My Bike (noob question)

Triathlon Forum
1

I bought my Suteki 15-speed at Goodwill for $19.99. I bought tubes and tires and a bike computer at Walmart, another $30.00. I trained hard for a month before my first group ride with a bike club (even took my kickstand off). When I first arrived, someone saw my setup, toe clips, running shoes, cotton tank top and asked if “i thought I could keep up.” I explained I was training for a Sprint Triathlon. I was thus labeled Tri-Geek.

The ride was 37 miles, I pulled more than my fair share and laughed to myself each time someone with a $1000.00+ bike dropped in behind me. I finshed the ride pulling 4 people into wind, everyone else was 20 minutes behind us.

After the ride, no one even acknowledged me.

I heard triathletes were the most welcoming of groups. This bike club seemed to shun me because I didn’t have a $1000.00 bike, or even a $100.00 for that matter. They were all content to draft behind me, but I wasn’t invited to the next ride.

My question is, are “Tri-Geeks” shunned from running, bike and swim clubs altogether or did I just find the wrong club to ride with?

Jim

2

You picked the wrong club.

I’ve got a photo of my cycling club president at a local sprint tri, drawn-on-numbers and all.

Many of the club members aren’t too keen on tri BIKES and aerobars and such, but if you can keep up, and don’t squirrel all over the road, you get their respect quickly.

If you can’t keep up, or if you DO squirrel all over the road (like - ahem - me!), you get dropped by the fast ones, and mentored by the ones on a recovery ride.

Of course, there’s always a few “bad apples” in every group.

3

Good for you. I have found that most triathletes are very welcoming and friendly people and most here are more than welcome to help a guy or gal out with a question. Tripeople are very nice I’ve learned. Of course, there is the occassional jerk as with everywhere else in our world. I usually train alone-ride, run and swim- all alone, which I prefer so I haven’t had that experience before of being shunned. Find a new club or a few individuals who you can train with rather than the whole club.