"...In the end, people either have excuses or experiences; reasons or results; buts or
brilliance. They either have what they wanted or they have a detailed list of all the rational reasons why not."

~ Anonymous
(taken from Matt Erbele's, It Takes Time to Get Good)

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Well, that was SUPER!

Today I went on my first ride with the tri club.

Ok, with is a slight exaggeration. I met them at a parking lot, we all left that parking lot at the same time, and that was pretty much the extent of the with for the day.

I had a feeling when all the Cervelos, Felts, and Guru's showed up I was in trouble. They kept saying "don't worry we are taking it easy today", "this is an off season ride" , and "stay in the back with me. I am slow." To which I say, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, and BULLSHIT.

I did make one friend, a girl that was riding in the back with me after the entire group dropped us like a bad habit in the first 2 miles. She said, "I'll stick with you if you stick with me."

Here we are after the ride



Isn't she a cutie? This is EXACTLY what she looked like to me for the majority of the 31 mile ride

FUCKING INVISIBLE!

She dropped me approximately 43 seconds after she told me she would stick with me. Apparently, what she actually meant was that I should stick with her if I was faster, but she could drop me like a used condom if she was faster.

One poor schlub would wait for me at each turn (probably the guy that drew the short straw at the last club meeting) so I didn't get lost. But, really, if I am going to ride alone anyway I would prefer that one person not be forced to wait for me, show me the turn, and then immediately drop me again.

Super awesome ride. Really, I can't wait to do it again.

32 comments:

Southbaygirl said...

I'm sorry!! Would it be better just to ride by yourself??? But what do I know I don't run or ride with any humans just dogs...and they will always wait for you and NEVER complain!!!

I would have stuck with you because you probably would have kicked my ass!!! As it is right now my ass needs to be kicked! I put my kid on a plane back to tennessee today-it sucks!!! I've been a non-mom for 15 years of his 17 year life! What kind of fucking mother am I???? So I'm sitting in my dark living room watching football with a glass of wine....wishing I had run today but i didn't!!! I'm a LOSER!!! Tomorrow I will get my ass up and run!!

Stef0115 said...

Oh my God how frustrating is THAT. I feel the suckage that you went through, although that exact scenario has never actually happened to me, I've been in similar situations.

I am used to getting passed and left behind. This happened on both Silverman rides except for the first ride when my training buddy Tony (69 year old phenom) stuck with me for the majority of the ride. He dropped me like a hot potato on the way back (effing downhills) but then came back and we finished together.

I've figured this out -- you need to ride with us!!!!!!

Seriously though, good for you for going. Sometimes we need to do this stuff even if it ends up sucking. :-) Riding with faster people SHOULD eventually make us faster right? Hmph!

RoadBunner said...

I love your sense of humor about this situation! Seriously, what you described is the exact reason I'm such a chicken to go to group runs (and when I ride my bike, group rides). It's fun when you're the faster one because you can always slow down if there's no one your speed, but when you're already a slower person there's no safety net group.

Klassenator said...

These people suck. I'm sorry you had no companions, but at least you got some mileage in right?

Marie said...

Haha, I love the picture.

That is exactly why I haven't joined a Tri training group or a cycling club - I know they are all faster than me and I will get left behind.

I figure, if I am going to ride by myself, then I am going to do it when I want and where I want.

Unknown said...

I feel your pain!!

This is why I don't cycle with a group. Frustrating!!

Carolina John said...

haha, that's a funny post. i posted one about a week ago along the same lines, except the guy actually did stay behind with me. but i was seriously outclassed. it was embarassing.

i like your new friend. she's cute.

Runner Susan said...

That stinks, but your sense of humor about it is awesome.

Willie said...

Stupid tri club. I've always thought if you're going to run with a group you should run with someone no matter what. If you have to run slower than do it. Is it really all that better to run a few seconds faster than someone anyway? You're not getting any benefit out of it and you are missing an opportunity to meet new people.

Assholes should run/bike alone. I think it's a state law.

ShirleyPerly said...

That group sucks. In the group run and bike workouts I've done, there is always someone who is designated to stay with the last person no matter how slow he/she goes. I remember one long training ride where a cute guy riding a fixie volunteered to stay with the slowest rider of the group. I'll be darn if there weren't a number of other women who decided to go slow too :-)

Karen said...

