I am puzzled...

[ttcycle]

David, you're in a very active part of the country for cycle rides. Cc ones as well as others. If people haven't responded to your ad, why not respond to some posts here.

Btw, there are female cyclists and both men and women come out on London rides. Try a Sunday London ride, there are many rides that crop up and dell's Friday night rides. You're spoilt for choice, instead if waiting for something to come to you check out what's happening in the informal rides section. You might not get a riding buddy on the one to one sense but you'll come across a group of cyclists who will welcome you.

If you're wary about getting to start points, they may be someone near you who could meet you part way and cycle with you to the start. If you're not sure of the pace etc, post up on the thread and ask.

Maybe it's unfair of me but your craiglist ad wasn't clear...are you looking for a potential partner to go on dates by bike hence your specific request for a woman or are you wanting to meet new friends etc on bikes as surely whether they're male or female doesn't matter? Come out on some rides, make some friends and see how you go

It's got to start from you putting your toes in the water and giving it a try.

 

[ianrauk]

+ 1
no-one laughs at anyone or makes them look slow; it really is about being social. Oh yes, I didn't notice any 'bike snobbery' -

This ^ applies on all the CC rides I have been on and those ride that I have organised myself.
They are very social, friendly cycle rides. A mechanical? People muck in to help out and get things moving again. A slower rider? then the ride slows for them. Struggling? then people will rally round help gee them along. Snobbery? The only snobbery on a ride I have seen is me continually harping on to Martint235 about the awful filthy state of his bike.

 

[ColinJ]

Snobbery? The only snobbery on a ride I have seen is me continually harping on to Martint235 about the awful filthy state of his bike.

I wouldn't call it snobbery, more an appreciation of the beauty of a well-maintained bicycle, but I know that the noises coming off my bodged-together singlespeed bike were doing totallyfixed's head in on one of my Meriden rides last year! They would me too, but I am a bit hard of hearing now so I don't notice those noises as much as I used to ...

People do muck in to help out with repairs, but I think that riders should turn out on safe, reliable bikes and carry spares and tools. If something unexpected happens - fine - between us, we'll usually sort it out. If not, hopefully there is an 'exit strategy' which doesn't involve an expensive 30 mile taxi journey or waiting 3 hours for a harassed loved one to turn up with a lift home!

 

[BluesDave]

No I am not looking to go on dates. Everyone should have a balance of male and female friends. So a woman to go cycling with will balance out all my male friends who don't. Also if I want to visit places of interest then female company is better for that in my experience. Dates cost double, friends pay their way. Also I'd prefer just one cycling buddy as opposed to a whole club. It might seem strange to some but that's just the kinda guy I am.

 

[ColinJ]

Also I'd prefer just one cycling buddy as opposed to a whole club. It might seem strange to some but that's just the kinda guy I am.

The trouble with having just one cycling buddy is that you haven't got any cycling buddies when that one is on holiday/ill/doing something else! I used to do half my rides solo and half with one friend but then he emigrated so I was back to being Billy No-mates.

I find that forum rides are good for motivating me to get out when I otherwise might not bother. Sunny days are easy to ride on solo, but when the weather is a bit grim it is helpful to have other people to ride with.

 

[ttcycle]

Fair enough reading that as a female, it wasn't entirely clear.

There's not much else to suggest I suppose.

 

[ttcycle]

...Except- come on a ride with a group and meet up with people separately after if you prefer that - it'll be the start to getting on the bike with others, if you don't fancy that then there's not much left to say.

 

[totallyfixed]

As tt says, plus there is no good reason [and I have said this before on another thread] why more of us don't do forum rides. Over 18,000 members, though it would be interesting to see the female:male ratios, maybe some kind of demographic breakdown split further into regions. Seeing as you have very little to do Shaun how about that as something to play with?

 

[TheDoctor]

It's good to have a number of cycling buddies. I'd be stuffed if I only ever rode with ttcycles, frinstance, as it'd be about twice a year. It's good when we do meet up though.
Same goes for Tdr1nka, Waffles, Hilldogger and all the rest off here I've ridden with from time to time.

 

[ColinJ]

As tt says, plus there is no good reason [and I have said this before on another thread] why more of us don't do forum rides. Over 18,000 members, though it would be interesting to see the female:male ratios, maybe some kind of demographic breakdown split further into regions. Seeing as you have very little to do Shaun how about that as something to play with?

Not everybody states their gender and/or location so there is no way for Shaun to do that, though I'd be interested to know too.

I reckon that the male:female ratio here is about 10:1, maybe higher. I don't have any definitive proof and I know that forum riders might not be a representative sample, but out of about 80-odd members who have come on my forum rides, only about 5 have been female, plus another 4 or 5 female partners of members.

I tell you what - that would make a good thread. I'll start one in the CC & Informal Rides and Events forum. I don't think that it is realistic to ask the entire membership what gender they are, so I'll ask everyone who has organised forum rides to 'guesstimate' the ratio on their rides over the years.

 

[BluesDave]

Well when I ride to work of a morning or back I see the bikes that people ride. Treks, Specialised etc. Lightweight alloy frames, tyres like razorbades, 57 gears and fancy handlebars are some of the features. My mountain bike is 14 years old. I've always been very happy with it and I don't want to change it also I've just spent a fair bit on new parts for it so that I get another 14 years out of it. It and therefore I might not go as fast as other bikes and riders on the club runs, in fact we won't holding things up. Also other people might not get why I don't want a newer bike and I don't really want to explain that that bike has got me through an awful lot. Secondly I see no point in buying a new bike as mine works well and is not an invitation to steal. It doesn't have slick tyres as I prefer the grip of trod on wet roads. Neither do I see any point in removing the mudguards I've had put on. The racer is circa 1982 and whilst the drop handlebars are a bit narrow for my liking and I find the position of the brakes difficult the same applies.

I did want to have one cycling buddy for rides about once a month work and weather permitting as I am so used to riding solo it's all I've ever done. Only tandems are made for two.

 

[HLaB]

OT, tread is actually less grippy on wet roads than slicks, because less of the tyre is in contact with the ground but the main thing is that enjoy your ride