph is not to shabby . Without structured training increasing your average pace is a slow process but if you keep riding it WILL slowly creep up . Don't beat yourself up over it

 

[Doobiesis]

I'm probably in the same boat. I can do better than keep up on the straight or even lumpy stuff, but like you, add a real hill and I'm struggling. To be honest, I just fall back and the rest wait or not. Obviously, more miles and training is the answer.

I've always struggled with hills, and I have improved even in last month - but I should be able to keep up with them! I've been cycling for four years and know I've got the strength. Today I pushed myself as hard as I could, but I'm just not cutting the mustard with my speed.

But with my saddle not right, my feet went numb and I just couldn't feel that I was putting all the effort I could into it.

 

[Welsh wheels]

It's road cycling and my avg is about 14 and I think they do about 16. On the straight I'm ok but put a hill in the mix, then well, I'm buggered!! Just feeling very low about it really, as I do want to progress more with my avg speed.

Try and find another club in your area that do slower rides, or even better female-only rides. The reality is that a lot of club rides are quite physically demanding, and unless you're in the peak of physical fitness you'll struggle. I can't keep up with the fast club rides, so I just go for the slower, more relaxed ones where people are more interested in chatting than beating you up the nearest hill. If your club do go back for you, that's a step in the right direction that some clubs wouldn't bother with. Chat about your concerns with people in the club, find out if anyone's interested in doing rides at a slower pace.

 

[13 rider]

I've always struggled with hills, and I have improved even in last month - but I should be able to keep up with them! I've been cycling for four years and know I've got the strength. Today I pushed myself as hard as I could, but I'm just not cutting the mustard with my speed.

But with my saddle not right, my feet went numb and I just couldn't feel that I was putting all the effort I could into it.

It seems counterintuitive but sometimes the more you try the slower you go . Sometimes when you just relax and ride the pace comes to you .

 

[raleighnut]

It seems counterintuitive but sometimes the more you try the slower you go . Sometimes when you just relax and ride the pace comes to you .

I find that too, I think you tense up and end up with the muscles 'fighting' each other.

 

[Slick]

I've always struggled with hills, and I have improved even in last month - but I should be able to keep up with them! I've been cycling for four years and know I've got the strength. Today I pushed myself as hard as I could, but I'm just not cutting the mustard with my speed.

But with my saddle not right, my feet went numb and I just couldn't feel that I was putting all the effort I could into it.

Yeah, That obviously wouldn't help. Maybe we're not in the same boat after all, I'm the weakest cyclist in the group, which is good for me but maybe not so much for the group. If it's just a technical issue that's holding you back, that should be easy sorted, although why is your saddle out of alignment now?