Man, that bites! Your attitude about it is the best - your post and the picture made me laugh out loud!

Aka Alice said...

Bummer....that's why I love my track club...there are always people who run as slow as I do. You are way cuter than you're new friend BTW.

PS...You're 4th/4th pic completely cracked me up...you are a science geek and I love that about you!

Tyger Lily said...

I have ridden with her too!

LOL

Calyx Meredith said...

Remind me not to join your tri club! What is wrong with those people?? Good on you for sticking with your ride and having good ole RBR fun with it!

Anonymous said...

Bad karma for them! You rock, and I love your sense of humor about the whole thing.

Jaime said...

So I know it is totally horrible about how they all left you in the dust but I snorted my coffee when i saw the picture of you and your new best friend.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear that they dropped you like that! I probably would scream after them, "Stop B*tch Stop!" LOL.

Great job though!

Formulaic said...

I think that while it was frustrating, it was a great ride.

Oh hell...no I don't! I tried a few group rides with our cyclist group here and was bored with the route.

I want long hills and lots of open area, not lots of stop lights and inner city beauty.

Find a faster than you friend. They'll make you faster and you'll enjoy the ride more (make sure friend means 'WAIT FOR ME!!')

Tater said...

Yep mmHmmmmmm I know EXACTLY how you feel!!! I have had that experience one too many times. I even posted on my groups forum specific for newbie/slowbies for a ride and as usual all the fast ones post that they wanna come and basically took it over. So I have finally come to accept the fact that I will probably almost always have to ride by myself. Sucks!

Angela said...

Yep, it's the same one. LOL! That sucks about your ride. I read this yesterday and died laughing. Just the way you describe things cracks me up!

Lou said...

LOL. Used condom.

Heh.

Truth be told. I'm not feeling super fantastic today, and I went home from work with a splitting headache, mumbling something about putting my head in a vice, and yet, here I am on the Internets, perusing the blogs and thinking intelligent thoughts like, "Gee RBR's new friend looks a whole lot like RBR."

Swear. To. God.

I need to go to sleep.

Steve Stenzel said...

OMG. That is HILARIOUS! I laughed out loud when I saw the photo of you with your "new friend" who rode with you.

Your pain is my laughter.

;)

Go Mom Go said...

I laughed out loud.

That is exactly why I don't like to ride with anyone else. Seriously.

My husband hates it because he is sure I will end up on the side of the road but you know what...I don't really worry about that. I like to be alone.

Great picture!!

JenZen said...

PUHAHAHA - OMG - just completely spit my water all over the desk at your pic. Hilarious. OK - so getting ditched wasn't hilarious. That's why I'm ALWAYS apprehensive to join a new running group. Their SLOW day is 9:00s and I'm hacking a lung just to barely stay under a 10:00. Great job for just going!!

Julianne said...

You are so funny RBR! :-)

See you Saturday in Sacto!

The Original MAJ said...

OMG.

I totally get dropped all the time. I used to think it was impressive to ride 16-18mph training and 18-20mph racing.

Then I went riding with the tri club.

the SLOW people do 20-22.

THE SLOW ONEs.

UGH.

Hilarious post!

Sarah said...

Late in commenting, but ha! OMG. Yup, that's why someone started the club that I'm in. Soooo uncompetitive and we pretty much always stay together. I lurve it.

Our Family said...

i.

love.

this.

this EXACT scenario has happened to me. my friend sent me this post cause she was laughing her ass off. this totally happened to me. and i keep going back for more. "all abilities" club...hahaha. hey, they asked for it.

Anonymous said...

LOL, this is hilarious! It reminds me of my first rides last year with the gals here in town. They all told me they will stay with me...yeah right! I saw them twice...at the beginning and after the 28 mile ride I was with them...30 minutes after they were done I got there panting and with my tongue sticking out.

Ordinarylife said...

Just found your blog now and am laughing.... That is so me - left, dropped, riding on my own. I just can't put it as eloquently as you.

audgepodge said...

OK - I'm sorry you had to experience this BUT this post had me laughing out loud. I had thought about joining a tri club for the rides but now I'm glad that I didn't!

Keri said...

I was peeing my pants while reading this! I had tears streaming down my face! Thanks for the good laugh! I love your sense of humor!